News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. BEIJING, April 17 (Reuters) - China should be flexible in implementing appropriate monetary policy and maintain reasonably ample liquidity, China's central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said at a meeting in Washington over the weekend. Zhou also called for all sides to take forceful measures to promote global recovery, including refraining from the use of various forms of trade and investment protectionism. China's economy is off to a good start in 2016, with economic indicators seeing an obvious pick up and the growth of the services sector outpacing that of the manufacturing industry, Zhou said in remarks delivered at a meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee. He added that China should vigorously push forward supply side structural reform, as well as better balance the areas of economic growth, structural adjustment and risk prevention. At a separate G20 meeting in Washington last week, Zhou said that China's foreign exchange market has stabilized, the yuan's recent trend reflects market supply and demand, and it has held steady against a basket of currencies. Zhou also called for all sides to take forceful measures to promote global recovery, including refraining from various forms of trade and investment protectionism. He called for the expanded use of the IMF's Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to resolve flaws in the international currency system and said China is actively studying plans to issue SDR-denominated bonds. Over the weekend, China's finance minister Lou Jiwei said at the G20 meeting that China is taking steps to implement more forceful fiscal policies including increasing its deficit, reducing taxes and dropping costs. China will also take measures to unwind production capacity and inventory in the iron, steel and coal industries, as well as train and provide arrangements for those who lose their jobs, he said. Lou added that the country will control rising provincial government debt levels. As China's central government's debt levels are not very high, he said, China will increase its central government debt with the aim of reducing leverage across the entire Chinese society. Story continues Last week, China released its March economic data which saw an improvement due to recent policy steps, supply-side reforms, and international factors, the country's statistics bureau said. On Saturday, the statistics bureau head Ning Jizhe told state news agency Xinhua in an interview that China should definitely be able to smoothly realize its economic and societal growth goals in 2016. (Reporting by Jessica Macy Yu, Huang Kai, and Kevin Yao; Editing by Michael Perry) By Anthony Boadle and Maria Carolina Marcello BRASILIA (Reuters) - Supporters of the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff took a commanding lead in a ballot in the lower house of Congress on Sunday that could hasten the end of 13 years of leftist Workers Party rule in Latin America's biggest economy. With 272 votes cast, 210 members of Congress had voted in favour of Rousseff's impeachment and 62 voted against or abstained. The Datafolha polling group projected Rousseff's defeat. Rousseff's opponents needs votes from 342 of the 513 members of the chamber to send her for trial in the Senate on charges of manipulating budgetary accounts to support her 2014 re-election. If Rousseff, Brazil's first female president, loses Sunday's vote, the Senate must decide by a simple majority whether there are legal grounds to hear the case against her, a decision expected in early May. Should it agree to do so, Rousseff, 68, would be suspended from office and Vice President Michel Temer would take over. The political crisis in Brazil, which comes during the country's worst recession since the 1930s, has deeply divided the country of 200 million people and sparked a battle between Rousseff and Temer. Both sides said they had enough votes to win the motion in the session where lawmakers yelled slogans and scuffles broke out in front of the speaker's podium as pro-impeachment legislators waved flags reading: "Goodbye Dear." Hundreds of thousands of protesters from both sides took to the streets of dozens of towns and cities across the country. As congressional members voted, tens of thousands of pro- and anti-impeachment demonstrators packed the grassy esplanade in front of the legislature in the capital, Brasilia. A 6.5-foot-high (2-metre) wall had been erected there stretching for more than half a mile (1 km) to separate both sides, a symbol of the stark political divide in one of the world's most unequal societies. Opinion polls suggested more than 60 percent of Brazilians supported impeaching Rousseff, whose inner circle has been tainted by a vast corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras . Despite anger at rising unemployment, Rousseff's ruling Workers Party still musters strong support among millions of working-class Brazilians, who credit its welfare programs with pulling their families out of poverty during the past decade. "The majority of Brazilians are in favour of democracy and are against this coup," said Maira Jane, one of the thousands of pro-Rousseff demonstrators outside Congress. "Whether you are in favour or against the government. It's a question of democracy." PARALYSED GOVERNMENT The impeachment crisis has paralysed activity in Brasilia, just four months before the country is due to host the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and as it seeks to battle an epidemic of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in newborns. Critics of the impeachment process say it has become a referendum on Rousseff's popularity - currently languishing in single digits - which sets a worrying precedent for ousting unpopular leaders in the future. They note that Rousseff is accused of a budgetary slight of hand commonly employed by many elected officials in Brazil. Leaders in Temer's centrist PMDB party were confident they could muster two dozen votes more than the 342 needed. Government officials acknowledged Rousseff's situation was "very difficult" as they kept seeking votes or abstentions that would favour her, despite newspaper polls showing they lacked the necessary support. Business lobbies have thrown their weight behind the ouster of Rousseff, blamed by them for high inflation and an economy forecast to contract nearly 4 percent this year, as they look to Temer to restore business confidence and growth. Brazil's stocks and currency have been among the world's best-performing assets in recent weeks on growing bets that Rousseff would be removed from office, allowing Temer to adopt more market-friendly policies. Whoever governs the country in coming months will inherit a toxic political environment, a divided Congress, rising unemployment and an expected contraction of 4 percent this year in the world's ninth-largest economy. PROTESTERS GATHER While Rousseff herself has not been personally charged with corruption, many of the lawmakers who will decide her fate on Sunday have been. Congresso em Foco, a prominent watchdog group in Brasilia, said more than 300 of the legislators who will vote - well over half the chamber - were under investigation for corruption, fraud or electoral crimes. As they cast their vote, some lawmakers said the next politician to be impeached should be the man leading the proceedings, Speaker Eduardo Cunha, charged with corruption and money laundering in the kickback scandal involving state-run oil producer Petrobras and facing an ethics inquiry over undeclared Swiss bank accounts. Thousands of pro-impeachment demonstrators packed Sao Paulo's central Paulista Avenida, draped in Brazilian flags and waving banners reading: "Dilma out" and in support of the judge leading the Petrobras investigation. "We need to make this country viable again," said Paulo Tosi Marques, 66, a retired business administrator at the pro-impeachment demonstration in Sao Paulo. "Look at what we have - corruption, inflation and an unprecedented crisis." (Additional reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo; Writing by Daniel Flynn, Stephen Eisenhammer and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Alan Crosby and Peter Cooney) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, speaking at a press conference on April 16, 2016 in the Iranian capital Tehran (AFP Photo/Atta Kenare) Tehran (AFP) - The European Union's top diplomat during a visit to Tehran Saturday admitted difficulties in implementing Iran's recent nuclear deal with world powers, but maintained that the agreement was on track. Federica Mogherini's comments, in a joint press conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, underscored tension in Tehran over the accord, which has been in force for three months. Under the deal, all nuclear-related sanctions were lifted but Iranian officials have accused the West, particularly the United States, of failing to honour its side of the bargain. Among their grievances is the contention that US government officials are scaring off European banks from investing in Iran for fear of falling foul of regulations that saw massive fines imposed in recent years. Mogherini, on her first trip to Iran since the nuclear deal came into force in January, said the diplomatic gains of the agreement must now be turned into "benefits in Iranians' daily lives." But Zarif echoed remarks from other Iranian officials about the deal not producing discernible benefits. "It is necessary that the other side's cooperation, especially the United States, is made good in practice, not only on paper," Zarif said, alluding to Seif's comments. "We warned the US and we will put some pressure on them, to pave the way for cooperation between non-US banks and the Islamic Republic of Iran." Mogherini sought to play down concern, saying that three months of "challenges" on the deal's implementation was nothing compared to the 12 years of diplomacy it had taken to produce the nuclear agreement. "We obviously have not finished the work on implementing the JCPOA," Mogherini said, referring to the nuclear deal by its official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, describing it as "an ongoing task". - 'Doing all that we can' - Story continues Put to her by a reporter that the banking issues were obstacles, Mogherini countered: "There are challenges in implementation, it is true." She cited 50 pages of guidelines that have been issued to European financial institutions that detail how business can now be conducted with Iran. "We are doing all that we can to reassure our financial and banking system that all the new information on the new system is provided." Mogherini pointed to other evidence of cooperation, saying the EU has agreed to support Iran's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) for example, and Iran will take part on a joint dialogue on human rights. But Mogherini also raised with Zarif the EU's concern about recent ballistic missile tests by the elite Revolutionary Guards, which a UN panel said breached Security Council resolutions. She said the EU did not regard the missile tests as a breach of the nuclear deal. "We see this as a worrying step. Any step that could pass different messages (other than cooperation) is not welcome." Mogherini, who personally helped negotiate the nuclear deal between Iran and Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany, was accompanied by other top EU officials. The six powers led by the United States agreed in July last year to lift sanctions that had locked down much of the Iran's economy for years in exchange for limits on Tehran's nuclear programme. The move allowed Iran to resume a higher level of oil exports when the deal was implemented, as well as opening up more trade opportunities. But with the US still maintaining some sanctions, including on what it says is Iran's sponsorship of designated terror organisations, Iran's access to global finance remains limited. Mogherini said the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, where the West has been looking for Iran's cooperation with peace efforts, as well as Iran-EU cooperation on energy production and technology were also discussed. By Aditya Kalra JAIPUR, India (Reuters) - India's tobacco industry has sought to delay strict new health warning rules by appealing to the Supreme Court, a move anti-smoking activists say could backfire given that the court has ruled against cigarette makers in the past. Earlier this month Indian tobacco companies, some backed by "Big Tobacco" firms in the West, effectively went on strike by closing factories in protest against demands that 85 percent of a cigarette packet's surface be covered by health warnings, up from the older requirement of 20 percent. The industry estimates the stoppages cost it as much as $68 million a day, taking cumulative losses to up to $850 million. Similar battles have played out around the world in recent years as governments try to discourage smoking. On a few occasions, major tobacco producers have resorted to drastic action by freezing output. That tactic worked in India in 2010, when the government delayed a set of warnings proposed at the time after the industry shuttered plants. But this time New Delhi's room to compromise is more limited, court documents and interviews with federal health ministry officials and activists suggest. The documents show how a small group of health activists have outmanoeuvred the $11 billion industry and cornered the government into implementing the rules on April 1. Video: Tobacco firms fight India over new label rule http://reut.rs/22yLa0Y Their strategy has left the Supreme Court as one of the last avenues of appeal for cigarette makers. "The tide has turned and the tobacco industry is on a downhill slope," said one of the activists, Sanjay Seth. In 2013, the court pulled up the government for not being serious about tobacco-control laws. The Tobacco Institute of India, an industry lobby group, declined to comment for this story. It has called the packaging rules drastic and impractical, saying the law will increase smuggling of illegal cigarettes. "BIG TOBACCO" HOLDING OUT Story continues One small local producer, Golden Tobacco, has started selling cigarette packs that comply with the new rules. But the biggest companies - ITC Ltd, part-owned by British American Tobacco, and U.S.-based Philip Morris International's (PMI) India partner Godfrey Phillips - are holding out. On April 8, an industry group that represents makers of traditional smokes, or beedis, in south India went to the Supreme Court to challenge the rules, according to the filing seen by Reuters on Thursday. It was not previously reported. Graphic: Cigarette package health warnings in 2006 http://reut.rs/1WvceP9 The plea, filed by the Karnataka Beedi Industry Association, seeks a stay in enforcing the new rules, saying that they would bring the industry to a "grinding halt" and "cause grave and irreparable harm and loss". A hearing is scheduled for April 22. The appeal against the packaging regulations, which are among the world's strictest, does not directly involve major cigarette makers, but any ruling could also apply to them. ITC declined to comment on the packaging row. BAT said it would be "inappropriate" to comment as they are "just shareholders in ITC". PMI referred questions to Godfrey Phillips, which did not respond to requests for comment. PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT For Western brands, Indian cigarette sales represent a small yet significant part of global earnings, as they face long-term sales declines in developed markets and eye countries like India and its 40 million cigarette smokers for future growth. In its 2015 report, BAT said the "adjusted contribution" from ITC was 280 million pounds ($400 million), about 5 percent of its annual profits. The factory shutdown is hurting government's coffers as well, costing it more than $10 million a day in tax revenues, according to industry estimates. More than 8 million workers and their families are affected, and farmers' groups are among those taking out large advertisements in newspapers criticising the legislation. But the government has kept a low profile. "We don't want to get into a duel with the industry on this," a health ministry official said, adding that public opinion appeared to be in the government's favour. Smoking kills more than 1 million people a year in India, said BMJ Global Health, published by London-based healthcare information provider, BMJ. The World Health Organization says tobacco-related diseases cost the country $16 billion annually. The new rules, which have been shown to help reduce tobacco consumption, put India, along with Thailand, at the top of the list of countries with the most stringent cigarette labelling. FAVOURABLE VENUE The new rules were proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in 2014. Initially, they were to be implemented from April 2015, but a parliamentary panel that included a lawmaker with a tobacco business forced the government to delay them as it assessed their impact on the industry and farmers. That was when Seth, who works with the non-profit campaign Voice of Tobacco Victims, said he and a handful of other activists got involved. Their strategy, he said, was to find a court that was likely to be sympathetic to their cause and then get someone to file a case challenging the delay. The Rajasthan High Court was that venue, because then-Chief Justice Sunil Ambwani was seen as someone who would favour public health over big business. Seth's idea was incorporated into a tobacco-control case that a father-son team of lawyers with a history of such activism, Sita Ram and Rahul Joshi, were filing in the high court in Jaipur city last year.Within days, Ambwani ordered the government to implement the rules without delay. Ambwani told Reuters he ruled on the merits of the case. The government won a six-month extension, but has so far ignored the parliamentary panel that last month urged it to set warnings at 50 percent. (Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Michael Collett-White) DOHA (Reuters) - Iran will not attend a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC member countries about freezing oil output levels in Qatar on Sunday, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. Producers are struggling with low oil prices and an oversupplied market but have been loath to cede market share by cutting output. Instead, OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela reached a preliminary agreement with Russia in February to freeze production at January levels. They will seek backing for that deal from other producers at Sunday's meeting in Doha, Qatar. Iran's oil minister had not been scheduled to attend, but Tehran was due to send Iran OPEC Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebilli, oil ministry news agency Shana reported on Friday. Sources told Reuters that Iran had been informed that only those countries willing to agree to freeze their output level should attend. Iran has said it supports the freeze but would not join it until it raises its output and market share to their pre-sanctions levels. Sanctions imposed by the United States and other world powers were lifted in January in return for Tehran agreeing to long-term curbs on its nuclear programme. A rise in Iran's oil output will undermine efforts to rebalance the market in 2016, a Reuters poll of oil analysts showed this week. Its production has already surpassed 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) and exports are set to reach 2 million bpd next month, Iran's deputy oil minister was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Saturday. (Reporting by Reuters OPEC team; Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter) By Patrick Frater LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Italy's "Cinema Paradiso" director Giuseppe Tornatore has struck a deal to make a movie with China's Alibaba Pictures Group, the film making arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba. The deal was symbolically signed by Tornatore and Zhang Qiang of APG at the end of a forum on co-productions Sunday on the first full day of the Beijing International Film Festival. Among the witnesses to the signing was Miao Xiaotian, VP of China Film Co-production Corporation. "The deal is an agreement in principal (without a specific project that is yet agreed)," Tornatore told Variety. He said that it will likely happen within the next two to three years and be a majority Chinese-financed picture. It was unclear whether the film will use the bilateral co-production treaty between Italy and China that was signed in 2014. The first film that used the treaty was Cristiano Bortone's "Coffee." Tornatore, who has other credits including "Malena," "A Pure Formality" and "The Legend of 1900," joins an expanding list of well-known talents who have signed first look or outline deals with APG. Others include Wong Kar-wai and Peter Chan. Earlier this month APG announced that it had teamed with Skydance to produce a film about the Flying Tigers, the WWII squadron in which U.S. and Chinese airmen flew on the same side, with Randall Wallace ("Braveheart") supplying the screenplay. Alibaba Pictures began investing in Hollywood film with its stake in the 2015 Skydance film "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" in partnership with Paramount Pictures. People pass a billboard picturing a coalition of the opposition lead by Patrice Talon in Cotonou (AFP Photo/Pius Utomi Ekpei) (AFP) Cotonou (AFP) - Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou goes head-to-head with businessman Patrice Talon on Sunday in the decider of Benin's presidential election, with little to separate the two after first-round voting. Here are the main subjects dominating the minds of the west African country's 4.7 million voters: - Youth unemployment - The 15-34 age group makes up some 60 percent of Benin's working population. Officially, the unemployment rate is under 4.0 percent but with 85 percent of workers in the informal sector of the jobs market, the figure does not reflect reality. With few jobs available, many university graduates end up driving motorbike-taxis that are increasingly found everywhere in Benin. Zinsou, standing for outgoing president Thomas Boni Yayi's Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin party, promises 350,000 jobs by 2021, especially for the young and women. Talon, who made his money in the key cotton sector and running Cotonou's port, has pledged to take steps to encourage job creation in the private sector. - Corruption - When he was first elected in 2006, Boni Yayi vowed to stop endemic corruption in several key sectors such as the port in Benin's commercial hub, Cotonou, and the cotton industry. But his two terms have been marked by several embezzlement and bribery scandals. In 2010, the head of state was implicated in a major savings scandal, dubbed locally the "Benin Madoff affair" after the disgraced US financier Bernie Madoff, in which thousands of Beninese lost money. The construction of a new national assembly buidling in the administrative capital Porto Novo has also eaten up millions of dollars but never been finished. Last year, the Netherlands suspended aid to Benin after four million euros earmarked for drinking water schemes disappeared. - Health and education - Benin, which has a population of 10.6 million, is considered by the World Bank to be a low-income country with poor ratings in health and education indicators. Story continues Free primary school education is seen as a positive from Boni Yayi's presidency even if subsidies do not always reach schools, said political analyst Simon Asoba. "Headteachers end up asking parents for contributions" to ensure that schools function, he added. Boni Yayi also created a universal scheme to open up access to healthcare to the poorest in society via an average monthly subscription of 1,000 CFA francs (1.5 euros). But the scheme is not yet up and running. Zinsou's manifesto makes development a key priority, including helping the 100,000 poorest families and improving medical infrastructure. - Port is beating heart - The port is the beating heart of Benin and accounts for almost half the country's tax receipts and more than 80 percent of customs tariffs. It handles some 90 percent of Benin's overseas business and sells itself as a transit port for neighbouring Nigeria to the east and surrounding countries such as Niger and Burkina Faso. Major infrastructure work has been carried out, including the construction of a new quay, allowing it to handle twice as many containers in 2014 as it did in 2008. A computerised management system of truck arrivals and departures has been put in place as well as a single counter to handle all transactions, helping to streamline procedures and cut graft. But waiting times remain long due to a lack of available space and the new checks. Ships often wait up to a week before offloading, said forwarding agent Leandre Kodjo Sonou. "Some ships go to Lome in neighbouring Togo and bring in the containers by lorry, which is quicker," he added. The port of Tema, in Ghana, is also a main competitor for business. Kuwaiti oil workers arrive at the union headquarters in Al-Ahmadi on April 17, 2016, to protest plans to cut benefits and privatise parts of the oil sector (AFP Photo/Yasser Al-Zayyat) Kuwait City (AFP) - Thousands of Kuwait's oil workers began an open-ended strike on Sunday in protest at plans to cut their wages, action which saw the emirate's crude production plunge. A spokesman for the Kuwait Oil Co. (KOC), Saad al-Azemi, said on Twitter that "average production reached 1.1 million" barrels in Kuwait on Sunday. Daily production in OPEC's fourth largest producer is normally around 3.0 million barrels per day. Azemi also said natural gas production was at 620 million cubic feet, down from Kuwait's daily average of more than 1.3 billion cubic feet. The strike comes as world oil producers gathered in Qatar aiming to negotiate an output freeze to boost prices. "Thousands of workers began their strike," the oil workers union chief Saif al-Qahtani told AFP, adding that production had been partly halted but without clarifying which sites were affected. "Observed since 7:00 am (0400 GMT), this open-ended strike will continue until the workers' demands are met," Qahtani said. The cabinet strongly criticised the "unacceptable" strike, calling it a "clear violation of the law", and demanded legal measures against those involved. The government also urged Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) to mobilise the manpower needed to ensure continued production. On Saturday, the union turned down an appeal from Kuwait's acting oil minister, Anas al-Saleh, to call off the strike. Hit by the sharp drop in crude prices on world markets, Kuwait is introducing a new payroll scheme for all public employees and wants to include the country's 20,000 oil workers, which would mean an automatic cut in wages and incentives. As the strike began, KPC spokesman Sheikh Talal Khaled al-Sabah said that the national oil conglomerate had activated an "emergency plan" to ensure that local and international markets were not affected by the walkout. "Export operations are going ahead as planned and (KPC) is capable of responding to major international market demands, based on agreements with clients," he said in a statement published on the KUNA news agency's website. Story continues The plan ensures that all petrol stations will continue to be supplied, as will Kuwait's international airport and companies operating there, he said. He urged Kuwaitis "not to listen to rumours that the strike has affected the needs of the local market". He said reserves of gasoline and petrol derivatives were "enough to meet the country's demands for 25 days and strategic reserves could suffice for 31 more days". KPC had offered to suspend all spending cuts if the union agreed to join a committee to negotiate a settlement, but said workers had boycotted negotiations called for Thursday by the social affairs and labour ministry. The union is also protesting against plans to privatise parts of the oil sector. Base Metals' Performance: Mixed Results for the Last Week of March (Continued from Prior Part) Freeport continued to weaken Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is one of the largest copper miners in the world. It fell for the second consecutive trading week. In the week ending on April 2, Freeport fell 2.2%. It closed the week at $9.89. Freeport consolidated around the important resistance level of $10 and the 200-day moving average throughout last week. For the past five trading weeks, Freeport has been struggling to close and stay above the price level of $10. However, a lack of support from copper is keeping the lid on the momentum. Last week, the workers at Freeports Peru division called for a 48-hour strike that starts on April 8. These workers belong to the Cerro Verde mine. Its the largest copper deposit in Peru. A report released by Barclays predicted weakness in oil and copper in the coming days. It weakened the sentiment around Freeport-McMoRan. Glencore consolidated last week Glencore (GLNCY) is the metal trading and mining giant. It fell for the second consecutive trading week. In the week ending on April 2, Glencore fell 0.58% and ended the week at $4.25very close to the 200-day moving average. Last week, Glencore consolidated between the price level of $4 and $4.5. Glencore fell to the multiyear day low of $2.02 on January 13. It started recovering after a week of consolidation. Even tough Glencore reached as high as $4.84 by March 7, the momentum reduced. Currently, its trading 12.2% below that price level. The price level of $4 is the nearest prominent support level of Glencore. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were stable BHP Billiton (BHP) is an Anglo-Australian multinational mining company. It consolidated around the important price level of $25 last week. It ended the week at $25.65 with a gain of 0.04%. Rio Tinto (RIO), a British-Australian mining corporation, gained 1.7%. It closed the week at $28.17. The Power-Shares DB Base Metals Fund (DBB) and the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) gained 1.8% and 2.2% in the week ending on April 2. Browse this series on Market Realist: Cotonou (AFP) - Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou on Monday conceded defeat to Patrice Talon, handing the businessman victory in Benin's presidential elections in a vote hailed as an example for democracy in action. The tiny West African nation introduced multi-party politics in the 1990s after decades of dictatorship, breaking with a widespread practice of one-party rule common across the continent. Zinsou told AFP by telephone in the early hours that Talon's electoral victory was "certain," adding that he had called Talon "to congratulate him on his victory, wish him good luck and put myself at his disposal to prepare for the handover." The head of Benin's independent electoral commission, Emmanuel Tiando, later said that Talon had won 65.39 percent of the vote, with Zinsou on 34.61 percent. The Constitutional Court will confirm the official result in the coming days, he added. Talon, in a statement issued on his Facebook page, declared himself "proud of my homeland Benin which has once again shown its attachment to democracy". Thanking his supporters he said "we are embarking together on a new beginning, one of fraternity, of justice and of shared effort." Talon also congratulated Zinsou "for his performance in the campaign and for his fair play." - 'Everything went well' - Some 4.7 million people were eligible to vote to elect a successor to Benin's outgoing president, Thomas Boni Yayi, who is bowing out after a maximum of two five-year terms. His departure marks him out from many African leaders who have tried to change their country's constitution to stay in power. Another exception was Goodluck Jonathan, president of Benin's giant neighbour Nigeria, who last year conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari -- a move hailed for statesmanship and discouraging political violence. The head of a coalition of civil society groups monitoring the Beninese election, Mathieu Boni, said "everything went well" on Sunday and there was "nothing serious to report". Story continues French President Francois Hollande said the election was a tribute to "the strength of Beninese democracy" and pledged his cooperation on development, energy, good governance and transparency "and the fight against terrorism." - Strong support - Zinsou, 61, had come out top in the first round of elections held on March 6 but the prime minister, a candidate for Boni Yayi's Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), was seen as the frontrunner with the support of most lawmakers in parliament. But 57-year-old Talon, who made his money in cotton and running Cotonou's port, had billed himself as the authentic Beninese candidate and repeatedly attacked his opponent's dual French nationality. Zinsou, who attended an elite French university and was a speechwriter for the former prime minister Laurent Fabius, has been called "yovo" or "the white man" during the campaign. He also took a knock when 24 of the 32 other candidates who stood in the first round came out in support of Talon. - 'A chance for Benin' - Talon had portrayed himself as a big-spender and a self-made man in his campaign, turning up for the first-round vote in a Porsche, white open-necked shirt, a fitted suit and sunglasses. From humble beginnings in the coastal town of Ouidah, he rose to become one of the most powerful Benin businessmen and bankrolled Boni Yayi's successful 2006 and 2011 election campaigns. But he fled to exile in France after being accused of masterminding an alleged plot to poison the president in 2012, and only returned last October after receiving a presidential pardon. His success and taste for luxury attracted support from many young Beninese, who hope he can create jobs and wealth on a national scale. Talon is due to take office on April 6 and will face major challenges such as tackling high youth unemployment, corruption and improving health and education in the country of 10.6 million people. Diversifying an economy that largely relies on agriculture, trade and exports with its neighbour to the east, Nigeria, will also be high on the agenda. (Repeats story sent late on Friday with no changes) * EU's biggest coal producer running out of money * Unions' consent to cut costs key to future funding * Poland asks creditors to convert debt to equity * Decision expected early in coming week * Other sections of economy could be hit by deep losses By Agnieszka Barteczko and Barbara Lewis WARSAW/BRUSSELS, April 15 (Reuters) - For generations, the region of Silesia has been at the heart of Poland's love affair with coal as a source of pride and heroism. Election to Poland's top job has depended on maintaining coal's special national status and Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, a coal miner's daughter from Silesia, swept to office in October on a promise she would ring-fence the industry's 100,000 jobs. It is a pledge she is now under almost as much pressure to break as to keep. The energy ministry has said the nation's biggest mining firm, headquartered in Silesia, risks running out of cash at the end of the month. It is a familiar cry, and in the past, funds somehow appeared. This time, however, they may not. Coal miners became heroes in Silesia when nine of them were shot dead in 1981 in an anti-communist protest against martial law. Now they are being asked to accept cuts in salaries that are among the highest in Poland because of the dangers of the job. Energy ministry officials supervising Kompania Weglowa (KW), the European Union's biggest coal mining company, say it cannot pay salaries in May if trade unions' reject a plan to cut the company's costs, more than half of which go on staff. The plan is a condition for other state-run companies to inject 1.5 billion zlotys ($394.36 million) at the start of May, a deal which could be questioned by the European Commission if it looks like illegal state aid. To pass muster, there needs to be a convincing business plan showing the miner will start to make profits. The government also wants KW's creditors - including the Polish unit of Spain's Banco Santander BZ WBK and France's BGZ BNP Paribas to convert their debt into KW shares. Story continues "The talks are held on the highest level," a government source said, adding that the banks' final decision is expected early in the coming week. This was confirmed by another person. BZ WBK and BGZ BNP Paribas declined to comment. RISK Together, BZ WBK and BNP Paribas hold 150 million zlotys of KW's debt. Any exposure coal is considered financial risk and the European Union is considering "carbon stress-testing" its financial firms. The trade unions at KW accept cost-cutting in principle, but refuse to agree to wage cuts or layoffs. "Cuts in wages would be an act of self-destruction," Boguslaw Hutek, the head of KW's biggest trade union, said. "Now young people are thinking in a different way from the older generation. If they don't get decent earnings, they will go elsewhere." Mining's financial woes mean Silesian students are already switching to classes in solar and wind energy and away from the mining studies that traditionally guaranteed a job for life. Poland's pits have clocked up losses of billions of zlotys as world coal prices sunk to record lows. It is not the only country affected: Peabody, the world's largest privately owned coal producer, declared bankruptcy this month after a debt-fuelled expansion into Australia. Part of Poland's problem is the depth of the seams - up to 1,200 metres compared to 465 metres on average in China, the world's biggest coal producer and consumer. Deeper pits are more costly because more energy and time is required to extract coal and cool the shafts to make working conditions bearable. Despite lower costs compared with Poland, the Chinese government has said it is shifting to cleaner fuel. Michal Wilczynski, a former chief geologist in Poland and former deputy environment minister, said trying to rescue Kompania Weglowa was futile. "It's too late to rescue it. Poland's coal mines will not be effective, no matter how deep the cost cuts are, because of geology," Wilczynski said. "Rejecting the global trends would take us back to the Communist era with an isolated economy." Last year Poland's three biggest mining firms, including Kompania Weglowa, KHW and the listed JSW as well as three state-run power producers, which burn the mines' coal booked a net loss of almost 10 billion zlotys ($2.6 billion). COLLATERAL DAMAGE That might be manageable, but for all the collateral damage. The market capitalisation of Poland's biggest power group, the state-run PGE fell by over a third, or more than 11 billion zlotys in 2015, mostly because politicians involved it in helping to bail out Kompania Weglowa (KW). Even Polish firms that have sought to move away from coal were sucked in. Among Poland's utilities, Energa has the biggest portfolio of renewables; its shares fell by more than 10 percent, or more than 500 million zlotys, when it announced it would invest in KW on March 16. Two sources, one official and one from the industry, said the ministry has also been trying to convince Poland's refiner PKN Orlen to get involved in KW. The low price of coal on international markets compounds the problem. Poland lost almost 30 zlotys on every tonne of coal its mines produced last year, according to industry figures. Before he was sacked in February, KW's CEO Krzysztof Sedzikowski was battling in Brussels for EU approval to use public money to keep open loss-making mines. There is little sign Brussels will approve that, EU officials say. The Competition Commissioner has said she can only allow funding of uncompetitive mines on condition they are being phased out, which is at odds with Szydlo's electoral promise that she would not close any mines. Industry analysts say the smart approach would be to plan an orderly retreat from coal - currently nearly 90 percent of the energy mix - to more diverse supplies, including solar and wind, which they say is often the cheapest new source. But the government is working on regulations that would make new onshore wind next to impossible, something critics say makes no sense. "This is as if someone said - we are done with the mobile phones technology, we will only have fixed lines from now," Zbigniew Prokopowicz, the CEO of Polenerga, a privately owned Polish utility said. The previous government began a long-term energy strategy to 2050. The Energy Ministry did not answer Reuters questions on whether the current government was formulating its own. Earlier this year the prime minister said Poland needed to diversify for the sake of energy security, but coal would remain the basic fuel. ($1 = 3.8036 zlotys) (Additional reporting Anna Koper and Marcin Goclowski in Warsaw and Wojciech Zurawski in Katowice; editing by Philippa Fletcher) * Dozens believed trapped in rubble after quake * Cost of damage could run to several billion dollars * No irregularities reported at nuclear plants * Sony, Toyota, Honda operations affected (Adds more than 470 quakes on Japanese island since Thursday; quote from chief cabinet secretary; details of Ecuador quake) By Kaori Kaneko and Thomas Wilson TOKYO, April 17 (Reuters) - Japanese rescue teams on Sunday scoured the splintered remains of buildings destroyed by a series of deadly earthquakes in southern Japan as time ran out for finding survivors and as major Japanese manufacturers face production losses from supply chain disruptions. A 7.3 magnitude tremor struck early on Saturday, killing at least 32 people, injuring about a thousand and causing widespread damage to houses, roads and bridges, with at least one mountain highway severed in two, concrete tumbling into the valley below. In the village of Minamiaso, 11 people were "out of contact", said public broadcaster NHK. Rescuers pulled 10 students out of a collapsed university apartment in the same settlement on Saturday. "In Minamiaso, where the damage is concentrated, there may still be people trapped under collapsed buildings, so we are focusing our attention and rescue and search efforts in this area," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. It was the second major quake to hit Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours. The first, late on Thursday, killed nine people. Of more than 470 quakes hitting Kyushu since Thursday, 78 have been at least a four on Japan's intensity scale, strong enough to shake buildings. Quakes are common in Japan, part of the seismically active "Ring of Fire" which sweeps from the South Pacific islands, up through Indonesia, Japan, across to Alaska and down the west coast of the United States and Central and South America. At the other end of the ring this weekend, Ecuador's biggest earthquake in decades killed at least 77 people, caused devastation in coastal towns and left an unknown number trapped in ruins. A 6.1 magnitude quake also struck southeast of the Pacific island nation of Tonga, with no immediate reports of damage. Story continues Three nuclear plants in the southern Japanese region were unaffected by the second quake, but the Nuclear Regulation Authority said it will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday to discuss the disaster. A massive 9 magnitude quake and tsunami in northern Japan in March 2011 caused the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986, shutting down the nuclear industry for safety checks and sending radiation spewing across the countryside. The first reactor to restart was Kyushu Electric's Sendai No. 1, which is at one of the plants in the region hit on Saturday. Nearly 20,000 people were killed in the 2011 tsunami. The Kumamoto region is an important manufacturing hub. Toyota Motor Corp said it would suspend production at plants across Japan after the quakes disrupted its supply chain. Electronics giant Sony Corp said its Kumamoto image sensors plant would remain suspended. One of the company's major customers for the sensors is Apple. Meanwhile, Honda Motor Co. said production at its motorcycle plant in southern Japan would remain suspended through Friday. Suga said the government may seek a supplementary budget to cover the cost of the quakes. "We will do all that we can," Kyodo News quoted Suga as telling a press briefing. DIGGING WITH BARE HANDS All commercial flights to the damaged Kumamoto airport were cancelled and Japan's bullet train to the region suspended. Expressways are closed in wide areas because of landslides and cracks in road surfaces, hindering efforts to get supplies of water and food to survivors. Overnight, rescuers digging with their bare hands dragged some elderly survivors, still in their pyjamas, out of the rubble and onto makeshift stretchers made of tatami mats. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would boost the number of troops helping to 25,000 and had accepted a U.S offer of help with air transportation. Heavy rains fuelled worries of more landslides and with hundreds of aftershocks and fears of more quakes, thousands spent the night in evacuation centres. "It's full in there. There's not a inch to sleep or even walk about in there. It's impossible in there," a resident of Mashiki town said outside an evacuation centre. Firefighters handed out tarpaulins to residents so they could cover damaged roofs, but many homes were simply deserted. Around 62,700 households were without electricity, water supplies had been disrupted to more than 300,000 homes and some areas had lost their gas supply, said NHK. More than 110,000 people have been evacuated from the Kumamoto area, said Kyodo. Troops set up tents for evacuees and water trucks were being sent to the area while television footage showed people stranded after the fall of a bridge being rescued by helicopters. Police said 32 people had been confirmed dead in Saturday's quake. The government said about 190 of the injured were in a serious condition. The epicentre of Saturday's quake was near the city of Kumamoto and measured at a shallow depth of 10 km (six miles), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The shallower a quake, the more likely it is to cause damage. The city's 400-year-old Kumamoto Castle was badly damaged, with its walls breached after having withstood bombardment and fire in its four centuries of existence. The USGS, a science organisation that provides information on ecosystems and the environment, estimated there was a 72 percent likelihood of economic damage exceeding $10 billion, adding that it was too early to be specific. Major insurers are yet to release estimates. (Additional reporting by Linda Sieg, Elaine Lies, William Mallard, Shinichi Soashiro, Chris Gallagher, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Miniami Funakoshi and Tim Kelly; Writing by Michael Perry and Nick Macfie; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Martin Howell) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara on April 16, 2016 (AFP Photo/Adem Altan) (AFP) Ankara (AFP) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to boost trade between their two countries at talks Saturday following the lifting of most international sanctions on Tehran. They also agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism during their meeting at Erdogan's lavish palace near Ankara, just a day after Iran was accused of supporting extremists at a summit of Muslim heads of state in Istanbul. Rouhani boycotted the closing meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in protest at the rebuke. His meeting with Erdogan focussed on the Syrian conflict and trade between the two neighbours. In a joint press conference, Erdogan said he hoped bilateral trade would reach $30 billion (27 billion euros) annually. It currently stands at just $10 billion after years of sanctions. After being brought in from the cold following last year's nuclear deal with world powers, Iran is being courted by both Europe and Turkey as a potentially lucrative market for trade and investment. Rouhani called for banking and energy ties between the two nations to be enhanced as the two leaders inked several cooperation deals. Energy-hungry Turkey is dependent on Russia and Iran for its oil and natural gas but may turn more to Tehran after Ankara's relations with Moscow cooled after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane. Despite their rapprochement, Turkey and Iran remain on opposing sides of the five-year civil war in Syria. Tehran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Ankara sees Assad's ouster as key to any resolution of the conflict and supports rebels fighting to overthrow his regime. Rouhani said stability in Syria, Yemen and Iraq would benefit the Islamic world. Erdogan said despite their differences on regional issues, Turkey and Iran agreed on the need to stop the bloodshed in the region. The war in Syria has pitted Shia-majority Iran against Turkey's ally, predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia, with both aiming to increase their influence in the region. Story continues Iran and Saudi Arabia have been embroiled in a diplomatic crisis since a mob set fire to Riyadh's missions in Tehran and Mashhad in January in protest at the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric. The Turkish and Iranian leaders also agreed to seek to end sectarian divisions in the Islamic world and join forces to fight terror. "What matters is the unity of the Islamic world. We must tell the world: our identity is Islam, not to be Sunni or Shiite, or from another sect," said Rouhani. Picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) inspecting an artillery drill at an undisclosed location (AFP Photo/KCNA) (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/File) The UN Security Council strongly condemned North Korea's test-firing of a missile, saying that the launch violated UN resolutions even if it was a failure. The council demanded that North Korea refrain from further actions in violation of resolutions barring Pyongyang from developing ballistic missile technology. In a unanimous statement, the council said it would closely monitor the situation and was ready to "take further significant measures" against the reclusive state. "Although the DPRK's ballistic missile launch was a failure, this attempt constituted a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," the statement said. Last month, the council imposed its toughest sanctions to date on North Korea after Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test and fired a rocket that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test. Since the adoption of the new sweeping sanctions, North Korea has carried out at least two sets of ballistic missile launches that the council has condemned. During Friday's attempt, the missile disappeared from tracking radar a few seconds after its launch and was believed to have exploded in midair, according to a Seoul intelligence official quoted by the Yonhap news agency. Asked about the failed launch, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said: "We certainly are aware of the recent reports of activity by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is alarming." "We once again call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for restraint." The launch took place on the birthday of founding leader Kim Il-Sung. In Washington, a Pentagon official said the test-firing of what appeared to be a medium-range missile ended in catastrophic failure. "I can tell you it was a fiery, catastrophic attempt at a launch that was not successful," Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. The missile was likely "road-mobile" -- or transportable -- because it had been launched from an area on the east coast of North Korea where tests don't normally occur, Davis said. Story continues Recent intelligence reports suggested North Korea was preparing for the first-ever flight test of its Musudan missile, which is believed to be capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. Davis said the latest launch attempt would surely factor into conversations between Washington and Seoul about the deployment to South Korea of the sophisticated THAAD system -- Theater High Altitude Area Defense System. "This is something that's being done because of North Korea's continued provocations," he said. 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. Welcome to followthemedia.com The article or material you have chosen... ftm Radio Page ...is available for restricted access. You may access this specific article or material for 4 If you are an ftm Member, please go to the home page HERE and log in ftm Members can access all site material at no additional charge. You can JOIN ftm here The ftm newsletter available at no charge to all with registration To register click here. The United Nations has reported 600 civilian deaths in Afghanistan in the first quarter of this year -- down 13 percent from the first three months of 2015. The latest figures released by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on April 17 also showed that the number of civilian injuries was 11 percent higher to 1,343 during the same period. The report said intensified fighting in populated areas caused a 29 percent increase in child casualties and a 5 percent increase in casualties among women. Danielle Bell, UNAMAs human rights director, says women and children have borne the brunt of the violence. "In the first quarter of 2016, almost one-third of civilian casualties were children," Bell says in the report. "If the fighting persists near schools, playgrounds, homes, and clinics, and parties continue to use explosive weapons in those areas ... these appalling numbers of children killed and maimed will continue." UNAMA estimates that 60 percent of casualties were caused by anti-government forces but noted a jump in those caused by security forces using explosive weapons like mortars and grenades. Militants have denied previous allegations of targeting and killing civilians. "Even if a conflict intensifies, it does not have to be matched by corresponding civilian suffering provided parties take their international humanitarian law and human rights obligations seriously," Nicholas Haysom, the UN envoy to Afghanistan, said in a statement. "Failure to respect humanitarian obligations will result in more suffering in a nation that has suffered enough," he added. Last year, there were 11,002 civilian casualties, including 3,545 deaths, according to UN figures released in February. The figures come days after the Taliban announced the start of its annual spring offensive. Civilian casualties are expected continue to rise in the months ahead as the Taliban intensify their operations against government forces in the warmer months. With reporting by AP and AFP You already called your seat. Drivers side, second row, right by the finest view of the road. Its the best place for wind in your hair, sun on your face, and the vacation of your life: this year, youre going on a ride, and with National Parks Guide U.S.A. by National Geographic Kids, youll make the most out of your time. Imagine what the United States looked like four centuries ago. Youd probably see tall grasses, wild animals, huge trees, and mountains. The good news is that youll see those exact things looking just as early Americans saw them in the over 84-million acres we call our National Parks. Wow. Why do we have so much parkland? A hundred years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt made it his mission to preserve as much natural land as possible, so that future generations could enjoy it. So whats your family interested in seeing this summer? Do you like history or hiking? Swimming or soldiers? Animals or American statues? Youll find them all in parks and youll find them in this book. Starting on the East side of the country, you can visit Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and see whats underground. You can tour the Everglades in Florida, or bathe in a hot spring in Arkansas . In the Midwest, the Badlands arent bad at all for hiking. You can also thank Theodore Roosevelt personally by visiting his National Park in North Dakota. Visit the worlds longest cave in South Dakota , go whitewater rafting at a national park in Texas or look for desert animals in New Mexico . And you cant, of course, miss the Grand Canyon ! Its amazing. In the West, there are forests to see, and lots of spooky sites. Theres Glacier National Park in Montana to roam; you can hike Denali in Alaska, see whales in Washington, or visit a volcano in Hawaii. Dont forget your binoculars. And dont forget this book! So you say youre plagued by AreWeThereYet-AreWeThereYet-AreWeThereYet on every vacation? You can minimize that maybe eliminate it by securing a copy of National Parks Guide U.S.A. before you even leave. Theres a lot of goodness packed into 176 pages here: kids can learn about the wildlife they might encounter at each park listed. Theyll get stats on the park, including size and a website, so they can sleuth more info themselves. There are ranger tips here, hints on resting and picnicking, and tips for relaxing and taking in the scenery. For kids who are fit and super active, this book includes extreme fun they might find and extra activities they can do. There are chapters on packing, specifics on animals and endangered creatures, info on unusual monuments and sculptures to visit near the parks and, as youd expect from the National Geographic folks, dozens and dozens of full-color pictures. For 7-to-13-year-olds, that makes for a perfect book to keep them happy during your vacation and to serve as a nice keepsake. Before heading out, therefore, find National Parks Guide U.S.A. Your kids will call it awesome. MASON CITY Claudia A. Rye, 92, of Mason City, died Friday, April 15, 2016, of natural causes, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at Epiphany Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. Neil Manternach officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2016, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City. A Scriptural Wake Service will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary to follow Monday evening at the funeral home. Family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of North Iowa. Claudia Agnes (Mills) Rye was born Feb. 18, 1924, the daughter of Everett and Winifred (Aldrich) Mills in rural Worth County. Claudia was the first of five children. She graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in Mason City in 1943 and worked in sales at Younkers. Claudia met Thomas Rye at the Surf Ballroom in 1944 and they were married on Jan. 29, 1945, at the Base Chapel at Camp Lejeune Marine Base, Parris Island, SC, where her husband was a Marine Corps drill instructor following World War II. They returned to Mason City with their first child, Sue Ann Rye, in 1947. They had six additional children born in Mason City. In 1948, Tom and Claudia built their first of three homes along the banks of Willow Creek. As the family grew, they built progressively larger homes. Claudia was a very talented artist who instilled a love beautiful things, works of art and creative endeavors, in her children. She was proud to exhibit her paintings on various occasions at the MacNider Art Museum and the Mason City Public Library. She was always willing to take on a new project and develop a new artistic direction. Her children have fond memories of their mother pursuing various artistic techniques, such as painting, jewelry making, clay and bronze sculpting, drawing, picture framing, and floral arrangement. They remember going out on cold autumn days to search the ditches for dried material for seasonal arrangements. She also loved antique buying, selling, and collecting. Raising seven children was a challenge, but Claudia insisted that her family enjoy vacationing and travel; which meant camping. A group that large was an enjoyable experience for the kids, but a monumental challenge for the parents that included sleeping on the ground, cooking over sterno stoves, and using laundromats. Only on very rare occasions were restaurants visited in those early years of camping. Her family fondly remembers discovering the wonderful locations that were accessible by automobile on those annual vacations. Claudia was always proud of her clean and well maintained home and was an avid decorator. She loved to rearrange furniture and decorate for the different seasons. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed making and altering clothes for her girls and herself. All of her children know how to use a needle and thread, at least for minor repairs or to replace a button. She taught her children self-reliance and ingenuity. She believed that if you could read, you could learn anything. She was devoted to and loved by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Claudia was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and served in the St. Francis Circle. She enjoyed reading, genealogy, visiting and spending time with her friends and family. She especially enjoyed getting together with their card club, which started over 35 years ago. Claudia is survived by seven children, Sue Ann (Dr. Daniel) Hayes of Mason City, Robert T. (Linda) Rye of Placerville, CA, William M. (Cherie) Rye of Mason City, Chris D. (Julie) Rye of Mason City, Steve P. (Vicky) Rye of Mason City, Julie M. (Dr. Martin) Meindl of Mason City, and Jennifer A. (Daniel) Ramaeker of Mason City; 19 grandchildren, Traci Kendrick, Melissa Alexander, Mark Eatman, Colleen Hayes, Michael Rye, Carl Rye, Andy Rye, Allan Rye, Sara Thomas, Rachel Rye, Mike Reindl, Matthew Reindl, Jocelyn Johansen, Thomas Johansen, Shane Ramaeker, Seth Ramaeker, Dr. Devon Ramaeker, David Meindl, and Brian Meindl; many great-grandchildren; several great-great grandchildren; a sister, Pat Hofler, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas M. Rye in 1993; parents, Everett and Winifred Mills; a mother-in-law, Margaret Rye and father-in-law, Carl Rye; a sister, Mary Rigdon; two brothers, Jim and Donald Mills; a sister-in-law, Shirley (Midge) Mills; a brother-in-law, Don Rigdon; brothers-in-law, Donald and Curtis Rye; daughter-in-law, Jacquelyn Rye; a grandson, Daniel Eatman; a great-grandson, Logan Ray Lester; and three nephews, Danny Mills, Bobby Hegenbarth and Rolland Mills. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, 641-423-2372, ColonialChapels.com. JoelCairo wrote: Honestly, I feel like the best value online MBAs would be from Non -Top schools. Here's my reasoning: An online MBA is good for skill acquisition only, it doesn't offer the ancillary MBA experience benefits (read: networking). For this reason, it will be the ultimate "make of it what you will" kind of thing: you can acquire just as many hard skills from a lower-ranked program as from a higher-ranked one if you just put in the effort. Therefore, you should shop online MBAs primarily on price. At a prestigious school's web-based MBA, you'll likely pay more, but not for a better education. You'll be paying exclusively for the name, without the networking access that usually comes with that name. Sure, you'll be put in a cohort of people you'll know through the internet, and sure you'll have access to the school's career services office and alum community, but nothing will replace the peer-group bonding, intellectual cross-pollinating, etc that happens in an on campus program. As for the signalling function of a prestigious school on your resume ("wow, this candidate went to X, he must be more competent than others"), I think it is too early in the Online MBA era to tell how they are regarded by hiring committees. Is the signal discounted by not being full-time? How much of an asterisk does it put next to the fancy name? University of Phoenix is the first name in online degrees, and the first thing most people think of in online education, so I wonder if they aren't tarnishing the whole category. Basically, a lower-ranked program can offer you everything a higher-ranked program can online, and that which a higher-ranked program offers that a lower-ranked program doesn't can't be gotten online anyway. Very interesting perspective!I guess the question I have is how much face to face interaction do you get with the online MBA. I would guess there is probably at least one or two meetings every semester to kick it off in person and then continue online..... or maybe not.I am also wondering how much in-class interaction is happening between students. I learned quite a bit from my classmates - perhaps much more than from the professors in my program, so I wonder if this aspect comes in to play.Finally, many decisions, things, projects are born at the water cooler or at the snack table - that's another item that online programs can't offer... at least in the traditional format._________________ HOWDIEEEE.. to anyone who reads this...!!Now I have a very specific situation (thats what i think ) so i am submitting my info to which i would love to hear from anyone who has the adequate knowledge to address my concernsHeres my BACKGROUND10th grade=> 73%12th grade => 74% (a science student)Then i took an year off as i did not get into the a decent engineering college..Trust me here- i got into many colleges but all of them were Pretty much CRAP (sorry for the curse but i am being bluntly honest here)In the mean time I assisted my father during the day and studied during night..I am not sure that experience will count for business schools nevertheless i am very proud that i did that as at an early age i got to understand as to how someone who runs an industry actually functions..The Gap year proved fruitful as i got into GGSIPU Delhi plus i got a pretty good and a decorated college in the Capital city..Engineering was Good in fact great ..Aggregate=> 71%(B.Tech In Information tech)Now to be honest with you guys i was working with my father during my engineering years as well ..I would literally pick up documents and do other chores for him (Yes He Paid Me too)Here is the real problem why i wrote this piece =>My age is 23 years and 330 daysI will be 24 next month..!!I graduated in June 2015..And from DAY 1 i have been working with my father in our Family business..Initially i was hesitant to join him as i was an IT engineer and my family is into Footwear business. Then I started to love my JOB [Common we make shoes and other footwear's for a living. Who would not love that rightNow almost an year later i feel like i need to grow my business outreach..Trust me when i say this - Work is Fine..But the glitch is => "i want to take my family Business to places" Actually i want that to be Awesome instead of just Fine (sorry for the choice of words )Hence i need an MBA..And to much of my surprise my father stands right by me in this decision..! In fact He told me that its a very mature move..!!I know most of you might think its too early for an MBABut honestly guys Waiting for another 2 or 3 years will not take my business anywhere .It will be in a stand still.Plus i think i have the added advantage of working with my father in my initial GAP year where i assisted him if it counts.So it goes without saying => I DON'T ONLY WANT AN MBA ; I NEED AN MBA..!!secondly i am a bit confused about this work experience thing ..!!Most of the business schools require 2 years of work experience in there applicants ..What does 2 years mean?till the program actually starts or till the time you fill out your applicationIf i apply in 2016 for fall 2017 admissions then by the time i actually start my school in September i will be having 2 years and 2 months of experience.. I guess that would do..???WHAT ARE THE SCHOOLS I CAN TARGET ???Top 20 can i get in ?Okay Top30?Top40?i am flexible as long as it in the Top 40-45Common Guys Help me get into top 40 at-least..!!!! I don't want to wait ..!!I am into manufacturing shoes and other footwear so anything related to MARKETING AND ADVERTISING would be Fabulous ..Plus i like Advertising.Now if (only if) i wait another year( which probably would not do any good to my industry ) then will it increase my chances of getting admitted..GMAT => Appearing this October..I think i can get a good score..i will try for 700 maybe ..I will Dig that (i have started preparing)now to the most important part=>Community services => I am an active part of an Organisation which rescues street dogs and treats them until they are healthy..I have been a part of this organisation from my engineering days ..the reason i do it it i honestly believe in the work we do..We organise dog shows too..Positions held => "I am not given any designations actually .. I am responsible for marketing and supply ..Plus sometimes manufacturing too. Family business comes with several added responsibilities tooThe Post MBA goals => " I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO MY HOME COUNTRY THE DAY AFTER I GET AN MBA . Off course i would like to do an internship however..But apart from that i have one any only one vision that is to Do Justice to my family business and take it to a level it deserves"ANYONE WHO READS THIS Please Feel free TO POST any suggestions You guys Have for me... It will be really helpful..Love and respect to everyoneStone ColdP.S => Don't let my user name mislead you ..!! I am an indian candidate_________________ As far as salary playing a role when comparing two people in the same industry and the same job....I wouldn't worry about that. Everyone knows that women typically get offered or negotiate for 15-20% less than men for example. Adcoms also know that different companies have different pay scales. A lower salary may be a sign that you need to up your negotiation skills (and need an MBA more than the person making 20% more than you!!!!When I applied to MIT Sloan I was working for a small consulting firm in Rome - my job was very interesting but the salaries in Italy are very low - the adcom never brought it up to me in interview.I would not worry about salary.Best of luck! A Maryland man was fatally shot by NYPD officers early Sunday morning during a traffic stop in Ozone Park, Queens. According to police, two plainclothes officers stopped beside a double-parked car on 135th Street, where they found a man holding an open bottle of alcohol. Officers approached the suspect, who family members identified to ABC News as George Tillman, a 32-year-old father of five and licensed electrician from Maryland. Tillman was allegedly carrying a firearm in his waistband, and fled the NYPD as they approached. Witnesses told the Daily News that Tillman and another passenger had been searching for a parking spot when they were stopped. As Tillman reached the corner of 135th Street and 116th Avenue he neared a second unmarked police car carrying three officers. According to police, Tillman reached for his gun and four officers opened fire, shooting him multiple times in the chest. EMS rushed Tillman to Jamaica Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. "They pulled him over. He ran and they shot him," nearby resident Lashauna Brown told the News. "Another guy ran and they caught him." Police did not confirm whether or not Tillman fired his weapon, or how many times he was shot by officers' rounds. A relative told ABC that Tillman had been in New York City for a family birthday, and had been getting into a car with his wife and cousin when the officers arrived. The cops shot an innocent person, a loving father, husband and a very good family man, Tillman's aunt, Helen Leak, told CBS. We lost a good person. Thats all we can say. Police confirmed that several officers were transported to Long Island Jewish Medical Center for treatment and evaluation after the shooting, despite sustaining no injuries. A .40 caliber Hi-Point handgun was recovered at the scene. Police add the investigation is ongoing. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today Culture Salman Rushdie loses eye, use of hand in attack: Agent The British writer Salman Rushdie, who was attacked in the United States in August, lost sight in one of his eyes and paralyzed his hand, as well as other injuries, according to what his agent indicated in a statement released to the media. NORTHFIELD, Vt. (AP) Almost 200 years after Vermont native Alden Partridge set up the nation's first private military college on the banks of the Connecticut River, thousands of young women and men across the country are perpetuating his dream of having civilian-educated officers leading the nation's military. On Thursday, some of the nation's top military officers will be at Vermont's Norwich University, the descendant of the school created by Partridge in 1819 in Norwich, Vermont, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, now known as ROTC, which produces about 70 percent of the nation's military officers. After Partridge, an 1806 graduate of West Point, founded the school that evolved into the present-day Norwich University, the idea of civilian schools that train military officers expanded throughout the growing United States. Now about 275 colleges and universities across the country host ROTC programs. The size of the military has grown and shrunk over the decades, but the need for young officers remains. Now as the United States eases out of 15 years of war in Afghanistan that followed years of fighting in Iraq, the Army is shrinking, but the number of officers for the regular Army, National Guard and reserves being commissioned through ROTC remains steady at just over 5,000 a year. "We all know we are going to be fighting again," said Norwich University President Richard Schneider, whose school, now located in Northfield, is expected to commission about Army 80 officers next month. The school is also expected to commission 11 into the Air Force and 32 into the Navy and Marines. The two-day symposium on the Norwich campus in Northfield is scheduled to be attended by 12 general and flag officers, who will be focusing on what roles ROTC and citizen soldiers will play going forward. On Thursday evening, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, an ROTC graduate of Princeton University, will give the keynote speech. On Friday, a panel led by Gen. David Perkins, the commanding general of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, will look at the role ROTC will play in the next century. Many of the nation's top military officers were trained to fight a traditional war against the Soviet Union. Now, threats that young officers must confront are changing daily and they must be trained to adapt, Maj. Gen. Peggy Combs, the commander of the Army's Cadet Command, which oversees the ROTC programs, told The Associated Press in an interview. "For the future in this dynamic and evolving, very dangerous world that is unknown we have to develop an ROTC, I believe, of thinkers, folks that are confident in their ability to develop a situation, think their way through a problem, both critically, creatively, systematically and most importantly, in our business, ethically," said Combs, who attended Syracuse University as an ROTC student and ended up making the Army her career. Before President Woodrow Wilson signed the Defense Act of 1916, Norwich and dozens of other colleges supplied officers to the military, but the soldiers, sailors and Marines received direct commissions from their branches of the armed or from their state's militia systems, said Leo Daugherty, the historian for the U.S. Army Cadet Command. "It was very haphazard," he said. Norwich has ROTC programs for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Over the course of those four years, the students are taught the military basics, but they are now, as Combs said, being asked to become thinkers who can lead the military against evolving threats. "They have a wide breadth of things we have to put into their kit bags before we validate and say 'OK, This young person is the type of American that we want to put in charge of America's sons and daughters,'" said Army Col. Eric Brigham, who oversees the Army ROTC program at Norwich. Seeing Norwich recognized for its role as the birthplace of ROTC is giving the current students a sense of pride. "It reminds us of what our roots are and why we're here, what you can achieve and what you can do," said Norwich junior nursing student and ROTC cadet Annelies Heni, 20, of New York. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Some of the top business stories from the past week include: Local/state LAYOFFS ANNOUNCED: An Appleton-based welding and manufacturing company says it has laid off 76 employees. The employees were laid off by Miller Electric. Miller Electric group president Becky Tuchscherer says the layoffs involved office and plant employees. Tuchscherer says the workforce reduction was announced as a result of lower demand for products in industries also experiencing production slowdown, like oil and gas. FINAL ORDER ENTERED: A Madison judge has entered a final order declaring Wisconsins right-to-work law unconstitutional. Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust issued the order Friday, setting the stage for state attorneys to file a request for a stay. A state Justice Department spokesman had no immediate comment. Right-to-work laws prohibit businesses and unions from reaching agreements that require all workers, not just union members, to pay union dues. Three unions alleged in a lawsuit that the law amounts to an unconstitutional taking of services since the statutes mean the unions must represent non-union workers who dont have to pay dues. Foust agreed in a decision on April 8. His order Friday formalizes his ruling. LAWSUIT SETTLED: Neenah Paper will pay $33,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of an employee who has a seizure disorder. The lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accused the papermaker of violating federal law by refusing to allow Kristoffer Gauthier to return to his job on the production floor of its paper mill in Munising, Michigan, for seven months because of his seizure disorder. USA Today Network (http://post.cr/1VlEJPr ) says the EEOC claimed Neenah Paper required Gauthier to take his anti-seizure medication under observation in order to return to work. The agency says the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against workers because of medical conditions. Around the world BLEAK PICTURE PAINTED: World finance officials who meet in Washington this week confront a bleak picture: Eight years after the financial crisis erupted, the global economy remains fragile and at risk of another recession. The IMF on Tuesday downgraded its outlook for growth for most regions and for the global economy as a whole. It now foresees a weaker financial landscape than it did in January. STRONG DEMAND: Demand for Teslas new Model 3 has been eye-popping, with consumers pre-ordering about $13.7 billion worth of the electric sedans nearly two years before they go on sale. Yet experts arent yet ready to proclaim its a tipping point with mainstream America moving from burning gasoline to charging batteries. The reason? Most of the 325,000 people worldwide who put down $1,000 deposits are environmentally conscious early adopters. The $35,000 price tag and the Model 3s 215-mile range are important, but the brands tech image and CEO Elon Musks success in cars, rockets and solar panels are the main drivers. FAILING GRADES: Federal regulators say five of the biggest banks in the U.S. failed to develop adequate plans for how they might reshape themselves in case of bankruptcy, which could leave them unable to survive without another taxpayer bailout. The Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. cited the banks Wednesday for gaps in their bankruptcy plans known as living wills that they were required to submit. The five banks with a total of about $5.6 trillion in assets were among eight Wall Street behemoths whose plans were evaluated. AIR BAG DANGER: About 85 million Takata air bag inflators that havent been recalled are inside cars and trucks now being driven in the U.S. and would have to be replaced if the company cant prove they are safe, the government said Wednesday. The number would be in addition to the 28.8 million inflators already slated for replacement in what has become the largest automotive recall in the nations history. If all the inflators are recalled, they would total almost 114 million. A recall that massive would take years to complete and cost Takata billions of dollars. DELTA EARNINGS UP: Cheaper jet fuel continues to give airlines a lift, helping Delta boost its first-quarter earnings by 27 percent to $946 million. The airline spent one-third less on fuel than it did a year earlier, a savings of more than $700 million. The news was not entirely rosy for Delta, however. Revenue dipped 1 percent as passengers continued to pay slightly less for every mile they flew. Technology CHANGES COMING: Facebook says people who use its Messenger chat service will soon be able to order flowers, shop for shoes and talk with a variety of businesses by sending them direct text messages. And if you havent chatted with those businesses on Messenger in a while, theyll be able to send you a paid message that offers a special deal or other incentive to shop. The week ahead Business events scheduled for the coming week include: MONDAY: National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for April. TUESDAY: Commerce Department releases housing starts for March. WEDNESDAY: National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for March. THURSDAY: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates. State Journal staff and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Frustrated with the process of submitting his music to blogs, Color Theory's Brian Hazard decided to give the service SubmitHub a try and detailed his resulting experience here. __________________________ Guest Post by Brian Hazard on Passive Promotion I hate submitting my music to blogs. Hate hate hate. The process goes something like this: Scour Hype Machine for blogs in my genre. Comment on said blogs regularly to develop a personal relationship. Gather relevant email addresses. Assemble a compelling pitch for my latest and greatest song. New email, copy/paste, send, rinse, repeat. Wait in vain for a response. Hey, I understand. Music bloggers can receive hundreds of submissions per day. Theres no way they can check out that many songs, much less provide feedback. Its not like theyre getting paid! But what if they did get paid? Not for exposure. Were not talking payola here. Just a token amount to compensate them for their time. Say $0.50? That just might work. SubmitHub, created by Jason Grishkoff of Indie Shuffle, centralizes the submission process and rewards bloggers for focused listening and timely responses. You can submit your song to dozens of blogs (currently 59) for a buck a pop less if you buy credits in bulk. Bloggers receive $0.50 per submission for their time and consideration. They have 48 hours to listen to at least 20 seconds of your song, decide whether or not to feature it on their blog, and provide at least 10 words of feedback if they decline. If that criteria isnt met, your credit is refunded. Premium vs. Standard Credits Ive described the premium submission process, which is what I recommend. But there is another option. If youve got more time than money, you can submit to two blogs every four hours for free. I tried standard credits for my first submission. It was rather unpleasant. Within two hours, both blogs declined, no explanation provided. If you want to give the free route a shot, you can maximize your odds of success by choosing wisely. Go to their stats page, click to sort by Response rate (Standard), and submit to blogs most likely to respond or approve. Nobody is getting rich listening to songs for $0.50 each. Out of respect for everybodys time, premium is the way to go. How to submit your music to blogs The submission process couldnt be easier! Choose Premium or Standard credits, then narrow down the candidates by selecting the appropriate filters: Youre presented with a sortable list of blogs: Select the ones you want to submit to, provide a little info on your release, and youre off to the races! Heres what it looks like from the bloggers end, courtesy of Aaron Vehling of Vehlinggo (who recently conducted a great interview with me). My SubmitHub results, round one I paid $40 for 50 credits, then promptly submitted to 27 blogs with a high response rate. I included a short bio and noted that the song is from my upcoming album. The declines started rolling in immediately. This time though, the emails included explanations, ranging from helpful to contradictory to nonsensical. For the most part, the comments from music bloggers were indistinguishable from those from Audiokite listeners. Heres a representative selection: Kinda slick piano and singing reminds me a bit of Ben Folds. But Im not sure I can dig the vocals enough to blog. Also seems a touch of auto-tune shows up here and there. Autotune on vocals isnt sounding strong enough for us. Needs work. The vocals are cool but I did not enjoy the music and the lyrics. Vocals have a weird melody with the piano. It clashes at weird places. The production is amazing, but the vocals on here are definitely for me. I like where your heads at but the vocals sound waaay to loud/dry/wide all at once hah. Keep on working but consider outsourcing the mixing aspect. Its hard to focus otherwise. The production is nice but the melody is very linear. Interesting melodies here! I like the progression of your piano chords; you are definitely a talented piano player! The trance-like bass is also an interesting addition. Consider altering the lyrics a bit so they dont follow a clear path along the beat. Right now they dont really stray from the piano which I think hinders your success in hooking us in via your vocals. Some thoughtful feedback for sure, but taken as a whole, it doesnt tell me how to make the song better other than perhaps revisiting the pitch correction on the vocals. Out of the 27 blogs that I submitted to, 24 responded. I was refunded 3 credits. Not bad at all! The response rate, that is. My results, on the other hand, were disheartening. Only one blogger approved the track for a blog post/review, ideally within the next week. He asked for the press release, artwork, and social media links, which I promptly supplied. Nine days later, Im not seeing the song on his blog. My SubmitHub results, round two Undeterred, I invested another $40 in 50 more credits and refined my strategy. For starters, I read about each blog, rather than just submitting blindly. It isnt immediately obvious, but you can click on a blog name from the home page to reveal a description, stats, and accepted genres. This time I didnt avoid blogs with a low response rate. Why bother? Worst case, you get your credit back. Initially I planned to pass on the blogs that clearly arent a good fit, based on their comments from the last song. Unfortunately for my wallet, my pride got the best of me. I thought I could win them over (I didnt). Finally, I tweaked my pitch. Instead of just a short bio, I started off with an offer they couldnt refuse, or so I thought: 80s synthpop + EDM + classical piano. All features will be promoted multiple times to my 2.1M Twitter followers. Followed by a Dropbox link to hi-res photos, the same short bio, and links to social media. Everything they needed for a feature was at their fingertips! Out of the 37 blogs that I submitted to, only 24 responded with feedback within 48 hours. I was refunded 13 credits. But that doesnt tell the whole story! Two of them didnt include feedback, and four more without feedback came in after the deadline. When all was said and done, 30 of the 37 blogs checked out the track, leaving me with 52 credits for future submissions. This time I received three approvals. Just like last time, one said they were going to post in the next week, but it hasnt happened yet. One shared my track with their 1,000 Twitter followers, and another reposted it on SoundCloud to 419 followers. Should you try SubmitHub? My experience with SubmitHub has been both humbling and enlightening. Clearly my music is not relevant to the vast majority of music blogs in my genre. For $38.40, I received 44 mini-critiques, two potential blog posts, a tweet, and a repost. Thats far less than I hoped for or expected, but it reaffirms my focus on pleasing the fans I already have. Im confident many (most?) of you will have better luck! If youre going to submit your music to blogs, SubmitHub is the way to go. Its cheap, transparent, painless, and fair to both parties. Give it a shot and share your thoughts and strategies in the comments! Update: Jeff at SubmitHub was kind enough to share this article with the bloggers on the platform. Shortly thereafter, Salacious Sound came through with the promised post on my first song. Would it have happened anyway? Probably! According to a June 2015 Gallup poll, 91 percent of Americans say they have no objection to voting for a Jewish candidate for president. In 2008 Hillary Clinton ran to be the first woman nominated by a major party for president but lost the nomination to the first African-American to be nominated. Eight years later in 2016, she is still running to be the first woman to be nominated, but most news coverage overlooks the fact that Bernie Sanders could also break a barrier as the first Jewish candidate to be nominated. Sanders is much more secular than religious in his Jewish identity but he would break a religious barrier for president nevertheless. In 1928, Gov. Al Smith of New York was the first Roman Catholic nominated by a major party but a Catholic did not win the office until Jack Kennedy did in 1960. It must be frustrating for Hillary Clinton not to have exclusive claim on the only possible historic first even in her second try for president. If nominated, Ted Cruz would be the first Cuban-American and Donald Trump would be the first with Scottish and German heritage and John Kasich also has German heritage, which was first in the ancestry of President Herbert Hoover. This information is not new ; it is just being brought to the forefront as a health crisis is emerging in Illinois. ComEd is using the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, also known as the smart grid modernization bill (written by ComEd lobbyists), and the Illinois Commerce Commissions interpretation of that bill, as justification for installing millions of wireless smart meters. Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) is pushing for the deployment of 4,000,000 smart meters despite the fact that government agencies and the military have known for decades that Radio Frequency/microwaves can cause serious health effects. The RF/microwave emissions from smart meters are listed by the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC as a Class 2B Carcinogen. That makes this the first time in history a known carcinogen has been mandated on ALL homes, schools, and government buildings. Barrier Trower, a retired British Secret Service Microwave Weapons specialist, states: The paradox is how Radio Frequency/microwave radiation can be used as a weapon to cause impairment, illness and death; and at the same time be used as a communications instrument [such as in smart meters]. Trower continues, By 1971 we knew everything that needed to be known. A 1976 document summarizing U.S. Defense Intelligence research lists all of the health hazards caused by wireless devices and concludes: This should be kept secret to preserve industrial profit. Jerry Flynn, is a retired Canadian Armed Forces captain with specialized training and 22 years of experience in Electronic Warfare and Signals Intelligence. Flynn has worked with U.S. and NATO armies in this specialized capacity. He writes: The U.S. military has known for decades that the RF/microwave frequencies most harmful to man are those within the band 900 MHz to 5 GHz. These frequencies penetrate all organs of the body, thus putting all human organ systems at risk. Smart meters emit these precise frequencies which, when combined with certain pulsed modulation characteristics and power densities, are most harmful to the brain, central nervous system, immune system, and can cause cancers. This is precisely why these frequencies are used in Microwave weapons of war. ComEd smart meters contain two transmitters emitting high-intensity pulsed signals every few seconds in two frequencies within the most harmful range mentioned by Flynn. One frequency is 900 MHz used for the wireless network that relays data from the smart meter on one house to the smart meter on another house and then on to a collector which sends the data to ComEd. The second frequency, 2.45 GHz, is used for appliances inside the house to transmit data to the smart meter. Although ComEd claims that data is only transmitted six times a day, what they neglect to mention is that smart meters also emit high-intensity RF/microwave pulses each time they perform network management functions. According to California court documents, a single smart meter can emit these pulses on average 10,000 to 190,000 a day. The number of pulses depends on where in the mesh network the smart meter is located and how often it is relaying data from other neighbors meters. It is these around-the-clock, high-intensity pulses within the frequency range most harmful to humans that make smart meters so damaging. Consider 4,000,000 ComEd smart meters blanketing Illinois with billions of pulses in these frequencies being emitted every day, forever. Basis for FCC guidelines: Health or Profits? The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) knew decades ago, for according to Gittleman, back in the 1950s there were growing concerns as to the dangers of these low-level microwaves, so the U.S. military had sought safety limits. The current FCC safety limits are based on thermal exposure alone. The FCC guidelines are ten times more lenient than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have permitted to protect the general population from the health hazards of RF/microwave radiation. In the late 1980s, the EPA radiation division, staffed with practicing biologists and epidemiologists, decided on a safe limit for human exposure. Before the announcement was made, industry intervened, federal funding for that division of the EPA was cut, and the FCC was given the task of setting the RF/microwave guidelines for the public. The FCC, made up of bureaucrats and engineers, had no experience or training in setting health related guidelines. Therefore, from the beginning, FCC guidelines were set at a limit that was too lenient to protect the general population. Government agencies respond to the FCC guidelines Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1993: scare the American public. FCC exposure standards are seriously flawed. In fact, 40 EPA scientists released a 393 page report titled, An Evaluation of the Potential resolution proposing classifying RF/EMF fields a probable carcinogen. The White House silenced the classification stating it would, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 1993: : FCC rules do not address the issue of long-tern chronic exposure to Radio Frequency fields. Data strongly suggests that RF/microwaves can accelerate the development of cancer. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)a division of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1994: : FCCs standard is inadequate because it is only based on adverse health effects caused by body tissue heating (which means thermal ). Environmental Protection Agency, 2002: : FCCs current Radio Frequency/microwave exposure guidelines are thermally based , and do not apply to chronic, non-thermal exposure situations. Norbert Hankin, Director, Radiation Protection Division Medical and legal groups respond to the FCC guidelines Today there are more than 900 health and environmentally conscious groups sending comments to the FCC as part of the agencys reassessment of the guidelines. The American Academy of Pediatrics, with headquarters in Illinois, is one of these concerned medical organizations. The Academy of Environmental Medicine, along with the American Academy of Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), are two more such groups. All of these organizations are concerned with saving the environment and preserving public health from the government approved harmful levels of microwave radiation. ComEd touts compliance with FCC standards to assure the public that smart meters are safe. However, FCC exposure guidelines are irrelevant since the limit set is for thermal exposure. ComEd smart meters subject the public to chronic non-thermal exposure. Which authorities knew or should have known of RF/microwave harm? The U.S. military and intelligence agencies: As early as the 1950s, the military and intelligence agencies were aware of the health effects from RF/microwaves. From 1,000 classified studies, it was apparent that even low-level RF/microwaves could create bio-effects that could be used to disrupt the enemy in covert, or battlefield operations. RF/microwaves could be utilized to create confusion, slow reaction time, create nausea, and shock adversaries in the field. NASA: This space agency has been studying the health effects for years to facilitate protection from electromagnetic radiation for astronauts traveling in space. Government Health Departments: These departments are charged with protecting public health and have a responsibility to keep up on studies. At this time, there are thousands of peer-reviewed studies showing adverse biological and health effects. The Department of Energy: It is the duty of this agency to investigate negative health effects before launching such an expansive national project. No health data was considered before deployment of billions of smart meters in wireless networks. The World Health Organization: In 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC categorized Radio Frequency emissions from all wireless devices as a Class 2B Carcinogen. ComEds wireless smart meters fall into this category. Although the IARC classification has been known for five years, the deployment of 4,000,000 ComEd smart meters is still being mandated. The Telecom executives: Two decades ago Dr. George Carlo, who was in charge of the Wireless Technology Research (WTR) project in 1993 informed the Telecom executives. He reported the results of the research which revealed an alarming increase in tumors and many other health related problems. Lloyds of London: This well-known insurance underwriter now specifically excludes liability coverage for claims directly or indirectly resulting from electromagnetic radiation and illnesses caused by continuous, long-term, (non-thermal) radiation exposure. ComEds wireless smart meters will inflict continuous, long-term, (non-thermal) radiation exposure on all life forms. Utilities, such as ComEd: Utilities have been charged with providing safe delivery of electricity. Clearly, there has been no investigation into the safety of incorporating into the electric grid a product utilizing this dangerous technology. What scientists recognize about the emerging public health crisis The International EMF Scientist Appeal has been signed by 190 scientists from 39 nations. These scientists have collectively published over 2,000 peer-reviewed papers on the biological or health effects of non-thermal radiation and are calling upon the United Nations, World Health Organization, and UN member states to: Address the emerging public health crisis related to wireless devices, wireless utility meters [smart meters] and wireless infrastructure. Urge that UN Environmental Program initiate an assessment of current exposure standards [in order] to substantially lower human exposures to non-thermal radiation. Take a planetary view of potential for harm that EMF pollution presents to biologythe evolution, health, well-being and very survival of all living organisms worldwide. Illinois politicians and members of the General Assembly: What do they know? Members of the General Assembly, who voted to pass the smart grid modernization bill, (after ComEds lobbyists were able to muscle the bill through, according to the Illinois Attorney General), and/or voted to override Governor Quinns veto, might want to take another look at the health threat being inflicted on ComEd customers. Why would any political leader knowingly permit their constituents to be forced to live with a meter on their homes that emits a known Class 2B Carcinogen? With a mandate in place and no permanent opt-out option available, residents are powerless to protect their families. In order for justice to prevail, consumer choice has to be restored, and a permanent opt-out option granted to ComEd customers. They knew, they did not tell us, where do we go from here? Flynns summary on smart meter dangers: Pulsed non-thermal radiation, which is emitted by smart meters, is far more damaging at the bodys cellular level to all life forms than any other technology ever devised by man. Militaries of the world have known for more than 50 years that RF/microwaves are the perfect weapon. Today, democratic governments are knowingly and callously authorizing untested (for safety) smart meters to operate (emitting pulsed non-thermal radiation) at the most lethal frequencies known to man. Retired Military Officials Are Finding High-Paying Jobs With the Saudi Government and Can Make up up to 7-Figure Salaries Working for Other Foreign Governments Retired U.S. military personnel cannot receive consulting fees or jobs from foreign governments without expressed approval... Imperial Valley News Center United States to Announce $25 Million in Funding for World Bank's New Financing Initiative Washington, DC - Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will announce $25 million in intended U.S. funding for the World Banks new financing initiative to support the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region today at World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. The initiative aims to assist MENA countries affected by the Syrian refugee crisis, conflict, and economic instability by providing much needed access to additional financing. Conflicts across the MENA region have created a crisis with global implications as refugees flood to neighboring states and beyond. Jordan is host to more than 638,000 Syrian refugees, as well as a longstanding population of two million Palestinian refugees and thousands of refugees from Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, and other countries. Lebanon is currently hosting more than one million refugees from Syria, as well as the longstanding Palestinian refugee population and those displaced from Iraq. With so many people on the move in the Middle East and around the globe, the international community is facing the worst forced displacement crisis since World War II. This is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a development challenge, affecting the development plans of host countries as they endeavor to provide food, shelter, jobs, and services to refugees, internally displaced persons, and the communities hosting them, often for protracted periods of time. This issue demands a global response and this is why President Obama will host the Leaders Summit on Refugees on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September, with the aim of expanding the humanitarian safety net and creating more long-term, durable opportunities for refugees. The United States has provided over $5.1 billion in humanitarian assistance to help individuals impacted by the crisis in Syria, both those displaced inside Syria and those who have fled to neighboring countries - making the United States the largest single donor responding to the crisis. The World Bank concessional finance facility would provide financing on discounted terms to countries currently ineligible for concessional loans through donor contributions to a multi-donor fund. The U.S funding for this initiative is subject to congressional notification. Government and security officials have failed to execute in 16 months a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold an annual conference aimed at making safe India's vulnerable coastline that was exposed in 2008 after a seaborne assault by Pakistani gunmen on Mumbai. PM Narendra Modi had proposed to hold an annual conference aimed at making safe Indiaas vulnerable coastline that was exposed in 2008 after attack by Pakistani gunmen on Mumbai. By Mail Today: Government and security officials have failed to execute in 16 months a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold an annual conference aimed at making safe India's vulnerable coastline that was exposed in 2008 after a seaborne assault by Pakistani gunmen on Mumbai. In December 2014, Modi while attending his first internal security meet comprising director generals of police in Guwahati expressed the desire to have an exclusive assembly to discuss coastal security issues every year. advertisement The Intelligence Bureau (IB), which organised the meet, has sent the home ministry a reminder on the suggestion that has seen no forward movement. Sources said approaches are being thrashed out and the defence ministry will also have to be consulted since the navy is the main agency overseeing all aspects of coastal security. "The subject needs inter-ministerial consultations and authorities from state governments also have to be roped in," said a government official. "Keeping in mind the need for enhancing maritime security the annual meet for reviewing existing policy and planning for new challenges is a must." India has shored up security in its coastal areas, particularly around vital installations such as nuclear-power stations, ports and defence facilities, following the deadly 26/11 attacks that killed over 160 people. Infrastructure to upgrade security in the seas has also got a push. The navy recently said there is ample coordination with state and central agencies on coastal security. Of the 204 coastal police stations sanctioned by authorities, 176 are operational and 46 are under construction, according to the home ministry. However, sources say many of these facilities are decrepit and don't have proper equipment or well-trained staff. The coastal security network is a three-tier system involving the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Police. The navy is responsible for overall maritime security, which includes coastal and offshore security. The coastguard is responsible for security in territorial waters including areas patrolled by coastal police. India's 7,516-km coastline presents a variety of security concerns, such as smuggling of arms and explosives, infiltration and other criminal activities. Absence of physical barriers and presence of vital industrial and defence installations near the coasts also enhance their vulnerability to illegal cross-border activities. The home ministry is implementing supplementary coastal security schemes to strengthen the marine police in a bid to enhance surveillance and close water patrolling. --- ENDS --- Three workers from both BJP and TMC were arrested while BJP has claimed all the injured as their supporters. Three workers from both sides were arrested. (Photo: ANI) By India Today Web Desk: In clashes between BJP and TMC workers today, eight persons were injured in booth number 78 of Dumrut village in Birbhum district where polling is underway. BJP has claimed all the injured as their supporters. Three workers from both sides were arrested, reported PTI quoting a police official. Tension also prevailed at Sian village under Nanoor constituency in Birbhum and at Kankartala village under Dubrajpur constituency with the Forward Bloc alleging that their agents were threatened by the Trinamool Congress. advertisement Reports from north Bengal, where polls are being held in six districts of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda besides Birbhum in South Bengal, said non-functioning EVMs caused delays in beginning the polling process as voters waited patiently in queue. The weather being cloudy however, provided the voters reprieve in north Bengal. Reports from Malda said seven EVMs failed to function at Englishbazar, Chanchol and Manikchak as polling began at 7 am delaying voting by an hour. In Jalpaiguri, voting was stalled temporarily at a booth in Jalpaiguri Sadar as the VVPAT did not function, polling officials said. Four EVMs -- two at Jalpaiguri Sadar constituency and two at Rajganj -- did not function properly delaying polling. In Darjeeling district, a malfunctioning EVM resulted in a two hour delay as polling began in the morning at Matigara-Naxalbari (SC) assembly constituency, polling officials said. Birbhum district in South Bengal where elections are also being held today reported malfunctioning of EVMs in three booths at Karidhya under Suri Assembly constituency. Also Read: West Bengal elections: Voting begins in 56 seats, 383 candidates in the fray Will take away BPL, disability benefits if you don't vote for us: TMC VP tells voters --- ENDS --- By Naseer Ganai: As the curfew continues in north Kashmir's Kupwara and Handwara area, Army Chief General General Dalbir Singh today visited the Northern Command headquarter at Udhampu to discuss situation in the Valley. The Northern Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda, briefed the Chief of Army Staff on the overall security situation in the Command theatre, a defence spokesman said. He said the Army chief interacted with the Corps Commanders and took a first hand assessment of the prevailing internal security situation specifically in view of the recent incidents at Handwara and Nutnusa. advertisement Protests erupted in the Valley after allegations spread that a soldier molested a schoolgirl in Handwara town, about 75 kilometres from Srinagar on April 12. The protesters were fired upon by security forces leading to killing of two youths and a 56-year-old woman. Later, on April 13 another demonstrator was killed after being hit by a teargas shell fired by the police. On Friday afternoon, the army opened fire on protesters in Kupwara, killing another youth taking the toll to five. On Saturday, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visited Handwara and said civilian killings were unacceptable. The chief minister said she had a telephonic conversation with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, late last evening and also met Army Commander, Lt. Gen. DS Hooda, and told them that incidents like that of Handwara and Kupwara are unacceptable and come as a major setback to the efforts of the state government in consolidating peace dividends in the state. "I have told Gen. Hooda to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with law-and-order situations," she said, adding the Defence Minister has assured her of time-bound investigation into the incidents that led to the death of civilians during protests at Handwara and Natnusa so that exemplary punishment is given to those found guilty. ALSO READ | Handwara firing: Fresh clashes in Valley, Centre promises full co-operation --- ENDS --- The Army declared on Saturday that its elite STRIKE 1 corps is conducting a "major" exercise in the Rajasthan desert to test capability to "strike deep in enemy territory in an integrated air-land battle environment". By Mail Today: The Army declared on Saturday that its elite STRIKE 1 corps is conducting a "major" exercise in the Rajasthan desert to test capability to "strike deep in enemy territory in an integrated air-land battle environment". The gruelling exercise, named Shatrujeet, involves around 30,000 troops deployed in the blistering Thar honing their war fighting kills and practicing modern military tactics. The exercises are held as routine by the Army but details of the intent are kept away from the public domain. advertisement The army shared the objectives of the exercise in a statement on Saturday. The army said Shatrujeet "focuses on validating integrated theatre battle fighting concept incorporating new-age technologies, weapon platforms and systems as well as long range precision targeting vectors." The army said its formations had been preparing for the exercise for a month and were now ready for the validation of operational plans on ground in simulated high tempo battlefield environment and terrain. Army's three strike corps carry out exercises to test deployments and operational capabilities. Bhopal-based 21 Corps, a strike force, had carried out exercise "Drad Sankalp" last year. The exercise calendar in the test firing ranges of Rajasthan has been packed this year. Just when the Army moved in its troops in the area, the Indian Air Force tested its fire power in the exercise Iron Fist. It was the display of IAF's capability to carry out operations in day, dusk and night. Exercise Shatrujeet will also have air operations by IAF supporting ground troops. The proactive operations involve rapid deployments through swift mobilisation for an offensive behind enemy lines. The strategy has often been talked about across the border as India's Cold Start doctrine aimed at reducing the time lag in launching an offensive substantially and delivering a surprise blow. Elements of other corps would also take part in the exercise. Pakistan has claimed that it has developed minimum credible deterrence to unsettle India's Cold Start plans by developing tactical nuclear weapons. These miniaturised nuclear weapons are meant to be used in a highly localised scenario. India has underlined tactical nuclear weapons would not come in the way of New Delhi's response under the no first use policy. The message of India is clear that even use of tactical weapons will invite catastrophic response. Though messages are sent across the border ahead of such military drills, the rigorous war gaming is being held when relations between India and Pakistan are facing testing times. --- ENDS --- Honk, is way ahead of the competition and all set to give the leader, Tian, a good run for its money. By Sourish Bhattacharyya: A Pan-Asian restaurant, being a multi-cuisine offering, appeals to Indian sensibilities, even though most of the countries covered by the umbrella expression aren't even represented on our evolving culinary landscape. Of all the cuisines of the countries on the arc stretching from Japan to Brunei, Chinese is our second national cuisine, Thai is fast catching up, Japanese has a dedicated following, Korean is hovering in the shadows, and Burmese and Vietnamese are barely there. A new and classy Pan-Asian restaurant, especially if it's Honk at the Pullman, New Delhi Aerocity, has to ramp up the level of excitement in a city where not many 'Asian' restaurants stand out. Not all restaurants have the oomph of Tian, which "belongs to Bangkok" (as the celebrated Gaggan Anand said to me after seeing the young man behind it, Vikramjit Roy, in action) or some other gastronomically more pedigreed city. advertisement Tian, in fact, makes the original Pan-Asian (at the Sheraton New Delhi) look like a really poor cousin. If Pan-Asian is languishing because of a complete lack of direction, the other leading 'Asian' restaurants don't offer much hope, barring such notable exceptions as Neung Roi at the Radisson Blu Plaza on NH-8, or En at Mehrauli and Royal China at Nehru Place (two standalone restaurants that refuse to let us down), and the Japanese/Korean-Japanese heavy-hitters Akira Back (JW Marriott, New Delhi Aerocity), Megu (The Leela Palace New Delhi at Chanakyapuri) and Wasabi (The Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road). The China Kitchen hasn't progressed beyond up-selling its Peking Duck and Beggar's Chicken; TK's is an idea that has outlived its appeal; Jade no longer has any relevance; Guppy by ai has lost its pizzazz and Nanking plods along; Diva Spice never really registered on my barometer; and aren't we blessed that Taipan has shut down along with The Oberoi New Delhi (now let's pray that it doesn't come back after the hotel is re-built). In this bleak world, Honk comes as a ray of hope - and its team promises to give Tian some serious competition. It is also the newbie restaurant's good luck that it is being led by Ajay Anand and Deepak Malhotra, both of whom have returned home after working for years on cruise lines. They bring with them the first-hand knowledge of cutting-edge techniques. Giving them support from the bar is a talented young mixologist, Topesh Chatterjee, whose cocktails give Honk a definite edge over Tian. The one named Amalia, a voluptuous pairing of Bacardi and orange marmalade named after Facundo Bacardi's French wife, left me with a pleasant buzz in my head. It is not a coincidence that the menu doesn't have a single item that you could be familiar with. Even the prawn tempura sushi rolls come with cured mango and tobanjan aioli (tobanjan is a spicy paste made with chillies and fermented broad beans), the prawn fried rice is enlivened by the addition of char sui pork, and the dumplings come with refreshingly different fillings - edamame and shallots, for instance, or chicken and chorizo, or pork, prawn and scallop (the third giving a desirable twist to the standard sui mai). advertisement The whiff of newness gets more pronounced when you ask for the Nanjiang-style duck braised for three hours and served with pepper confit and sweet and spicy ginger. Not only is the delicate balance of flavours a treat for the taste buds, but the way the meat just slips off the bone and melts in the mouth doubles the satisfaction quotient. What would I recommend for a happy night out at Honk? I would start with the umami-laden tamarind and shrimp soup with Vietnamese mint, basil and young coconut, move on to the soft shell crab rolls with crispy asparagus and tobanjan aioli (or the ones with cucumber, yuzu mayo and the restaurant's proprietory sushi sauce), and then go for the river sole (or deep-fried tofu) skewers served with either miso garlic or wasabi garlic sauce. Next on my list would be the dumplings: edamame and shallots or four mushrooms for the vegetarians, and chicken and chorizo or pork, prawn and scallop for the non-vegetarians. For the main course, I would definitely polish off the Nanjing duck, or may be settle for the Singapore-style chilli softshell crabs. And of course, I wouldn't leave Honk without the caramel chocolate and peanut parfait or the chocolate and mango Bavarian, raspberry curd and streusel. Please welcome the new star in the city. advertisement Dining Out What: Honk Where: Pullman, New Delhi Aerocity, Near I.G.I. Airport Hour: 7:00 P.M. to 12 MIDNIGHT Dial: (011) 46080839 AVG MEAL FOR TWO): Rs 3,000 + VAT, Service Tax & 5% Service Charge --- ENDS --- A spokesman for Essen police told The Associated Press that a masked person is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast at 7 p.m. Saturday (1700 GMT). A police officer passes by a Sikh temple after three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion on Saturday evening in the western German city of Essen. (Photo: AP) By AP: German police say three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion at gurudwara in the western city of Essen. A spokesman for Essen police told The Associated Press that a masked person is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast at 7 p.m. Saturday (1700 GMT). Spokesman Lars Lindemann said the explosion was "quite violent," blowing out several windows. One of the injured was said to be in a serious condition. Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situationVikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 17, 2016 advertisement Police officers stand in front of a Sikh temple after three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion on Saturday evening in the western German city of Essen. (Photo: AP) Lindemann says police are working on the assumption that the explosion was caused deliberately but that there are no indications it was a terrorist incident. He says the gurudwara had hosted a wedding earlier in the day and those injured are believed to have been among the guests. Sikh groups said the incident took place as people were celebrating the festival of Baisakhi. --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: A day after a mother of minor girl, who accused Jammu and Kashmir Police of coercing her minor daughter into giving a statement denying molestation by a trooper, Jammu and Kashmir Police said that the minor girl has stuck to her original statement. "On April 16, 2016 the victim girl was produced along with her father before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Handwara and her statement was recorded," a police spokesman said. "In her statement before the Judicial Magistrate she revealed that on April 12 after school hours while proceeding to her home with her friend she entered in a public lavatory near main chowk Handwara for answering the call of nature," the spokesman added. "As soon as she came out of lavatory she was confronted, assaulted and dragged by two boys and her bag was snatched. One of the boys was in school uniform," the spokesman said. On Saturday morning, mother of the girl claimed that her daughter was forced by Jammu and Kashmir Police to give false statement and deny molestation by a trooper. The mother had sought release of her daughter and her husband from police custody. advertisement Protests erupted in the Valley after allegations spread that a soldier molested a school girl in Handwara town, about 75 kilometres from Srinagar on Tuesday April 12. The protesters were fired upon by security forces leading to killing of two youths and a 56-year-old woman. Later on April 13 another demonstrator was killed after being hit by a teargas shell fired by the police. On Friday afternoon the army opened fire on protesters in Kupwara killing another youth taking the toll to five. The army on Wednesday released a video, in which the girl said a local boy grabbed her bag and slapped her when she came out of the washroom. She had denied allegations of molestation at the hands of army trooper. In her petition to the High Court the mother has said, ""My girl is just 16 years old and was alone in the police station when her statement was recorded. She was pressurised by police to give that statement." In her statement to local media, the mother of the girl said, "After school, she came out with other girls and went to the bathroom in the market at about 3:30 p.m. When she went in the bathroom an army jawan followed her." "When she saw the army man at bathroom, she screamed to attract attention of shopkeepers. The shopkeepers and boys who were there could not tolerate the screams of their sister. A crowd assembled. She was taken to police station. Army man had fled. Consequently stone pelting started. Why did they throw stones? They did it for their Muslim sister as they couldn't tolerate it. Police and army opened fire and martyred the youths," she said in her video, released by a human rights group, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, after she was not allowed to address press Conference here. The mother said the police took her daughter to the police station where she was forced to give a statement. She said her husband was also called to the police station and since then she has no information about them. ALSO READ: Handwara firing: Girl forced into giving statement, says mother Handwara protest: Daughter forced to give false statement, says victim's mother --- ENDS --- The mother of the girl, whose alleged molestation triggered protests in Handwara, on Saturday said her minor daughter was forced by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to give the false statement to deny molestation by a trooper. By Naseer Ganai: The mother of the girl, whose alleged molestation triggered protests in Handwara, on Saturday said her minor daughter was forced by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to give the false statement to deny molestation by a trooper. The mother has sought release of her daughter and her husband from the police custody. "After school, she came out with other girls and went to the bathroom in the market at about 3:30 p.m. When she went inside the bathroom, an Army jawan followed her. When she saw the Army man, she screamed to attract attention of shopkeepers. advertisement The shopkeepers and boys who were there could not tolerate the screams of their sister. A crowd assembled. She was taken to the police station. The Army man then fled the scene. Meanwhile, the crowd started pelting stones. Why did they throw stones? They did it for their Muslim sister as they couldn't tolerate it. The police and the Army opened fire and martyred the youths," she said in a video, released by a human rights group, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. Protests erupted in the Valley after allegations spread that a soldier molested a schoolgirl in Handwara town, about 75 kilometres from Srinagar, on April 12. The protesters were fired upon by security forces, leading to the killing of two youths and a woman. Later, on April 13, another demonstrator was killed after being hit by a teargas shell fired by the police. On Friday afternoon, the Army opened fire on protesters in Kupwara, killing another youth, taking the toll to five. The Army on Wednesday released a video, in which the girl said a local boy grabbed her bag and slapped her when she came out of the washroom. She had denied allegations of molestation at the hands of Army trooper. The mother, however, said the cops took her daughter to the police station where she was forced to give a statement. She said her husband was also called to the police station and since then, she has no information about them. "They took statement of my daughter under pressure and they didn't even cover her face. Police had called my husband to police station and then detained him as well," she said. The JKCCS office, located in Lal Chowk, was sealed ahead of the mother's press conference, which was scheduled to be held at 11am with senior police officials of the area and cops of CID were seen inside the office. The police and the paramilitary CRPF had cordoned off the area and didn't allow reporters to enter the office. The police didn't cite any reason for not allowing the mother of the girl to hold press conference. The JKCCS said they had organised a press conference on Saturday for an interaction of the media with "the family members of the girl who was sexually assaulted by Indian armed forces at Handwara". "But a police team laid siege around the JKCCS office and banned the press conference. advertisement The police barred the journalists from entering the office. They informed the staff that Sec 144 has been imposed and no movement of people will be allowed," it said. Also read: Jammu & Kashmir crisis: Congress attacks PDP-BJP coalition over ill governance Restrictions remain in force in Kashmir --- ENDS --- Parrikar on Monday begins talks with the Chinese military and civilian leadership aimed at reducing tensions along the boundary. By Ananth Krishnan: India and China are looking at instituting a new, sixth border personnel meeting point along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday begins talks with the Chinese military and civilian leadership aimed at reducing tensions along the boundary. Both sides are discussing opening a sixth border personnel meeting point, likely in the middle sector of the border, following the opening of two new meetings points last year in the western and eastern sectors, which officials on both sides say has helped better address differences along the LAC. advertisement This is expected to be discussed among a range of other confidence building measures to increase trust between the two militaries, when Parrikar meets with Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan on Monday morning at the Ba Yi building in Beijing, where the People's Liberation Army (PLA) leadership sits. Parrikar will be welcomed there with an official ceremony before the talks. Later on Monday, he will meet one of China's highest ranking generals, Fan Changlong, who is one of two vice chairmen on the Central Military Commission headed by President Xi Jinping. He will also travel to Chengdu, the headquarters of the PLA's newly set up western theatre command that covers the entire border with India. On Saturday, Parrikar met with members of the Indian community during his stopover in Shanghai, and was briefed on the city's smart city projects at the urban planning exhibition center. New border points? The two new border points were opened last year following frequent disputes over incursion incidents, which officials said have been triggered by differing perceptions of the LAC in certain areas. The additional meeting points were opened at Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh, which was the site of a three-week-long stand-off incident in April 2013 which strained relations, and at Kibithu-Damai in Arunachal Pradesh in the east. The three other points are in Chushul/Spanggur in the western sector, Nathu La in Sikkim and Bum La near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in the east. Officials said Parrikar's visit was aimed at examining the entire breadth of defence ties, besides addressing the situation along the border. Both sides are also discussing plans for defence exercises to be held later this year, with a desire to scale up the annual counter-terrorism drills. India and China recently held first ever joint drills along the LAC - a short humanitarian relief exercise in the Chushul area, which was seen as a step forward to reduce mistrust along the border. US logistics deal Parrikar is also likely to use his visit to assure the Chinese that India pursued an "independent" foreign policy, following the recent 'in-principle' deal with the United States for a logistics support agreement. Chinese officials have themselves played down the agreement, and responded officially by saying "it is known to all that India has been upholding an independent foreign policy" and that "like other countries India makes its foreign policies based on its own interests". advertisement China's terror veto His visit comes amid new strains over China blocking India's attempt to list Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar over the Pathankot terror attack as a sanctioned terrorist at the UN Security Council. Officials said the matter would be raised when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj meets her counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow at the Russia-India-China summit. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will also be in Beijing next week, shortly after Parrikar's visit, for the next round of border talks. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Dhaka, Apr 17 (PTI) India is planning to continue supply of high speed diesel in a "sustainable manner", Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. "India is planning to continue supply of HSD in a sustainable manner," said Pradhan, who is on a three-day visit here, referring to supply of 2200 MT high speed diesel from Siliguri marketing terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). advertisement "The India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has become pragmatic and mature over the last few years," Pradhan said. He said the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services. Pradhan called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and shared the details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides. PTI UZM --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Manash Pratim Bhuyan Tehran, Apr 17 (PTI) India and oil-rich Iran today decided to significantly expand engagement in their overall ties, particularly in boosting Indian investment in joint ventures in oil and gas sectors in the Persian Gulf nation where foreign investors from major economic powers are rushing in to get early footholds after lifting of nuclear sanctions. advertisement In talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, the two sides agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to spur trade and investment. Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar port were the centerpiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues. "The talks were very successful and would give new energy to our centuries old ties with Iran. In particular, the economic partnership will get considerable fillip as a result of today?s forward looking talks," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told PTI. Sources said the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav was not at all raised by the Iranian side. Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country. Both sides discussed the progress on the Chabahar project and agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending USD 150 million credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the "very near future". Decisions on this line of credit, as well as USD 400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by India. Swarup said both sides discussed the energy partnership and Iran invited greater Indian participation in its oil and gas sector. "Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India." On Farzad ? B oil field project, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad ? B field outside the auction basket.The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner.Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ," he said. advertisement "In terms of connectivity, Iran said it supported India?s desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor.IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar?Zahedan Railway link," said the spokesperson. On Trade and Investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis," said Swarup. MORE PTI MPB ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today visited Lakhwar multi-purpose project site in Uttrakhand and sought funds from the Centre for its early completion. He called up Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti regarding sanction of funds for completion of the project that is pending since 1987 for want of funds. advertisement The Chief Minister received a positive response from Bharti. According to a Haryana government statement, construction of the project was discontinued in 1992 for want of funds, after it was started in 1987. Planning Commission of India had accorded its approval for construction of this dam in 1976. The project was envisaged to supply water to states of Haryana, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes. By 1992, only 30 per cent of work was completed and the central government declared this project as a national project in the year 2008. The Upper River Yamuna Board was constituted by central government to distribute waters of river Yamuna among beneficiary states. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by these beneficiary states on May 12, 1994. According to the MoU, Haryana?s share of water was fixed at 47.82 per cent. Haryana is proposed to get 1.22 lakh acre feet additional water from Lakhwar dam, a state government statement claimed. The Lakhwar Multi-purpose project would generate 612.93 million units of electricity annually. The project would help in checking floods and controlled water would flow in the river. A sum of Rs 392 crore have so far been spent on the construction of this project. The expected cost of water component of this project is Rs 2,578.23 crore on 2012 prices. The Central government would bear 90 per cent of the expected expenditure of the project. All sanctions, except that of funds, concerning the Central government have been received, the statement added. PTI SKC SRY RG SRY --- ENDS --- "Election Commission is an independent body and is respected by everyone across the world. Polls will come and go but if these institutions are destroyed, the country will not be able to be run," Modi said. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, while addressing a rally in West Bengal's Krishnanagar, criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for threatening the Election Commission (EC)and accused her of misusing the state machinery. "Election Commission is an independent body and is respected by everyone across the world. Polls will come and go but if these institutions are destroyed, the country will not be able to be run," Modi said. advertisement "Election Commission sent notice to Mamata for her inappropriate words and behaviour. It was their duty to do so. Mamata should have responded to EC notice but she instead threatened the institution by saying that she will 'see them after 19th '," Modi added. Modi also slammed Mamata over the allegations that the notice to Banerjee was replied by the state chief secretary. "I read somewhere that the reply to Banerjee's notice has been given by the chief secretary. If this is true then this is the biggest flouting of poll rules. The EC notice was sent to the Trinamool chief and not the chef minister. It was the responsibility of Didi or her party or her party's lawyer to reply," he said. Citing the example the Allahabad High Court's decision in 1975 to bar then prime minister Gandhi from holding elected office for six years, Modi said, "Didi, Indira Gandhi lost her membership for six years for misusing the government." Furthermore, taking a jibe at Trinamool Congress, Modi said that party has already accepted the defeat and because it on the verge of losing it has lost all its sensibility. Modi went on to attack Mamata and TMC by pointing out Narada sting operation. "Entire country saw Narada sting operation where people you think so highly of were trading future of Bengal. It was not simply a money trade-off. Bengal's future was being traded," Modi said. Expressing concern over mis-governance in West Bengal, Modi claimed that West Bengal, specially Kolkata, had been reduced to an old age home by successive state governments formed by Congress, Left Front and Trinamool Congress, with the youths leaving for other states in search of jobs. "It feels that whether it is Congress or Left or Didi (TMC), they have all turned West Bengal into an old age home," Modi said. Modi also lamented over increasing out-migration of people of eastern and north-eastern states in search of job. "Youths from here now go to Bangalore, Mumbai, Jaipur or Ahmedabad in search of jobs. Young people from the east are going to the west. Whether it is Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Bengal or the North-Eastern states, the story is the same everywhere," he said. advertisement Modi further blamed Congress, the Left and TMC for the miseries of people in Bengal. "After the British left, it was left to the Congress, the Left and lastly the TMC to do the same thing." He urged the people of the state to give BJP a chance to govern the state so as to "usher in large scale development" in line with other BJP-ruled states in the country. Here are the Highlights: - Mamata Banerjee is not fighting elections with other political parties but with Election Commission: PM Modi - Mamata and her party has already accepted the defeat therefore she is now fighting with Election Commission and not other political parties. - Standing on the verge of losing the election, Trinamool Congress party has lost its sensibility. - Election Commission is an independent body and is respected by everyone across the world. - Indira Gandhi lost her membership for 6 years for misusing power. Mamata Bangerjee, law will do its work, he said. - Election Commission sent notice to Mamata for her inappropriate words and behaviour. It was their duty to do so. - I've heard that Chief Secretary of West Bengal replied to Election Commission's notice issued to Mamata Banerjee. advertisement - Mamata should have responded to EC notice but she instead threatened the institution by saying that she will 'see them after 19th '. -The land of poets and great novelists has now turned into a factory that manufactures bomb. -Entire country saw Narada sting operation where people you think so highly of were trading future of Bengal. It was not simply a money trade-off. Bengal's future was being traded. If this has happened, then it is a clear violation of EC's guidelines. -If Eastern part of India does not develop, development of India will not be completed. ALSO READ: Cong alleges booth capturing, rigging in West Bengal --- ENDS --- By Srijani Ganguly/Mail Today: With a mix of musical influences - both old and contemporary - Slugabed sure knows how to own the dance floor. The British bass producer, born Greg Feldwick, grew up listening to all sorts of music. And that helped shape his own musical style. "Music is all I ever wanted to do," he says. "Both my parents like music. We used to listen to Van Morrison, Paul Simon and Miles Davis while growing up. My dad and I sometimes buy each other weird jazz records for Christmas and listen to them together." advertisement Even his unusual moniker has an origin story rooted with his parents. Feldwick says, "I first started making music as Slugabed when I was about 15. Back then I didn't wake up too easily in the mornings, and my mum used to call me a 'Slugabed'. I probably made her life difficult." Life as Slugabed has been very good for Feldwick. He has done official remixes for the likes of Starkey, Eprom and Kelpe under his belt, and also done an unofficial version of Pharoah Monch's popular tune 'Simon Says'. Of Feldwick's own releases, his 2009 EP Ultra Heat Treated and debut album Time Time, released on the Ninja Tune label in 2012, created quite a few waves on the dance floor. Later this year, he has another record coming out which, he says, "is a very nice record if you ask me". This record comes from a place that is different to where he was when he wrote the first LP. "With the first LP," he says, "I felt a lot of pressure to make it a certain way, I'm not sure why. This LP it is a lot more pure, with no sense of trying to do anything for anyone else. It's purely for me. It's hard to describe from a genre point of view, but that doesn't matter. Genres confuse me." He adds, "I also have collaborated with a few rappers on some other projects also coming out this year, but that's all I can say on that for now. Also, the record label I run (Activia Benz) has lots of cool plans - as usual - so keep them eyes peeled!" On the live performances front, he has played at the Berghain Club in Berlin as part of Scuba's SUB:STANCE night and also performed in America, Australia and Asia. This week, he added a few more venues to the Asia bracket, by performing in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Slugabed performed at Social, Hauz Khas Village, on April 14. --- ENDS --- Crticising Mamata for her continuous negligence towards people of West Bengal, Modi said, " There wouldn't be any need of you threatening EC had you not seen the miseries of the people in West Bengal." By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was addressing a rally in poll-bound Krishnanagar in West Bengal, on Sunday attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by saying that Mamata threatening the Election Commission was a clear sign of her insecurity. Criticising Mamata for her continuous negligence towards people of Bengal, Modi said, "There wouldn't be any need of you threatening Election Commission had you not seen the miseries of the people in West Bengal." advertisement Here are the highlights: - Mamata Banerjee is not fighting elections with other political parties but with Election Commission: PM Modi - Mamata and her party has already accepted the defeat therefore she is now fighting with Election Commission and not other political parties. - Standing on the verge of losing the election, Trinamool Congress party has lost its sensibility. - Election Commission is an independent body and is respected by everyone across the world. - Indira Gandhi lost her membership for 6 years for misusing power. Mamata Bangerjee, law will do its work, he said. - Election Commission sent notice to Mamata for her inappropriate words and behaviour. It was their duty to do so. - I've heard that Chief Secretary of West Bengal replied to Election Commission's notice issued to Mamata Banerjee. - Mamata should have responded to EC notice but she instead threatened the institution by saying that she will 'see them after 19th '. -The land of poets and great novelists has now turned into a factory that manufactures bomb. -Entire country saw Narada sting operation where people you think so highly of were trading future of Bengal. It was not simply a money trade-off. Bengal's future was being traded. If this has happened, then it is a clear violation of EC's guidelines. -If Eastern part of India does not develop, development of India will not be completed. --- ENDS --- Delhi police has beefed up the security of Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid following the recovery of the letter threatening to behead the two and a gun in a bus operating between an ISBT and the varsity's campus. By India Today Web Desk: Days after a pistol and some bullets, along with a letter threatening to kill Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and research scholar Umar Khalid was found on a bus they frequently use, police arrested two men - Sulabh and Saurabh today. While Sulabh was the one who called the Police Control Room (PCR) and told them about the pistol and live cartridge, the other accused Sourabh is said to be the brother of the main conspirator Amit Jony. The three men made the plan in a hotel and executed it subsequently. advertisement Delhi police has beefed up the security of Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid following the recovery of the letter threatening to behead the two and a gun in a bus operating between ISBT and the varsity's campus. The letter was purportedly written by a person who had threatened Kanhaiya Kumar on Facebook earlier saying that men with weapons are already present inside the JNU campus, ready to kill him any moment. Kanhaiya doesn't get security cover inside the campus but the university authorities have clearly been instructed to inform Vasant Kunj (North) police station every time he leaves the campus and security is provided accordingly. Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and fellow student leader Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February in a sedition case over an event on campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. ALSO READ Pistol, bullets found with letter threatening to behead Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid on bus to JNU Afzal Guru row: JNU likely to rusticate Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya Kanhaiya Kumar takes a dig at RSS, triggers controversy with Bharat Mata Ki Jai remark --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI) After visiting oil-rich Gulf nations, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today reached Dhaka on a three-day visit to push for Indian state-owned firm setting up a LPG terminal in Bangladesh and a pipeline to export liquid fuel. The visit from April 17-19 "is aimed at following up on the ambitious agenda set between India and Bangladesh during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June last year," an official statement said here. advertisement On arrival in Dhaka, Pradhan called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss bilateral issues pertaining to the hydrocarbon sector. He referred to the supply of 2,200 tonnes of diesel from Siliguri Marketing Terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur Depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Bangladesh and said that India was planning to continue supply of High Speed Diesel (HSD) in a sustainable manner. "He noted the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services," the statement said. He shared details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides. Pradhan also discussed the Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline and called it an important project for both countries. During his stay in Bangladesh, Pradhan will meet Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Adviser on Energy, Power and Mineral Resources to the Prime Minister and Nasrul Hamid, Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh. He will tomorrow witness signing of an MoU of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and BPC. He will also visit Chittagong on Tuesday to witness award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited (EIL) as Project Management and Consultant for its 3 million tonnes refinery expansion project. The Minister had last week visited Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia to further bilateral energy ties. PTI ANZ MKJ --- ENDS --- By Munish Chandra Pandey: Responding to the letter written by actress Pratyusha Banerjee's mother, Soma Banerjee, the Law Department of Maharashtra is likely to appoint a special public prosecutor in the case. Soma Banerjee had in her letter to the Law Department, requested the state to appoint a special public prosecutor in this case along with a crime branch probe into the matter. The Principal Secretary of Law Department (Maharashtra Government) in response has sent a letter to Soma mentioning that they are seriously considering the request. India Today is in possession of the letter sent by Maharashtra government which reads, "we are already in talks with the concerned department to appoint a special public prosecutor in the case. The decision will be taken at the earliest." advertisement Also read: Rahul Raj Singh's arrest imminent? Three developments in Pratyusha Banerjee case Meanwhile, the special public prosecutor has written to the Law Department giving his/her consent to take up this case as a social cause. Rahul Raj Singh, the prime accused in the case has been discharged from the Shree Sai Hosiptal. His anticipatory bail application will be heard on Monday. Unsatisfied with the Bangur Nagar Police investigation, Soma Banarjee has written a letter to Directorate General of Maharashtra Police, Pravin Dixit, asking to appoint a senior officer to probe this death case. Also read: Pratyusha Banerjee death: Rahul Raj Singh discharged from hospital; bail plea hearing on Monday On April 1, 24-year-old Pratyusha, who shot to fame for her role as Anandi in Balika Vadhu, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself inside her flat in suburban Goregaon in western Indian state of Maharastra. Two days later, a case under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 504, 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC was registered against Rahul following a complaint lodged by the actress's parents. See pics: TV celebs at Pratyusha Banerjee's prayer meet See pics: TV celebs at Pratyusha Banerjee's prayer meet Rahul, in his anticipatory bail application, claimed that Pratyusha's parents did not make any allegation against him in their first statement to police. He said they filed the FIR against him after two days of the suicide incident, as they got influenced by certain people who were against Pratyusha's relations with him (Rahul). Rahul said Pratyusha had not left behind any suicide note blaming him for her death, and also that there were no marks on her body other than the ligature wound. --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Late actress Pratyusha Banerjee's companion Rahul Raj Singh got discharged from Kandivali-based Shri Sai Hospital on Saturday around 7.15 pm, after 12 days of treatment. The actor-producer was admitted to the hospital after he complained of chest pain and depression. The doctors treating him checked him and advised medication, before discharging him from the hospital. advertisement The actor-producer went to the Bangur Nagar police station, thereafter. His bail plea will be heard on Monday at Bombay High Court. On April 7, a Mumbai sessions court had rejected Rahul's anticipatory bail application, following which the producer filed a plea in the high court. Rahul was granted interim relief from arrest for a week by Bombay High Court on April 12. Also read: Rahul Raj Singh's arrest imminent? Three developments in Pratyusha Banerjee case On April 1, 24-year-old Pratyusha, who shot to fame for her role as Anandi in Balika Vadhu, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself inside her flat in suburban Goregaon in western Indian state of Maharastra. Two days later, a case under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 504, 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC was registered against Rahul following a complaint lodged by the actress's parents. See pics: TV celebs at Pratyusha Banerjee's prayer meet Rahul, in his anticipatory bail application, claimed that Pratyusha's parents did not make any allegation against him in their first statement to police. He said they filed the FIR against him after two days of the suicide incident, as they got influenced by certain people who were against Pratyusha's relations with him (Rahul). Rahul said Pratyusha had not left behind any suicide note blaming him for her death, and also that there were no marks on her body other than the ligature wound. --- ENDS --- Dhankot's residents complain that death has become a trend here despite no signs of any communicable disease or any other obvious reason. Over 20 men have lost their lives in Dhankot village of Haryana over the past 10 months. Picture for representation By Ajay Kumar: Fear of death has gripped Gurugram's Dhankot village where 23 men have lost their lives in the last 10 months compelling the administration to order a probe into the string of casualties. Dhankot's residents complain that death has become a trend here despite no signs of any communicable disease or any other obvious reason. Most of the people who died were in the age group of 20 to 45 years. advertisement Pankaj Kumar, 22, who died last week, was the latest "victim". His family claimed that Pankaj, who got married last year, was healthy and had got a job in a nearby factory only a week before his death. His wife Rama (name changed), who is five months pregnant, is inconsolable. "We all were fast asleep when he complained of chest pain. It was 2am and we rushed him to the hospital. The doctors declared him brought dead and asked us to get a post mortem done but we didn't want it," said Rama with tears trickling down her cheeks. "He was a very good husband and loved me. We were looking forward to have our baby," she said pointing out that the family was aware about a large number of deaths in the village but never felt this could happen to them. In the last one year, 16 men died in Dhankot after complaining of chest pain. Three deaths have taken place in last one week alone. Villagers claim a person dies barely 15 minutes after complaining of chest pain. Om Prakash, 42, also died suddenly while he went to attend the nature's call in the fields on April 14. Tula Ram, 34, died on April 11, a day after, Prajapati, 54 was reported dead. Their relatives claim they both were physically fit. The villagers, however, never opted for a post mortem to ascertain reason for deaths. But many complained that the deaths could be linked to the presence of four mobile telephone towers in Dhankot. "Since the launch of 4G in NCR, mobile phone operators have enhanced the frequencies in existing 3G equipment installed in towers. They may be emitting high electromagnetic radiations. We are concerned about the health of villagers and these deaths are worrisome," said Dinesh Sehrawat, sarpanch of Dhankot. "We have decided to organise a panchayat on this issue. We will also hand over a memorandum to the Gurugram district administration regarding the health issues of villagers and towers," he said. But the health authorities are skeptical about any link between mobile towers and the deaths. "Currently we don't have any mechanism to check the amount of radiation emitted from these towers. advertisement Until we know the radiation level, we cannot say that these deaths are occurring due to mobile towers," said Kanta Goyal, principal medical officer, Gurugram. Health experts claim that those living in vicinity of high radiation may risk heart disease gradually, but a direct link to sudden cardiac arrest cannot be ascertained. "There are continuous waves in the heart and its non-functioning due to internal or external forces could lead to cardiac arrest. If somebody is living under strong electromagnetic zone, chances of cardiac arrest double," said Dr Kushagra, HoD, environmental science, Amity University. However, he said there are no conclusive reports indicating that radiation from towers can be the reason of heart attack. Deputy commissioner of Gurugram TL Satya Prakash told Mail Today that principal medical officer is conducting a probe into the matter and will submit a report at the earliest. Also read: Gurugram will not implement odd-even, official says Delhi's impact enough to ease traffic After Gurugram, will Shimla become Shyamala? --- ENDS --- Top Indian-origin doctors warned of racist, discriminatory and awful system that can prove to be a dead end for one's career. Young doctors attending a coaching session to look for jobs abroad at the Karol Bagh-based Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences. By Sangeeth Sebastian: If you are one of those young doctors excited by the new recruitment policy of the UK government to hire more Indian doctors to tackle its acute staff shortage, here is a reality check before you board the flight: Going to the UK can prove to be a dead end for your career, because you will be entering a system that is notoriously "racist", "discriminatory" and "awful." advertisement The warning comes from some of the top doctors of Indian origin in the UK, including Dr. Kailash Chand, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) and an OBE (Order of the British Empire) recipient from the Queen in 2010. In an exclusive interview to Mailtoday in the backdrop of the recent move by the UK National Health Service (NHS) to recruit general practitioners (GP) and other clinical staff from India to work in the UK, Dr. Chand cautioned dreamy-eyed aspirants to be aware of the pitfalls of coming to work in the UK. "There are huge problems. Working conditions in the UK for doctors have deteriorated a hell of a lot. It is not as good as people think," said Chand, a GP with 35 years of experience. Health Education England, the NHS training and recruitment agency, had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Apollo Hospital chains to reportedly hire "as many GPs as possible". The details of the deal, however, are still still closely guarded, as the hospital chain refused to respond to requests from Mail today, regarding the number of doctors or clinical staff who will be covered under the agreement. According to UK's Department of Health, the immediate target is to meet a shortfall of 5,000 doctors in general practice by 2020. Though NHS has always turned to Indian subcontinent to address its staff shortages in the past (as many as 23 per cent of NHS is already filled with Indian doctors), the service had been under attack for its racist and discriminatory practices towards Indian doctors. A 2001 report by Kings Fund, an English health charity, had accused NHS of perpetuating "institutionalised racism" against BME doctors, an umbrella term for people belonging to Black, minority and ethnic community, which also include Indian doctors, till the day they retire from service. The report had also noted how the career path for non-White staff is too often blocked and are more likely to get shunted into unpopular specialties and inner-city general practice. advertisement Nearly 15 years later, the situation appears to remain the same. Though 33 per cent of the NHS workforce is BME doctors, according to BMA, only five per cent of them are in high medical position. "They are not many Indian doctors at very high positions," said Chand, who counts himself as "one of the lucky ones." The Bedford-based British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), a 50,000 strong body of Indian doctors blames this extreme disparity on the unfair way in which non-White doctors are assessed for promotions to become specialists. "There is a huge difference in pass percentage between Whites and non-Whites in the MRCGP exam that allows doctors to progress in their career towards specialisations," said Dr. Mehta, president, BAPIO. "For instance, if you are a White UK-trained doctor; the pass rate is 98 per cent. But if you are a doctor from India, then the rate of clearing the exam is 34 per cent or even less in some specialties," said Dr. Mehta. "This happens because the way MRCGP is conducted is not fair. The clinical assessment component of the exam is not conducted with real patients. but with actors. Almost all these actors are White and prone to subjective racial discrimination based on aspects such as communication and behavioural traits of a doctor, unlike real patients who are more flexible and non-judgemental while interacting with a doctor," said Mehta. advertisement Even for the few who clear the test, aspiring to be a specialist in Paediatrics, Cardiology or Opthalmology is a distant dream. "All glamorous specialisations go to European doctors," said Chand who himself vainly tried to chase his dream of becoming a Paediatrician in the late 1970s only to realise that he did not even get shortlisted in any of the 40 hospitals he applied, eventually specialising in Emergency Medicine. "Only non-glamorous specialisations such as Psychiatry, Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine known as Cinderella services go to BME doctors," he said. The discrimination doesn't end there. BME doctors who are in consultancy positions at various UK hospitals are often overlooked by their employers when it comes to conferring the annual merit awards, a recognition that also helps recipients to get a monetary incentive of more than 50,000 pounds. "As many as 25 per cent of the consultants at UK hospitals are BME. Yet, only 4.5 per cent of them get a merit award," said Chand. advertisement Complicating the situation further is the current state of affairs in UK's healthcare system. "At present, there is very low morale among doctors working in the NHS. Not many local graduates want to work in general practice as the working conditions are awful with a lot of paper work and pressure regarding targets set by the Department of Health," said Mehta. "Native junior doctors are leaving the UK in their hundreds to countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as they are unhappy with the new policy regulation of the government under which they have to work seven days a week," he said. "There is currently a drought of doctors in the UK. There is a shortage of 5,000 in GPs alone. They will need another 10,000 to 15,000 in other specialties," added Dr. Mehta. The fact that NHS is reaching out to Indian doctors again in its hour of crisis is also a tacit admission that there are no suitable doctors available within the European Union to fill the shortage, a mandatory requirement, as per a new rule introduced by the UK government in 2006, to give preferential treatment for EU doctors in NHS. "Doctors from the EU have had major problems of language and are not popular in the UK," claimed Dr. Mehta. Yet, for all the negatives, people like Chand believe that the British society was a lot more biased in the 1970s than it is now. "At least multiculturalism is now acceptable in places like London," he said. "Doctors who come to the UK from India, should come with an open eyes," said Chand. "They should know that it is not a bed of roses." Also read: --- ENDS --- By PTI: Ahmedabad, Apr 15 (PTI) Gujarat Police has seized 1364 kg of Ephedrine, a raw material used to prepare party drug methamphetamine, from a factory in the city outskirts, with an international market value of Rs 270 crore. In a joint operation, the city crime branch and state Anti-Terrorist Squad teams last night conducted raids at Riya Industries on Vehlala-Zak road here and seized 1364 kg of Ephedrine and arrested its owner Narendra Kachha. advertisement Police has also named the son of a former Congress MLA Bhavsinh Rathod, Kishorsinh as kingpin of the drug racket, who is yet to be arrested. "Kishorsinh Rathod and a Mumbai-based Jay Mukhi had procured this drug from Sholapur in Maharashtra from another person named Punit. They gave this durg to Kachha to convert it into crystal math (methamphetamine), a party drug," Joint Commissioner of Police heading the crime branch, J K Bhatt said here. "Kachha, who has a BSC degree is associated with pharmaceutical business for the last 20 years. Earlier he used to work in different companies and has a wide experience on how to make the party drug from ephedrine," he said. Ephedrine is a drug used to prevent low blood pressure and also used for asthma, narcolepsy and obesity. It is a Schedule A controlled substance and as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act section 9(1) its purchase, sale and possession and import, export are banned without license. "Crystal Math (methamphetamine) is prepared from Ephedrine which has a huge demand in India and abroad," Bhatt said. "They had plans to export this party drug to European countries and also sell it in India," Bhatt said. Kishorsinh was earlier arrested for possession of fake currency and had been sentenced for five years jail term, Bhatt said adding that his accomplice Jai had a drug case registered against him in Thane in Maharashtra. "We have formed teams to nab the accused," he said. "This is the biggest seizure of drug in Gujarat and among one of the biggest in the country also," he claimed. PTI PD DK ANP --- ENDS --- By PTI: Dehradun, Apr 16 (PTI) Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today supported the agitation by guest teachers in the state demanding renewal of their appointment on an annual basis and a pay hike. Rawat, who sat on a token dharna along with the agitating teachers, told reporters that he had spoken to Governor K K Paul about the issue and has urged him to concede to their demands. advertisement Pointing out that his government had deployed guest teachers to address the problem of lack of teachers in schools especially in remote hill areas, the Congress leader said that he had asked the Governor to implement the decision taken by his Cabinet in this regard. The deposed Rawat-led state government had decided to renew appointment of guest teachers on an annual basis and hike their pay to Rs 15,000. The guest teachers association has been on a dharna in support of its demands for the past seven days with a section of them on a "fast-unto-death" for the past five days. PTI ALM SRY PAL SRY --- ENDS --- Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma have begun shooting for the next schedule of Sultan in Uttar Pradesh. By Indo-Asian News Service: Bollywood's superstar Salman Khan's upcoming film, Sultan which is to be released on Eid this year, is being shot in western Uttar Pradesh. ALSO READ: Sultan teaser - Salman Khan is a rage on the internet, gets 3m views in less than a day ALSO READ: Sultan vs Sarbjit - The wait is on advertisement Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma were spotted at the NP Boys School on Mandir Marg, Lucknow. The NP Boys school was turned into a hospital facility for the shoot. The two actors greeted their fans while holding placards in their hands. The film is being produced by Yash Raj Films. It will be shot in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Morena area in Muzaffarnagar from April 20 onwards as the makers of the film informed the state government. Gaurav Dwivedi, vice-chairman of the UP Film Development Council told IANS that senior officials of the YRF have informed in writing of their film shoot to the state government. "The film fraternity at large is endeared by the recent initiatives taken by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to promote film shoots in the state and these have now started yielding results," said Dwivedi. With Salman Khan's immense popularity in Uttar Pradesh as elsewhere, the film unit has sought the "necessary logistical support" from the state government following which concerned authorities have been asked to make security and other arrangements. Sultan is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film revolves around Sultan Ali Khan (Salman), a wrestler who is struggling with problems in his professional and personal life. --- ENDS --- Shahid Kapoor has finished shooting for Rangoon, a period romance drama film set during World War II. Shahid Kapoor on the sets of Rangoon By India Today Web Desk: Shahid Kapoor has finished shooting for Rangoon, a period romance drama film set during World War II. SEE PIC: Shahid Kapoor looks almost unrecognisable in this photo from the sets of Rangoon ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor injured, Rangoon shooting comes to an abrupt halt "Morning tweeps (a person's followers on the social media website Twitter). Last day on 'Rangoon'... Feeling the vibes," Shahid tweeted on Saturday night. advertisement Morning tweeps. Last day on #Rangoon trailer launch of #UdtaPunjab big day. Feeling the vibes. Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) April 16, 2016 The film has been directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Rangoon also star Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan along with Shahid. The newly married star will play an INA soldier in the film, Kangana will essay the role of a Broadway actress while Saif Ali Khan will be seen playing a filmmaker from the black-and-white cinema era. Earlier there were speculations that Rangoon might be inspired from the 1942 Hollywood classic Casablanca. Vishal Bhardwaj said that Rangoon is not inspired or adapted from any film. The film is slated to hit the screens on October 14, 2016. --- ENDS --- Two major scams involving Siddaramaiah's son came to the fore this week and the BJP has launched a political campaign against him seeking a CBI probe into the cases. By Aravind Gowda: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has provided the right ammunition for the newly-appointed president of the Karnataka BJP, BS Yeddyurappa. Two major scams involving Siddaramaiah's son came to the fore this week and the BJP has launched a political campaign against him seeking a CBI probe into the cases. Earlier this week, it was found that Matrix Imaging Solutions Ltd, in which Siddaramaiah's son Dr Yathindra S is a director, won a bid to set up a clinical laboratory and radio diagnosis and imaging services at the government-run Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). The firm won the contract by placing the lowest bid, giving rise to suspicion. advertisement On Friday, in another embarrassing exposure, it was revealed that the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) had allotted prime land (worth Rs 150 crore) to a firm owned by a friend of Siddaramaiah's son in contravention of rules and regulations. Siddaramaiah has claimed innocence in both the cases, but his image has severely dented. Now, the BJP is demanding a probe by the CBI into both cases. While the government has remained silent over the tender awarded to a company owned by Siddaramaiah's son, a complaint has been filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau by an NGO seeking a probe into the alleged preferential allotment of land. The BJP is of the view that only a probe by the CBI will ascertain the truth in both the cases. "If Siddaramaiah is claiming that both the cases are in accordance with law, what is preventing him from handing over them to the CBI for an independent probe? Let him prove that there is no nepotism in the two cases," said former CM and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar. Yeddyurappa went a step ahead and said legal action would be initiated against Siddaramaiah. The two 'scams' are likely to become the highlight of his campaign as Yeddyurappa embarks on a tour of Karnataka this week to assess the impact of drought on the state. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. Just wait and watch? More skeletons will tumble out of Siddaramaiah's closet," the newly-appointed Karnataka BJP said. However, putting up a strong defence, the chief minister told the media on Saturday that the Congress High Command had not sought an explanation on the two deals. "These are merely speculative reports. No one has asked for an explanation. Transparency has been upheld while awarding the contract. The BJP is day-dreaming of grabbing power by making unwanted comments," he added. Though it is being said that Siddaramaiah's son has quit from the company that won the government tender, it will not help the Congress restore its image. Also read: --- ENDS --- By PTI: Cheyenne (Wyoming), Apr 17 (PTI) Ted Cruz today won all 14 delegates in the Wyoming State Republican convention, a resounding victory for the Texas senator ahead of Tuesdays crucial New York primary against the controversial presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Trump picked only up a single delegate in Wyoming county conventions on April 9 while rival Ted Cruz got nine. In the weekends state convention, Cruz won all the 14 Republican National Convention delegates up for grabs. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has one delegate and the other four are uncommitted. advertisement "If you dont want to see Donald Trump as the nominee, if you dont want to hand the general (election) to Hillary Clinton, which is what a Trump nomination does, then I ask you to please support the men and women on this slate," Cruz said in his victory speech, holding up a piece of paper of 14 recommended delegates. Twelve members of that slate won. They are bound to the senator on the first ballot and have also made a non-binding pledge to stick with him as long as things go in Cleveland. For Cruz, the win in Wyoming is another signal that demonstrates how his campaign has organised party insiders and activists to make it difficult for Trump to capture the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the Republican Party nomination. With Saturdays sweep, Cruz can count on at least 24 of the 29 delegates from the state. The delegates were chosen by party members rather than ordinary voters. 69-year-old Trump - who did not actively campaign in the state - remains the Republican front-runner overall. However, the real estate billionaire could fall short of the number of delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination for the November 8 presidential election. That would mean a contested convention where voting for candidates starts again from scratch. Trump is concentrating on New York, which holds a key primary on April 19. New York will award 95 Republican delegates while the two Democratic candidates are fighting over 247 delegates in the city. A number of senior Republican leaders have backed Cruz, a Conservative Texas senator, fearing that Trumps controversial comments make him a weak candidate in the November election. The result from the Wyoming contest brings Cruzs tally from 545 to 559 delegates compared to Trumps 743. In the Democratic race, Clinton with 1,758 delegates is still ahead of her only remaining rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has 1,076 delegates. PTI AKJ AKJ --- ENDS --- advertisement While wildlife groups have said that there has been an increase in the tiger population, 2016 brought its own shares of tiger deaths. Madhya Pradesh alone lost 16 tigers to poaching. Are we doing enough to double the tiger population by 2022 and is it even a realistic goal? By India Today Web Desk: A week ago wildlife groups went on to say that for the first time in a century, there has been an increase in the number of wildcats worldwide, reported PTI. India is a home to half of these species. The WWF and Global Tiger Forum said, "the number of wild tigers has been revised to 3,890, based on the best available data". According to them this increase can be attributed to enhanced protection, improved surveys, and increase in tiger population in India, Russia, Nepal and Bhutan. advertisement "For the first time after decades of constant decline, tiger numbers are on the rise. This offers us great hope and shows that we can save species and their habitats when governments, local communities and conservationists work together," said Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International. While India's homes the highest number of tigers i.e. 2,226, Russia holds the second highest number of wildcats at 433. Indonesia has 371 tigers while Malaysia 250. Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Bhutan have 198, 189, 106 and 103 tigers respectively. A day after this declaration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the third Asia Ministerial Conference on tiger conservation where tiger range countries will discuss key issues, including anti-poaching strategies. However, the picture is not all rosy. Three days back, an eight-month-old orphaned tiger cub died of blood infection at Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier in April, a tigress's carcass was found at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra's Chandrapur. Her lifeless body was seen floating on water. In last one year, Madhya Pradesh alone has lost around 16 tigers to poaching and other causes. Within a few months of 2016, many cases of tiger deaths have been reported. To achieve the goal of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, a goal that was set during a Tiger Summit in Russia in 2010 by the governments, still a lot needs to be done. In fact, world renowned conservation zoologist and leading tiger expert based in Bengaluru, Dr K Ullas Karanth, Director for Science-Asia for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), believes the goal is not realistic. "None of the populations have been observed to 'double' in 10 years, even under best of protection," said Dr Karanth, reported Firstpost. --- ENDS --- The US State Department travel advisory categorically said that the its embassy is aware of a general but uncorroborated threat against the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. By India Today Web Desk: The United States (US) today issued a 'fairly specific' warning to its citizens residing in Pakistan's Islamabad, asking them to avoid the Marriott hotel in the capital for the next few days. The US State Department travel advisory categorically said that the its embassy is aware of a general but uncorroborated threat against the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. advertisement "US citizens are advised to avoid the area for the next several days to allow time to assess the situation," the advisory read. The advisory urged US citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan and reminded them of the ongoing security concerns in the country. Pakistan continues to experience significant terrorist violence, including sectarian attacks. Across the country, terrorist attacks frequently occur against locations where US citizens and westerners congregate, as well as against local civilian and government targets. On April 16, 2015, an American educator was shot by two gunmen on motorbikes. ALSO READ Declassified US document suggests Pakistani link to attack on CIA agents --- ENDS --- Five of the constituencies are in Alipurduar district, seven in Jalpaiguri, nine in North Dinajpur, six each in Darjeeling and South Dinajpur and 12 in Malda districts. The only south Bengal district going to the polls in this phase is Birbhum. So far, voters in 49 of the total 294 constituencies of the assembly have exercised their franchise on two dates -- April 4 and 11 -- that make up the first phase. Polling for the remaining phases will be held on April 21, 25, 30 and May 5. By India Today Web Desk: Amid reports of sporadic violence, over 79.70 per cent of votes were cast in the second phase of West Bengal elections for 56 constituencies. In Alipurduar, 82.07 per cent voting were recorded, in Jalpaiguri 77.69 per cent, Darjeeling 74, North Dinajpur 78.90, South Dinajpur 82.72, Malda 79.60 per cent and Birbhum 82.89. At Dumrut, in south Bengal's Bolpur constituency in Birbhum, several people were arrested following a clash between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party workers. advertisement Controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal, the party president of Birbhum district, who has been put under strict surveillance by the Election Commission, stoked another controversy when he went to vote sporting a batch of party symbol on his shirt. The Congress lodged a complaint against the alleged violation of the model code of conduct by him. "I didn't realise it. But the presiding officer could have stopped me from going like this," Mandal said later. Two FIRs- one for going out of his constituency despite warning and another one for going to cast vote sporting party symbol on his kurta - are being lodged against him. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who was in Kolkata today, alleged that booth-capturing and false voting continued in the state. "Despite the presence of central forces, there is a 'bhoot' (ghost) in the booths," he said. In north Bengal, Malda district reported a clash between CPI(M) and TMC supporters in front of a booth in the Englishbazar Assembly seat. Two persons, including the TMC polling agent, were injured in the brawl, the police said. #WATCH: Clash between CPI(M) and TMC workers outside a polling booth in West Bengal's Malda, two injuredhttps://t.co/KyVPBgtvMY ANI (@ANI_news) April 17, 2016 In another instance, TMC polling agent Asraful Hossain was allegedly beaten up at a booth in Chanchol constituency in Malda district allegedly by Chanchol ex-pradhan Maqbul Hossain of Congress, polling officials said. As a result, polling was temporarily stalled. Hossain has since been arrested, the police said. Earlier in the morning, a clash between BJP and TMC workers left eight persons injured in Dumrut village of Birbhum before polling began, an EC report said. Three persons were later arrested by the police. TMC candidate from Siliguri Assembly constituency Baichung Bhutia complained of bogus votes being cast at Sriguru Vidayapith booth and a complaint has been registered with the EC. Five of the constituencies are in Alipurduar district, seven in Jalpaiguri, nine in North Dinajpur, six each in Darjeeling and South Dinajpur and 12 in Malda districts. The only south Bengal district going to the polls in this phase is Birbhum. In pics advertisement So far, voters in 49 of the total 294 constituencies of the assembly have exercised their franchise on two dates -- April 4 and 11 -- that make up the first phase. Polling for the remaining phases will be held on April 21, 25, 30 and May 5. Also read: PM Modi attacks Mamata Banerjee, says Trinamool not working for people of West Bengal 8 injured in clashes between BJP, TMC workers in Bengal's Birbhum --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Trideep Lahkar Guwahati, Apr 17 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who has declared that the current assembly elections as his last, will decide whether to continue in office after two years if he is elected again. "After two years, I will take a decision on how I will continue in the party. I will decide if I will remain as a CM for the next five years or not, " he said asserting that he will win a fourth consecutive term. advertisement Accordingly, I will take my next step," Gogoi told PTI in an interview. The 80-year old politician had already announced that this Assembly election will be his last participation in electoral democracy. "I will not fight the next election. Congress has to fight without me," he said. Gogoi, however, did not specify whom the party or he is nurturing to take the baton from his hand. "We do not nurture anyone. Many leaders are there after me. Leaders emerge out of masses," he added. Asked for a few names, the Chief Minister said "there are many capable leaders -- Anjan Dutta, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Ripun Bora, Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain. Probably, my successor will be from these leaders." Though he did not elaborate, Gogoi appreciated the way former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu had handed over the post to his trusted Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in the middle of a term so that the latter could prepare the ground. PTI TR VSC PAL ANP --- ENDS --- Merpel directs Kat readers to Professor Robert Gordons much-discussed new book, The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War The California prohibition dates to the 1870s, a serendipitous result of the historical coincidence between the codification movement in the United States and the problems confronting a new state in developing a coherent legal system out of its conflicting inheritance of Spanish, Mexican, and English law. The existence of this anachronistic legal rule at the time that Silicon Valley developed solved the collective action problem associated with encouraging employee mobility within the district. People start companies, they fail, they succeed, they move on. And that seeds new companies, and those people carry on the knowledge and the know-how but it gets recombined with other skills and technology. Whereas you can think about the 128 company as being autarkic. The company was the family was the unit, and everything stayed within the company. Early efforts to take legal action against departed employees proved inconclusive or protracted, and most firms came to accept high turnover as a cost of business in the region. One of the more interesting developments regarding IP have been attempts to link it with a grand theme. For the last decade or so, the most prominent example has been that the patent system is inimical to innovative activity, at a time where innovation is seen as in decline. [.] It would seem that it is not only the patent system that is under scrutiny. According to Justin Fox, as set out on Bloomberg.com (The Tyranny of the Noncompete Clause), there is another gremlin nipping away at the heels of innovation and entrepreneurship, namely the noncompete clause.Strictly speaking, the issue of noncompete clauses falls under the law of restraint of trade. However, as most IP practitioners can attest to, a noncompete clause usually arises in the context of an employer-employee relationship, when it is expected that the employee may be involved in the creation of IP. In such a situation, the employee will often be called upon to agree to a noncompete clause, which is itself bundled with non-disclosure obligations regarding the companys trade secrets. More often than not, it is the IP practitioner who is called upon to opine on this entire contractual bundle. Fox suggests that the extent to which a noncompete clause is enforced within a given jurisdiction may be a major reason why some places do better than others in spawning a successful high-tech ecosystem.The focus of his comments is on the California experience. It turns out that already in the 19th century, the California legislature chose not to allow enforcement of a noncompete clause. Quoting Professor Ronald Gilson of the Stanford Law School--Fast forward to the end of the 20th century and the pre-eminence of Silicon Valley over Route 128 in Boston as the leading U.S. eco-system for high tech innovation. In explaining this, Professor AnnaLee Saxenian of the University of California, at Berkeley, argued in her influential 1994 book, Regional Advantage, that a key factor was that workers tended to move from company to company in Silicon Valley, while in Route 128 they tended to remain with their employer. As Saxenian explained to Fox in a 2014 interview--As Saxenian further observedFox also points to the research of two scholars, Professor Orly Lobel of the University of San Diego and Professor On Amir of the University of California at San Diego, who argue that the alleged corrosive effects of a noncompete clause are not limited to the employees potential for future external employment. Lobel and Amir claim that the restrictions imposed by a non-compete clause diminish the employees perceived ownership of his or her job, resulting in lower employee motivation both to carry out their current job as well as to continue to develop their skills. Somewhat contrarily, Fox also mentions a study by Professor Evan Starr of the University of Maryland, arguing that a noncompete clause might actually encourage employer investment in employee training.So what does this Kat make of Foxs piece. Three points come to mind:1. Fox may be overstating the capacity of a noncompetition clause per se to inhibity employee mobility. It is this Kats experience that even where such provisions are enforceable, courts tend to construe such restraints strictly, on the basis of reasonableness, with respect to scope, duration and territory. Each of these elements may be judicially cut back by the court, or the entire clause might be disallowed. Even when they are upheld, the erstwhile employer might be required to pay the ex-employee compensation during the duration of the noncompete period. Admittedly, there may be costs to both the employee (and employer) in sorting all of this out, but it suggests that describing them as a form of employment tyranny is overstated.2. This Kat wonders to what extent noncompete provisions are sometimes conflated with an employees obligations to maintain in confidence the trade secrets of his or her ex-employer. Professor Saxenian is reported by Fox to have observed that Data General , once a leading computer firm on Route 128, repeatedly sued competitors and former employees to prevent the loss of proprietary corporate information. With all due respect, what seems to have been going here was an attempt by Data General to protect its trade secrets as much as enforcing a noncompetition clause per se. One can argue about the proper legal metes and bounds for trade secret protection and how it impacts on an innovation ecosystem, but such a discussion is legally separate from the noncompete obligation.3. In light of (1) and (2), and circling back to the beginning of this blogpost, this Kat wonders whether Fox is not prone to the same tendency for hyperbole that characterizes the discussion on patents and innovation. Innovation is a worthy grand theme, and the present concern about the decline of innovative activity is an important, even crucial issue, for our time. How far, though, one can link restraint of trade in the form of a noncompetition clause to the grand theme of the strength of innovation within a given high tech ecosystem may be overwrought. If this claim is accurate, it may somewhat alleviate the criticism that has been levied by human rights activist groups and political opponents of the Iranian regime in the days and weeks leading up to Mogherinis visit. That sort of criticism has also surrounded a number of other state visits between Iranian and Western officials, including Prime Minister Matteo Renzis trip to Tehran earlier this week. The National Council of Resistance of Iran pointed out that at least eight executions took place in Iran during the time that Renzi was in the country. The exiled resistance group went on to suggest that Mogherinis visit would be sending the wrong message by implying that expanded relations with Europe would not depend upon Irans reducing its rate of executions or improving its human rights record. In light of these criticisms, Mogherinis raising the issue only after the fact cannot be expected to silence those who are demanding a more assertive human rights policy from Western leaders. Indeed, even the EU Bulletin report acknowledges that human rights appears to take a back seat to trade agreements and the European efforts to expand bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic regardless of its persistent illicit behavior. Interestingly, while many assessments of current Western policy indicate that the US and Europe regard trade as more important than social and cultural issues, the opposite may be true of Iran. There are various indications that the Iranian leadership considers the countrys Islamic and anti-Western identity so important that it is willing to compromise on matters of economic development in order to safeguard the regimes social and cultural controls. For example, CNN reported on Friday that Iran has some potential to develop its tech sector, but that this potential is notably held back by the persistence and further growth of the countrys restrictions on the internet and social media. These restrictions have been widely reported upon in the past, and they include outright bans on Twitter and Facebook, as well as ongoing efforts to entirely close off the Iranian internet from the rest of the world, so as to allow in only content that the regime authorities consider appropriate. But the economic impact of these restrictions has been given less attention. That impact is made more important by the fact that, as CNN points out, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is currently pushing for diversity in the Iranian economy, so as not to leave that entire economy at the mercy of the possible renewal of sanctions on the energy sector. In his speech on the occasion of the Iranian new year celebration of Nowruz last month, Khamenei declared the year ahead to be the year of the resistance economy, urging domestic development and arguably welcoming the cancellation or weakening of the July 14 nuclear agreement. To the extent that restrictions on the internet undermine one of the economic sectors that might help in this project, those restrictions may seem inconsistent with Khameneis push for diversification. But these things seem less inconsistent if one considers the web censorship and the resistance economy to be motivated by the same goal: reducing the threat of foreign economic, political, and cultural influence. In other instances, the tension between social repression and economic harm is even more explicit. For instance, on Friday an Iranian human rights group in Iran published a new report on the persecution of business owners who are also members of the Bahai religious minority. Authorities regularly force the closure of such businesses, thereby not only contributing to the regimes negative human rights record but also interrupting commerce that could be lucrative for the economy as a whole. There have been at least 80 of these forced closures since October 2014. The report was sparked by a letter signed by 54 leading business people and economists from countries around the world urging Khamenei to reverse course on this issue. Hadi Ghaemi, the International Campaigns executive director added to this message: The business community worldwide should let Iran know that if Iran wishes to be open for business it must respect the law and the rights of Bahais. Of course, such commentary clearly seems to serve as a response to the rush to invest in Iran in the post-sanctions era brought on by the nuclear deal. Visits to Tehran by Renzi, Mogherini and others help to support the notion that much of the world community already regards Iran as open for business, regardless of its treatment of the Bahais, the countrys population of political prisoners, internet users, or Iranians as a whole. On the evening of April 12, 2016, M. Anita (Glasgow) Leininger, 89, of Lincoln, passed quietly to her heavenly home after a long illness. She was with her daughter, Linda, at her passing. Born in Drakesville, Iowa, on April 8, 1927, she was the eldest of four daughters born to Bertha May (Benge) and George Walter Glasgow. She spent her early years running the Iowa countryside getting into as much trouble as she, her sisters and her cousins could manage before neighbors would call in reports. As a teen, she began substitute teaching for her mother in a one-room schoolhouse near their home, and the experience led to a lifelong passion and profession. Anita married her beloved husband, Dr. Lester N. Leininger, in Boone, Iowa. on August 7, 1946. The family moved to Logan, Utah, in 1959, where Anita continued to raise two children, while also receiving her bachelor's degree. They moved to Lincoln in 1965, where she then received her master's degree in history, English, and political science. Upon graduation from UNL, Anita accepted an offer to teach technical writing in the College of Agriculture and Engineering, from which she retired in 1997, and became professor emeritus. Anita supported numerous organizations and charities, including Lincoln Community Playhouse, United Way, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Republican party. She was an avid reader, especially after midnight, and enjoyed quilting, sewing, traveling, genealogy, and giving her grandchildren priceless experiences with international travel, the arts, and other educational efforts. Anita is preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Norma Culbertson, of Nevada, Mo; and her first husband, who was killed in action in Luzon, The Philippines, in 1945, shortly before their first anniversary. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Les; two sisters, Marcine Porter and Norcita Seals of Iowa; her daughter, Linda K. Phelan, of St. Joseph, Mo; her son, Bruce L. (Daisy) Leininger, of Redwood City, Calif.; three granddaughters, Jennifer Hickman (Adam), Amy Thompson, and Sarah Powers (Andy); four great grandchildren, Mallory, Nathan, Alexis and Chase; and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to extend special thanks to friends and colleagues who contributed so much to her full and happy life. They also want to thank her wonderful caregivers, and particularly Dawn and Anna, who took extraordinary effort to keep her comfortable, entertained, and happy in her final year on earth. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 18. at Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to any veteran or arts charity, and condolences may be shared at: www.bmlfh.com. You will be missed dear wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, neighbor, colleague and booster. Thank you for everything. 16 injured in Chitwan accident At least 16 passengers have been injured when a truck hit the commuter bus at Tikauli of Bhaktapur along the East-West Highway on Sunday morning. 29 injured in Bhojpur bus accident, 9 critical Twenty-nine people were injured when a passenger bus en route to Dharan from Bhojpur headquarters met with an accident on Sunday. According the District Police Office, nine people injured in the accident are critical. Abducted Nepali freed safely from Indian town An abducted Nepali teenager has been rescued safely from India. The Banke District Police Office, in coordination with the Indian authorities, freed Muntaaj Nau, 18, of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolis-26 from Risiya Bazaar in Bahraich, India, on Thursday. Art and its stories and histories Future incarnations of international art events might benefit from a similar effort tracing the art historical narrative As talks fail to resume, blame game continues In four days, the Constitution of Nepal will be seven months old. But there is no solution in sight to the Tarai crisis, an outcome of this very charter that was promulgated on September 20. Chand Maoists rally for self-built Fast Track The Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist has expressed serious concerns over the preparations to hand over the construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast Track to Indian developers. Dahal, Poudel stress unity among all parties for constitution implementation UCPN (Maoist) Chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, spoke with Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel on Sunday and sought latter's support in the constitution implementation process. Dhangadi misadventure It is fortunate that it had a happy ending, even if the act itself was unbecoming of proper airmanship Dilip Kumar recovering well in hospital; reports 'normal' Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was hospitalised on Saturday morning for "high fever and chest infection", is recovering well and his reports are "normal", confirms a representative of his actor-wife Saira Banu. Ethiopia: Armed men 'kill 140' near South Sudan border Ethiopia says armed men have killed 140 people near its border with South Sudan and abducted at least 39 children. EU 'turns page' in relations with Iran The European Union and Iran have "turned a new page" in their diplomatic relations, the EU's foreign policy chief said on a visit to Tehran. For first time, Nepse above 1,400 Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) last week rose above 1,400 points mark for the first time in its history. Listen to the people Any political transition without broad-based agreement will be counterproductive Migrant crisis: Pope returns from Greece with 12 migrants Pope Francis has taken 12 Syrian migrants back with him to the Vatican after visiting a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. MJF-Ls first convention on May 2-4 Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik will be holding its first national convention in Biratnagar from May 2 to 4. NEA, ADB agree to set up central safeguard unit Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to establish a central-level safeguard unit to deal with stakeholders over land acquisition, forest clearance, and right of the way, among others, in electricity transmission line projects under the ADB-funded South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power System Expansion Project. Nepal in the race of Asia New Star Model Contest Nepal is set to witness a glamorous night on April 17 as 30 participants from all over the country will contest to be the Face of Nepal at Hotel Shangri-la in the Capital. Nepal's Constitution to be taken to Mt Everest summit Nepal Students Union, Dhulabari Campus leader, Anish Luintel, will be scaling Mt Everest where he will be unfurling the country's national flag and displaying a copy of Nepal's Constitution to mark the Union's anniversary. One killed in tractor accident in Dang A motorcyclist was killed in a road mishap at Banskot in the district. PM Oli expands Cabinet, Chand sworn in as Commerce Minister Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expanded his Cabinet on Sunday by inducting one more minister, making its strength to 29 ministers. Shrestha asks Qatar to give Nepalis free visa, free ticket UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha has requested the Qatar government to help Nepal send migrant workers to the emirate in a free-visa-free-ticket arrangement. Single fire truck manning 5 municipalities People in Bardiya are worried about the prospect of fires destroying their homes and property as there is only one fire truck for five municipalities in the district. TIA sees rise in freight movement International passenger traffic through Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) dropped last year for the first time in 13 years, but freight movement rose significantly as surface border points were strangled by the Indian embargo last year. Tough going Women politicians find themselves caught between the devil and the deep blue sea UNESCO Director General Bokova in Nepal UNESCO Director General Irina Gueorguieva Bokova has arrived here in Kathmandu on Sunday on the invitation of Nepal Government. Weakening intelligentsia The Saarc created a certain form of elitism that was happy to stay in the world of power Wildfire sweeps through 77,000ha of forest land Forest fires that started a few days ago have spread across more than 77,000 hectares of forest land in six districts in Lumbini zone. Fires in several places have yet to be contained. William, Kate visit Taj, sit on Diana seat British royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on Saturday spent around 45 minutes admiring the Taj Mahal and also sat on the Diana seat for a photo session - evoking the memory of the late Princess of Wales, who had sat on that marble bench alone 24 years ago, triggering rumours about the state of her marriage. Winners of Smart Dampati Facebook contest announced National Health Education Information Communication Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the US Agency for International Developments Health Communication Capacity Collaborative, announced the winners of the Smart Dampati (Smart Couple) Facebook contest this week. Yes, its hard to to tell when one enters the city limits Yes, they will make the city more inviting Maybe ... does it really matter? No, the signs in place are fine No, it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars Vote View Results By It was April last year when I wrote about our eldest heading to boarding school. The reality had arrived. I couldnt keep pretending it wasnt going to happen. Wed not only said it out loud but wed paid the deposit (ouch) and it was time to get my head around it before she started at her new school in February. In Australia private schooling is always up for debate. I listen to friends and fellow parents continually justify their position either way. In the expat world boarding school has its own level of judgement its not only the choice to remove your child from their international world but the fact that youll be living in another country? Have you no heart? Wow, I could never do that. Im sure I felt that way when she was eight or nine years old. But by the time she was 14 and we were looking more and more like being in Qatar for the next few years I realized we had to consider her options in Australia. She wanted to go, she wanted to be an Australian teen living an Australian life, and I couldnt argue with her. Id had that life, I knew what she was missing out on. And every time I dropped her at the mall with friends to roam the shops and grab a latte at Starbucks (with her knees and shoulders covered) I wondered how differently her life would look if she wasnt living in a compound in the Middle East. The decision was made. Uniforms were bought. And an invisible countdown began. My heart developed a dull ache every time I thought about her not being with us. She on the other hand developed a bounce in her step and a plan for the future that involved driving lessons, a metro card, and the ability to walk to the shops with the dress code of her choice. To make things a little more interesting we threw a breast cancer diagnosis into the mix. In late August I made plans for chemo and radiation that would work with being close by for the first few weeks of her new boarding life. Im pretty sure that on the day that we arrived at 9am at the Boarding House she was the only kid whod accompanied her mother to radiation that morning. Would you prefer it if I wore the wig rather than the headscarf? I didnt want to embarrass her. Mum, you do what works best for you. But its probably better we dont hide anything, I think Id prefer that people knew what we were going through. She is beyond amazing. Which was why after a long day of setting up her room, meeting the other girls and laughing with fellow parents I completely fell apart. When the time for goodbyes came and her cheeks began to wobble there was nothing I could do to keep it together. So there we sat, on a park bench in the school grounds, sobbing. The two of us unable to speak. Both looking at each other nodding in agreement with tears streaming down our faces. Yes, this is the worst. Yes, this hurts more than anything. Yes, we have to do this. In the first week I visited every day until she told me that it was probably best I didnt. Mum, I think its really hard for a few of the girls when you keep popping up. I took her advice and just rang and texted continuously. The first weekend we went out for the day together, we shopped for the things she needed and ate the things she loved. Boarding school in one week had made her obsessed with good food because as any boarder knows, boarding house food is terrible and should only be talked about with a gag reflex and an eye roll. She giggled with stories about the girls, I learnt new names while feeling sad about missing the connection of school pick ups and drop offs. We cried at goodbye but this time we could speak through the tears. It was still awful but it was a better awful. The second weekend she stayed the night and while she slept I stood at the end of her bed and stared. Much the same as I did as a new mother and her my first baby. Id looked at that empty bed all week as Id wandered by to my own room each morning and night. The room had looked so ridiculous when it was childless. But she wasnt a child. She was a young woman who in two weeks had grown into a different girl. To start with she now spoke Australian. With a rising inflection at the end of each sentence her vocabulary had developed to Australian teen. King William Road was now King Will, and everything was shortened. She now caught the bus into town to meet friends, went to socials held by other schools, walked on a Friday night to the local gelato place for a scoop, and kept to a boarding school roster of cleaning, table setting and basic chores. Shed mastered the art of getting out of bed as late as humanly possible while still getting a hot breakfast but was still working on how to get her uniforms to the laundry each week. The third weekend was our final before I headed back to Qatar. It was fairly monumental. I was finishing radiation, moving from part-time to full time work, and leaving my child for four weeks until I returned for Easter. Emotional? We excel at emotional. Those four weeks were long but thanks to amazing friends and family they ran like clockwork. Each weekend a different friend or family member took her out for dinner. She played sport, went into town with friends, and rang us every time she was with someone familiar so we could skype together. Aunty Suzie flew in from Sydney and provided the comfort level that sometimes only family can bring. We made it to the end of term unscathed. She has a school report card to be proud of and a new group of friends who she counts on for support and giggles. We flew back to Qatar together yesterday, her first trip back from school. And as we sat preparing for take off she showed me pics from her Snapchat and Instagram friends from all over the globe, two homes, two worlds, she now matches us in our geographical schizophrenia. Id asked her awhile ago how she was feeling about it all. How she felt about being at school in Australia with a life here in Qatar that appears to continue on without her. Mum Im in exactly the right place for me. They say a mother is only as happy as her saddest child. Shes beaming. I still hate the goodbyes but the sobs have moved to mild tears with a pang of regret that shes no longer three years old and constantly by my side. Im comforted that because this is boarding school and not college or university our break is gentle and softened with exeat weekends, term breaks, and permission slips that have to be signed by parents. I am bursting with pride over who she is and where she takes her place in this world. Bizarrely it was going home that made her realize how international she is. While shes captured her Australianess, she will always be an expat kid; she now knows what the opposite looks like and can see both worlds for what they are. We now have her home with us for the next 2 and half weeks and it feels like a treat to be enjoyed slowly and deliberately. Every breakfast, every fight, every eye roll and every giggle between siblings. Maybe thats been the biggest gift? Did we make the right choice? For us. Definitely. Does it make it any easier? Yeah, it does. Im exactly where Im meant to be Mum. Sign up for the best bits here Your favourite posts from the group as well as the gems from the podcast. We'll send it straight to your inbox to save you searching Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. South Korea plans to extend its foreign exchange trading hours by 30 minutes, the country's finance minister said, a move intended to revitalize and globalize the local stock market. Currently, the local foreign exchange market runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. If extended, it will open till 3:30 p.m. In a related move, South Korea's financial regulators have been pushing to prolong the Korea Exchange's stock trading hours by half an hour to boost its volume. At present, the stock market also opens for six hours until 3 p.m. "The Financial Services Commission is pushing for the extension of stock market hours, and (we) will push for that of foreign exchange trading together," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho told reporters in Washington on Friday (local time). He is on a visit here to attend the G-20 session of finance ministers and central bankers. The government will announce details of related plans within the first half of the year and implement the measures as early as possible, according to officials in Seoul. Yoo cited the need for FX market operation to coincide with share trading. Otherwise, foreign investors will suffer inconvenience in foreign currency exchanges. South Korea hopes to increase the volume of foreign exchange trading to help it join the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) index. The minister dismissed concerns about possible adverse effects. "The extension of trading hours itself won't necessarily increase fluctuation," he pointed out. "There will be a limit to the increase of trade volume itself, even if the number of trades increase." Although the hours of the regular FX trading are stretched, the 24-hour non-deliverable forward (NDF) market will operate as usual. As to the local stock market, its operators have stressed that the trading hours are two to three hours less than those in other nations like Singapore and Europe. (Yonhap) South Korea played a mediating role in lifting a freeze that the U.S. imposed on a bank account of the Iranian Embassy in Seoul as a punitive step amid the hostage crisis in Tehran in 1979, declassified diplomatic documents showed on Sunday. On Nov. 19, 1979, some two weeks after the crisis erupted, Washington froze the account at the Korean branch of the Bank of America (BOA). The Iranian Embassy immediately complained to Seoul, asking it to check if a freeze in a third country was legitimate. The diplomatic crisis occurred on Nov. 4 after revolutionary students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking dozens of American diplomats and citizens hostage. The crisis, which lasted for 444 days, led to U.S. financial sanctions on the Islamic republic. The freeze on the BOA account was part of the U.S. sanctions, but South Korea had the obligation to protect foreign embassies and their staff within its territory. After reviewing domestic and international laws, Seoul concluded that the financial sanction was unwarranted. Seoul believed that in line with the principle of territorial sovereignty under international law, the Korean branch of the American bank should abide by Korean law, and that the embassy's deposits in the bank should not be subject to Washington's sanctions in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Moreover, Seoul thought that it had the legal obligation to ensure that the Iranian Embassy smoothly carried out its diplomatic activities in Korea. Based on these considerations, the South Korean government requested the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to offer an explanation for the freeze on the Iranian account. The U.S. Embassy explained that the sanction was the "least it could do" to protect the American people's interests. On Nov. 21, just two days after Tehran made the complaint to Seoul, the freeze on the BOA account was lifted, according to the diplomatic documents. Later, Seoul called on the U.S. Embassy to exercise "caution," saying that what was more important than the freeze itself was the fact that the U.S. bank froze the assets of a foreign mission in South Korea without notifying Seoul. Another diplomatic document showed that North Korea attempted to sell to Iran dozens of U.S.-made "500MD" helicopters that it smuggled through a German trade company in the early 1980s. Pyongyang sent a delegation to Iran in October 1985 to sell the helicopters, but failed to do so as the two sides could not narrow their differences over prices. From 1983 for two years, Pyongyang illegally imported 87 500MD helicopters through the German firm. The helicopters were designed by the U.S. firm Hughes and assembled by another U.S. company, McDonnell Douglas. Seoul's Foreign Ministry thought that Pyongyang tried to sell the military choppers to Tehran as it suffered a severe shortage of foreign currency at the time. The communist state still possesses the old 500MD helicopters. Some of them were put on display during a military parade on July 27, 2013 to celebrate what Pyongyang calls Victory Day, when the North signed the armistice agreement to halt the 1950-53 Korean War. Another declassified document showed that a visiting military official of Zaire -- now the Democratic Republic of Congo -- claimed that some North Korean female pilots joined the Vietnam War in support of North Vietnam's communist forces. Gen. Babia Zongbi Malobia of Zaire visited Seoul in October 1979, and mentioned that during his visit to Pyongyang in December 1974, he heard that North Korean female pilots flew MiG-17 and MiG-21 fighter jets and had been involved in the Vietnam conflict. (Yonhap) MADISON The first time Ann Stanton stole drugs, she says, came after she watched one of her patients die in intensive care. Feeling responsible, she pocketed pain medication intended for an elderly patient soon after, setting off a six-month run of stealing that didnt end until she was caught in a hospital bathroom injecting a drug often used to treat anxiety disorders. I was dangerous, for sure, Stanton said of those months using. I was high, and I was definitely impaired. Stanton is one of the thousands of Wisconsin nurses who deal with addiction. At least 41 states have created nondisciplinary programs for such nurses, aimed at getting them to seek help before patients may be hurt. Wisconsin is among those states, but its program has low participation rates that may be the result of a government-run model that some say deters nurses from self-reporting. The result is hundreds of addicted nurses ministering to patients without monitoring or treatment. Patient safety is the lowest in states with the lowest participation in these programs, said Mike Miller, medical director of the Herrington Recovery Center, which offers drug and alcohol treatment at Oconomowocs Rogers Memorial Hospital. You could argue that the safest health professional is the monitored health professional. Substance abuse among health care professionals is thought to be about the same as in the general population about one in 10. Wisconsin has about 31,500 nurses, meaning more than 3,000 likely deal with substance abuse. Those nurses typically have two routes to treatment: get caught or seek help. Wisconsins Board of Nursing disciplines those who are caught, suspending their licenses while they enter monitoring and treatment. Meanwhile, Wisconsins Professional Assistance Procedure encourages nurses and other licensed professionals to self-report, offering confidential substance monitoring while they seek treatment. But the PAP is administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services the same entity that oversees the disciplinary Board of Nursing a factor that some say dissuades nurses from self-reporting. You basically have to put yourself at risk of discipline and offer, in writing, potentially self-incriminating statements to even be considered for our state program, Miller said. Almost half of alternative programs nationwide use a similar model as Wisconsin, but participation rates show that independently run programs may be more effective. Wisconsins government-run program has 37 nurses enrolled, or just over one per thousand nurses. Colorados peer assistance program has about 250 nurses receiving case management, or four per thousand. Floridas independently run Intervention Project for Nurses has 1,349 nurses enrolled, or about five per thousand nurses. Miller is pushing for Wisconsin to adopt an independent model. Rep. John Nygren, a Republican from Marinette who co-chairs the states powerful Joint Finance Committee, has introduced multiple rounds of legislation aimed at curbing opioid abuse and improving treatment. Hes exploring whether abuse among health care professionals is an issue hell tackle next session. DSPS spokesman Robert Schlaeger declined AP requests to interview staff, citing department policy. In an email, he wrote that any nurse abusing drugs has an obligation to the public to report it to the department through the PAP. Lori Cuene, a Wisconsin nurse who has been in board-mandated alcohol monitoring and treatment for years, said shes seen nurses who dont seek help because the system is too punitive. One of the really big frustrations for me was working alongside people who should be in programs but arent, Cuene said. Those people are more dangerous than I am. Stanton said she tried to stop using drugs because she knew she could be harming patients, but didnt have the resources she needed. She said punishment and the fear of losing her job wasnt the only deterrent to self-reporting; she also feared the stigma. Health care professionals say recovery is possible, and that nurses have lower rates of relapse than the general population, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Stanton regained her full nursing license in October and now works at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee in substance abuse treatment. She says shes a better nurse for having gone through her own addiction. There is hope, thats what I want to communicate, Stanton said. There is hope, and people change. Wisconsin has not seen even a trace of Zika virus, which federal health officials confirmed last week can cause serious birth defects, but that could soon change. State health officials expect Wisconsin, one of only 10 states that have not reported a case of Zika in someone who traveled to affected countries in Latin America or the Caribbean, to get a travel-related case any day. People are unlikely to contract Zika from a mosquito bite in the state this summer, but health officials cant rule it out. The mosquitoes most likely to carry Zika generally are found in southern states, but the estimated range of one species reaches as far north as southern Wisconsin. With warmer weather coming, authorities say people concerned about Zika should take steps to avoid mosquitoes and ticks known to be capable of carrying other pathogens, such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease. The risk of acquiring Zika from a mosquito bite in Wisconsin is really not a concern at this point, said Karen McKeown, health officer for the state Department of Health Services. But we encourage people to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, generally have been on the rise in Wisconsin in recent years. Deer ticks in Wisconsin and Minnesota recently have been found to carry new species of Lyme and ehrlichiosis bacteria, which can cause fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, fatigue and other symptoms. It seems like every year we have more people getting infected with tick-borne disease and more kinds of tick-borne disease, said Susan Paskewitz, a UW-Madison entomologist. In confirming there is no doubt that the mosquito-borne Zika virus can cause severe birth defects such as microcephaly, a small brain, Dr. Sonja Rasmussen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said pregnant women and others should wear long pants and long sleeves, or use repellent, and get rid of pools of standing water. Its always important for pregnant women, and actually for everybody, to not get bitten by mosquitoes, Rasmussen said. Its really important to make sure there isnt standing water that is a breeding place near houses. At least 358 Americans, including 31 pregnant women, have developed Zika by traveling to affected countries such as Brazil, according to the CDC. In U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, at least 475 cases have been acquired, including 58 in pregnant women. Nobody has been infected with Zika from a mosquito bite occurring in the 50 states. But officials are closely monitoring states such as Hawaii, Florida, and Texas, which in recent years have had local outbreaks of similar diseases including dengue fever. All states bordering Wisconsin have had Zika cases associated with travel, including 10 cases in Illinois and 12 in Minnesota. But of hundreds of samples tested from Wisconsin travelers, none has been positive. It seems almost inevitable that we will have a travel-related case, McKeown said. Pregnant women shouldnt travel to affected countries, the CDC says. Anyone with an active infection can spread the virus through mosquito bites and sex, so the CDC advises them to avoid mosquitoes and abstain from sex or use condoms. The mosquitoes most likely to carry Zika, yellow fever mosquitoes or Aedes aegypti, arent found in the upper Midwest, according to the CDCs estimate of their range. But another species, Asian tiger mosquitoes or Aedes albopictus, is thought to live in parts of southern Wisconsin and southern Minnesota, along with all of Iowa and Illinois. However, the chance that those mosquitoes will transmit the virus to people in Wisconsin this year seems slim, Paskewitz said. Its probably pretty close to zero; it might even be zero, she said. I wouldnt say that if we were Florida. Paskewitz and others plan to set up traps for Asian tiger mosquitoes in southern counties this summer. Unlike Culex mosquitoes that transmit West Nile, which are active at night and can be lured with light, carbon dioxide or smelly pools of water, the Aedes mosquitoes thought to carry Zika are daytime feeders. Traps for them, which could be set up by June, involve containers for laying eggs or other chemical lures, Paskewitz said. Meanwhile, UW-Madison researchers continue to study Zika in rhesus macaque monkeys. Since February, theyve infected 11 monkeys with the virus to examine three questions: how long Zika persists in blood, urine and saliva; if infection protects against future exposure; and whether the stage of pregnancy in which infection occurs impacts the effects on offspring. The bodies of nine non-pregnant monkeys have gotten rid of the virus in an average of about 10 days, said David OConnor, a UW-Madison pathology professor who is part of the research team. But two pregnant monkeys infected in the first trimester have retained the virus so far for two weeks and more than a month, OConnor said. Their fetuses might be infected, re-seeding the mothers infections, or the immune systems of the mothers might be weaker because they are pregnant, OConnor said. There is something unusual going on in pregnancy, he said. From VOA Learning English, its time again for Words and Their Stories. Legs. They are the base of the body. They provide support and balance. And, of course, we use them to walk. Besides being a part of the body, leg also means a part of a journey or trip. For example, on the first leg of a trip, you might feel fresh and ready-to-go. But by the last leg, you might be tired and ready for sleep. Legs have walked themselves right into many English expressions. A useful expression using the word legs is to simply have them. If something has legs, it means people have interest in it. This expression often describes a story, issue or scandal. If you are involved in a scandal that has legs, you will hear about it for a long time, which is unfortunate. On the other hand, you can also say that something does not have legs, meaning no one is interested. This expression is commonly heard in newsrooms and politics. Now, I will demonstrate the power of a preposition. If I add up to the expression has legs, you have a whole new expression with a whole new meaning. To have a leg up means that you are ahead of others in some competition. For example, if you are studying rocket science in college and your mother is a rocket scientist, you have a leg up on other students. Your mother can help you understand difficult concepts. You would have another a leg up if your father owned the local rocket factory. Having a leg up is much better than not having a leg to stand on. This expression means that a person has no proof or evidence to support their actions or opinions. Enjoy this English in a Minute video. It shows how to use the idiom "not have a leg to stand on." This expression is not new. Someone used it for the time over 500 years ago! To not have a leg to stand on is often used in discussions about legal actions or court trials. If someone threatens legal action against you but they do not have evidence to prove guilt, you could say, Go ahead -- take me to court. You dont have a leg to stand on! Keep in mind when using this idiom that it is only used in the negative form. So, dont drop the not! Now, lets move our legs to the sea. Imagine you are on a boat that is rocking back and forth in rough ocean waters. You are unable to walk steadily and you feel a little sick. This is because you havent found your sea legs. Sea legs are the ability to move about and not feel sick while traveling on a boat or ship. If you are a pirate and you dont have a good pair of sea legs, your career may not progress as you would hope. "Arrrr, matey...!" Now, the meaning of leg work is just as it sounds, the physical part of any task. For example, a political campaign involves planning and organization, but it also requires a lot of leg work. A candidate needs to talk to as many voters as possible. This means knocking on doors, standing at metro stations and going to community meetings. So, if someone tells you that running a political campaign is easy office work, they are pulling your leg. To pull someones leg is to tell a lie but in a friendly way. You can tell someone to not pull your leg. Or you can ask them if they are, as in this example: A: I just won two free tickets to the big rock concert tonight and a free dinner on a night-time boat cruise! Do you want to join me? B: Are you pulling my leg?! That sounds too good to be true. A: Its true! Ill pick you up at 6 oclock. Some language experts say this expression may have come from a group in England many years ago call the trippers-up. They were criminals who robbed people by pulling their legs out from under them. Besides pulling a leg, you can also tell someone to shake a leg. This means to hurry. You often hear parents telling children to shake a leg when they are getting ready for school in the morning -- or perhaps not getting ready. Saying break a leg to someone performing on stage is the same as saying good luck. In the theater, saying good luck is actually considered to be bad luck. Saying break a leg is a tradition for actors and musicians, but not for dancers. Telling a dancer to break a leg would just be mean. Lastly, we come to last legs. If you find yourself on your last legs, you had better sit down for a while and rest. Being on your last legs can mean that you are so tired you cannot continue. And the personal pronoun here can change. She can be on her last legs. And he can be on his last legs. However, this expression does not have to be used just for a person. If something you own is old and not working, you can say it is on its last legs. For example, I have owned my car for 15 years, and it is on its last legs. Everything is breaking. A company that is losing money and soon to be out-of-business can be said to be on its last legs. But Words and Their Stories is not on its last legs! This show has been going strong for several decades! So, please listen, Like, Share and Comment to make sure this show has legs to stand on in the years to come! Im Anna Matteo. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ZZ Top is the rock band singing about legs at the end of the show. The song is simply called, Legs. Do you have any expressions using "legs" in your language? Do you tell actors to "break a leg" before heading on stage? Let us know in the Comments Section. The novelist Ernest Hemingway wrote 47 possible endings to his book "A Farewell to Arms." Eight of them are part of a new show at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts. The ending that Hemingway finally chose is also there to see. Patrick Hemingway is the writers only surviving child. This week, he visited the library show. He said the exhibit shows how hard his father worked. He said, "He always felt responsible for being where the action was. A lot of writers just retire to their rooms and describe their childhood. He didn't do that." The Kennedy Library holds the world's largest collection of documents, photographs and personal belongings of the famous writer. Library Curator Stacey Bredhoff describes the Hemingway collection as one of the library's "greatest treasures." The show is called "Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars." It includes material rarely shown in public. The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City also presented the show last autumn. Hemingway and Kennedy never met. However, Kennedy liked the writers work. Kennedy wrote to Hemingway for permission to use the novelists expression "grace under pressure." Hemingway was too sick to accept an invitation to Kennedys inauguration in January of 1961. The writer killed himself later that year. The show also includes Hemingway's first short story. It was published in 1917 in a high school magazine. Visitors can also see letters between Hemingway and other writers at the time. Patrick Hemingway praised the show. "I am very pleased that they were able to put together in my lifetime a very comprehensive picture of a person who really represented very well the first half of the 20th century,'' he said. Ernest Hemingway fled Finca Vigia, his home in Cuba, at the time of Fidel Castro's revolution. The writer left much of all he owned on the island. After the writer died, President Kennedy sought Cubas permission for Hemingway's wife, Mary, to visit the island and collect the belongings. A fishing boat transported the property from Havana to Florida. Mary Hemingway established a relationship with Kennedys wife, Jacqueline, after President Kennedy was murdered in 1963. They later decided to keep the writers Cuba collection at the Kennedy library. Patrick Hemingway now lives in Bozeman, Montana. But he is represented in the show. A photograph shows him and his father on a deep sea fishing boat. Fishing was one of Ernest Hemingway's great loves. "He worked very hard in the morning but he never worked in the afternoon. He had a great life,'' Patrick Hemingway said of his father. Im Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver adapted this story from the Associated Press report. We want to hear from you. Post your message in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story novelist n. a writer of fiction books curator n. a person who is in charge of the things in a museum, zoo, etc grace n. a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving draft n. a version of something (such as a document) that you make before you make the final version stationery n. paper that is used for writing letters and that usually has matching envelopes comprehensive adj. including many, most, or all things Pope Francis call for a more welcoming Catholic Church is similar with the views of many American Catholics. Last year, the Pew Research Center questioned Catholics and found support for changes offered in the Popes letter The Joy of Love. Many Catholic Americans wanted him to take more steps, according to the report. In his message to the Catholic Churchs 1.2 billion members, Francis called on clergy to accept people who were divorced and remarried as well as unmarried people living together in a romantic relationship. He said people who already have children may use their own consciences to limit the number of their children. That was seen as a change at least in tone from the churchs ban on artificial birth control. But he continued the churchs opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. Thomas Groome is a professor of theology at Boston College in Massachusetts. He said the pope did not change basic church positions on marriage and family, but rather called for more understanding of people who have different views. Pope Francis says we have been called to form consciences, not to replace them, Groome said. In other words, the church cant take over peoples consciences. They have their own conscience and that has to be respected. Deborah Rose-Milavec is executive director of FutureChurch. The organization has been calling for a more welcoming Catholic Church. Rose-Milavec sees the popes message as critical of Catholic bishops who are building walls to keep out sinners. Still, she said the popes message needs more development. Marianne Duddy-Burke is executive director of DignityUSA, a Catholic group that supports gay and lesbian rights. She is disappointed the pope said same-sex marriage is not part of Gods plan for marriage and family. She said, We had hoped for much more, Details of the Pew study The Pew Research Study studied the views of U.S. Catholics last year. It found three out of four Catholics believe the church should allow couples to use birth control. Pew said 84 percent of American Catholics believe it is acceptable for unmarried parents who live together to bring up children. Six-in-ten say the church should allow divorced and remarried Catholics without an annulment to attend religious service, known as a mass. An annulment is a ruling by a Catholic court that a marriage was never really valid. The pope said in his message that Catholic clergy should not stop people who are divorced or in other irregular situations from attending mass. If they show love for each other, and take care of their children, divorced couples should be allowed to marry in the church, Pope Francis said. Pew said nearly half of American Catholics believe the church should recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. The pope rejected that view, though he repeated his call to treat gays with respect and without discrimination. Six in 10 say they agree with Catholic Church policy repeated by Francis that abortion is a sin, according to the Pew survey. But only three in 10 consider opposition to abortion an important part of being a Catholic. That view differs from the three U.S. Republican presidential candidates. They all promise new efforts to ban, or at least limit abortion. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story divorced adj. someone who has ended a marriage through a legal process romantic adj. relating to love between two people conscience n. the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong artificial birth control n. pills or other devices that keep a woman from getting pregnant abortion n. a procedure to end a pregnancy sin n. act of wrongdoing according to religious or moral law disappoint v. to make someone unhappy irregular adj. not normal, or usual survey n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something A powerful earthquake struck Ecuador Saturday, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 1,500. The earthquake in the South American country happened after a series of earthquakes struck Japan -- on the other side of the world. President Rafael Correa was in Rome, Italy when the quake struck. He quickly returned home. He said the city of Pedernales -- in Manabi Province -- is, in his words, destroyed. About 40,000 people live there. Officials say they believe the number of dead will increase as aid workers reach isolated areas. The earthquake was felt 170 kilometers away in the capital Quito. People rushed into the streets. Luis Alberto Otero is a journalist in Quito. He told VOA that everything moved. He said, I had to hold up the TV so it wouldnt fall." Otero added that residents of the capital city are used to earthquakes, but he was scared because it lasted a long time. Earthquakes and aftershocks in Japan In Japan, a series of earthquakes and aftershocks caused the deaths of at least 41 people in the southern part of the country. Eleven people are missing. More than 800 people have been hurt since the first earthquake struck on Thursday, causing buildings to collapse. It also caused fires and landslides. Stronger earthquakes struck Friday and Saturday. Officials believe people are trapped or buried under collapsed buildings or homes. Strong aftershocks continue to be felt in Kumamoto Prefecture. Rescuers must also deal with harsh weather conditions. On Sunday, the Japanese government sent 25,000 Self Defense Force troops to help people on the main southern island of Kyushu. The U.S. also sent Marines and supplies to help. Some small communities cannot be reached, so officials do not have complete damage reports. About 200,000 people have fled their homes because of the damage. They also fear there will be more quakes or aftershocks. Earthquake experts believe there will be dangerous aftershocks in southern Japan for more than a week. Car manufacturers Toyota and Nissan, and electronics manufacturer Sony, have closed factories in the area because of the damage. Many large companies had built factories in the area because experts believed it was less likely to have strong earthquakes than other parts of Japan. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise VOANews.com reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/voalearningenglish _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story aftershock n. a smaller earthquake that takes place after a larger one landslide n. a large mass of rocks and earth that suddenly and quickly moves down the side of a mountain or hill isolated adj. separate from others News articles, commentaries, reviews, translations on subjects of potential interest to progressive minded individuals and organizations, with a special emphasis on the Quebec national question, indigenous peoples, Latin American solidarity, and the socialist movement and its history. The first phones with Qualcomms Snapdragon 820 processor may have just started shipping, but it looks like a new Snapdragon 830 chip is on the way. And while its likely well see plenty of Android smartphones featuring the next-gen chip in 2017, it looks like we may also see Snapdragon 830-powered Windows 10 phones. A Microsoft support page notes that Windows 10 Mobile will work on a range of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, including the MSM8998 chip which Qualcomm hasnt actually announced yet. While we cant be absolutely certain that the MSM8998 is the rumored Snapdragon 830, its most likely a high-end chip. The model number pretty closely mirrors some of Qualcomms current and previous-gen chips for flagship phones: Snapdragon 820 = MSM8996 Snapdragon 810 = MSM8994 Snapdragon 808 = MSM8992 About all we know for certain right now is that theres a new chip on the way, and that Microsoft plans to support it. But older rumors suggest that the Snapdragon 830 processor will be a 10nm chip with support for up to 8GB of RAM, and that the chip should be available in 2017. 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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 Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Lucknow: Three people were injured, one critically, on Sunday when a concrete slab being laid on the Lucknow Metro Rail route caved in, police said. The concrete slab collapsed at Sujanpura near the Alambagh bus station, said the police. The injured, said to be labourers, have been admitted to a nearby hospital, where condition of one is stated to be critical. Others are being treated for non-life threatening injuries. District Magistrate of Lucknow Raj Shekhar told IANS that there were "no casualties reported as of now," meaning the accident has not resulted in any loss of life. Senior district and police officials are at the accident site, overseeing rescue operations. Shekhar said that 15 personnel of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have reached the accident site to help in rescue operations. New Delhi: With some parts of the country facing acute water crisis, the government is likely to come out soon with a model Bill which will lay down guidelines for states on efficient management of the valuable resource by ensuring its storage. The Bill is being drafted taking into account opinions of various stakeholders and it is likely to be finalised by 15 May, Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar said here today. "Drafting of the legislation is already on and the work is expected to be completed by 15 May. This is a framework law. It is not mandatory for states to adhere to it. (Water being a state subject,) states follow their own laws... "But given the present water crisis, the country needs to follow some common practices to manage water. The Bill will be of help in this regard," Shekhar said. Shekhar said if need be, the ministry will consult other Union ministries before circulating the Bill among states. "It may take a month or so for us to circulate the Bill among states after the draft is finalised," he said. Terming the present water crisis as "very serious", Shekhar underscored a need for busting the "myth" among public that there is a "plentiful of water available in the country and that too at free of cost". Referring to the water crisis in Maharashtra's Latur district, he stressed the need for "comprehensive" thinking for water management over the next 10 years and pitched for storage of water, especially underground reserve, to avoid evaporation of the limited resource. "Although we have monsoon for a period of 90 days every year, it is only 30-35 days when we receive rainfall actually. So we have to bear this is in mind and focus on storing water. "We will also have to think in a very comprehensive manner about supply-demand combination. Latur has emerged as an example from which we can learn," he said. Latur district in Maharashtra's Marathwada region has been witnessing acute water crisis and local authorities there have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC near water sources in view of possibility of violence given the current grim situation. What raises concern is that water stock in 91 major reservoirs in the country has dipped to 24 percent of their total storage capacity, the government had said recently. According to the Union Water Resources Ministry, only 37.92 billion cubic metre (BCM) of stock was available across these reservoirs for the week ending 7 April. The stock is 31 percent less than the corresponding period last year. These reservoirs have a total storage capacity of 157.799 BCM. The 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit closed with traditional optimism with no plan of action how to meet these expectations of unity and solidarity. Perhaps only one gesture towards achieving this unity was Turkeys equidistant show of warmth to Iran and Saudi Arabia and President Hassan Rouhanis acceptance of a formal visit to Ankara after Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz made prior to the OIC summit. Among the most expected absentees was Egypts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose relations with Turkey have not seen much improvement despite Saudi mediation for a long time ahead of the OIC summit to hand over OIC presidency to Turkey. In his speech of transfer of presidency Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shokry spoke about everything except about the actual issue at hand, and left the stage without waiting for a handshake with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while he approached the dais to take over the presidency. The divide was so clearly visible in a summit called to address the theme ofUnity and Solidarity. Saudi Arabias mediation efforts failed to bring Egypt and Turkey together to cooperate on Syrian crisis. But the most important presence was that of Rouhani and King Salman who did not even shake hands. Rouhani made a passionate conciliatory speech specifically saying that Saudi Arabia and Iran are not a problem for each other. But the summit concluded with an expected anti-Iran communique which says The conference deplored Iran's interference in the internal affairs of the States of the region and other member states including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia, and its continued support for terrorism. Though it also stresses for cooperative relations between Iran and other Muslim countries, message sent to Iran is quite loud and clear. As Syria remains suspended for last two summits, Syrian rebels represented by Syrian National Council were invited to represent Syria these rebels are deemed by Iran and Syria to be terrorists. The Iranian president skipped the concluding session where these resolutions were to be presented. Iran had warned the OIC not to include such resolutions as it will harm the unity and solidarity but the majority of member states approved these resolutions showing Irans increasing isolation within Islamic countries, thanks to its role in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain. No surprise then that the Iranian media launched a campaign accusing OIC of being biased and dominated by some members, Saudi Arabia particularly. This shows the widening gap between Iran and key Arab and Islamic countries on issues of regional security. The inclusion of Iran in the final communique which accuses Iran of supporting terrorism and Hezbollah, interference in internal affairs of neighbours, comes at a point when Irans dependency on Russia for its security and strategic interests in the region has increased. It is unlikely that Russia remains in long-term hostile relations with major Arab and Sunni states and there are already signs of normalising relations between Turkey and Russia and Saudi-Russian cooperation. Irans apparent dependency on Russia may not be as reliable as Saudi Arabias partnership with its western allies, which is now indeed on a decline. These resolutions are major setbacks for Iran's image and the diplomatic efforts within Islamic countries. Any excessive criticism or confrontation of the OIC by Iranian officials will only deepen Irans negative perception in Sunni countries. Only months before the Syrian crisis, the annual reports of the OIC had generously appreciated Irans improving research and development sector something most Sunni States have failed to do better. Iranian universities stand among the top universities among those in all OIC countries. At some point, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was among the most popular Muslim leaders in the Arab streets, thanks to his anti Israel rhetoric. Iran stood second after Turkey in research and development spending according to an OIC 2012 report. Iranian influence in art, culture and literature is so deep in all Muslim countries particularly in non-Arab countries that the Arab countries can hardly replace Iran despite their huge export of Wahhabi/Salafi literature. That is where Irans relation with Pakistan, Turkey and Indian Muslim communities and the largest Muslim population of the OIC has to be understood. With or without an Islamist regime in Tehran, the nature of Irans influence will remain the same. So where do OIC-Iran relations stand after condemning each other? Perhaps no major change will come as these resolutions are largely of a political nature and non-binding. The Iranian reaction to contain the influence of such resolutions will be through enhancing bilateral engagement as the case of Turkey-Iran and Iran-Pakistan relations indicates. Despite having bitter differences over Syrian crisis, and media-driven hostility between Turkey and Iran, the two countries have steadily developed their trade relations since nuclear sanctions were lifted. Their history of cooperation during the sanctions period has just been exposed by the arrest of Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab in US who successfully sought sanction-proof ways for huge financial transactions between the two countries. Zarrabs business relations involve influential individuals in Irans most powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Council, whose deteriorating relations with Rouhani have contributed well to Iran-Turkey hostilities. Notwithstanding that these resolutions were known to the Iranian leadership, Rouhani decided to attend the summit and later on, headed to Ankara to have bilateral meetings with his Turkish counterpart. From the Turkish perspective, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are irreplaceable for various reasons. Both Turkey and Pakistan have been trying to find a role to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi-Turkey relations though seen with great expectation in forming an alliance have little in substance to sustain, as the two nations do not share much beyond a limit and the Egyptian crisis is just one example. The only significant outcome of the 13th summit is a decision to create an Istanbul-based counterterrorism centre, touted as the Islamic Interpol. This is important because counterterrorism efforts by western countries have become extremely unpopular and brought heavy political liabilities for most governments, as in the case of drone attacks. A fight against terrorism and extremism led by Islamic countries would have greater legitimacy than the one led by western countries. Cooperation between this centre and other international institutions will be more effective than the efforts of individual countries. The centres real test will be to find a mechanism that gives its members no option to choose between a good terrorist and bad terrorist. The author holds a PhD in Middle East Studies and is a research fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs. Views expressed are personal. Berlin: At least three persons, including a priest, have been injured in a "violent" explosion at a gurudwara in the western German city of Essen. Eyewitnesses have spoken of "a kind of bomb" that exploded at the entrance of the gurudwara around 7 pm on Saturday following a wedding had taken place there. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the Indian mission is following it up with the authorities. "Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up with local authorities on ground situation," he tweeted. A 60-year-old suffered serious injuries and had to be hospitalised while two men, 47 and 56-years-old, had minor injuries, the Bild newspaper reported but did not specify if all of them were Sikhs. The injured included a priest on whom the whole pane of glass had fallen due to the impact. A police spokesman said that the explosion was probably caused deliberately. A masked man wearing dark clothes fled in an SUV, according to several witnesses from the scene. A part of the wedding party was still in the building, the other part in the adjacent ballroom. The explosion was so violent that windowpanes of adjacent buildings were also broken. The building was heavily damaged, the report said. Three men were arrested following the explosion and are being suspected to have been in the black SUV, which had previously been seen in the vicinity of the crime scene. GAMLA, Golan Heights Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel would never relinquish the Golan Heights, in a signal to Russia and the United States that the strategic plateau should be excluded from any deal on Syria's future. "The Golan Heights will remain in Israel's hands forever," Netanyahu told his cabinet, which met for the first time on the Golan since the area was captured from Syria in a 1967 war and annexed in 1981, in a move that has not won international recognition. Netanyahu, who made a similar statement during an election campaign in 2009, said he had spoken by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday and told him that Israel's security must not be compromised by any peace agreement to end Syria's five-year-old civil war. That would mean, Netanyahu said, that "at the end of the day Iranian, Hezbollah and ISIS forces would be expelled from Syrian territory". Iran, one of Israel's main foes, as well as Tehran's Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, have supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict against rebel forces and Islamic State militants. Echoing a previous call from the Jewish Home party, a key ultranationalist partner in his governing coalition, Netanyahu urged the international community "to recognise finally that the Golan will remain permanently under Israeli sovereignty". Officially, the Golan was chosen as the venue for the cabinet session as a way to mark the anniversary of Netanyahu's election victory a year ago. But the timing was seen by some political commentators as linked to talks Netanyahu is due to hold with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Syria, where Moscow's military and diplomatic interventions are crucial. Though Russia is committed to keeping Syria intact under Assad, it has not publicly broached the future of the Golan. "Whatever happens beyond the border, the (Golan) line is not going to change," Netanyahu said, in his remarks on his conversation with Kerry. Having sent in Russian forces last year to turn the tide against a rebellion raging since 2011, Putin, who meets Netanyahu in Moscow on Thursday, wants to preserve Assad's central rule as part of national reconciliation efforts. Other powers want him gone. While formally neutral on the civil war next door, Israel has predicted Syria's sectarian partition is inevitable. Past U.S.-backed Israeli-Syrian peace efforts were predicated on a return of the Golan, where some 23,000 Israelis now live alongside roughly the same number of Druse Arabs loyal to Damascus. (Writing by Dan Williams and Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Andrew Bolton) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A flight bound for San Francisco was turned back to Sydney on Sunday afternoon when an "unusual odour" was detected onboard. United Airlines flight 870 took off from Sydney's international airport as scheduled at 10.52am. A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the same type of plane which was turned back to Sydney. Credit:David McNew However, around an hour into the flight, an unknown smell began to permeate the cabin. The plane was then turned around, touching down in Sydney at approximately 1pm. The crew and Australian mother Sally Faulkner remain in jail, facing kidnapping charges after they allegedly tried to retrieve the children from their father and Ms Faulkner's estranged husband Ali Elamine. 60 Minutes journalist Tara Brown and her crew, Benjamin Williamson, David Ballment and Stephen Rice, were arrested in Beirut on April 7. Families of the 60 Minutes crew detained in Lebanon have described the situation as a "living nightmare," as they struggle to tell their children "when mummy or daddy is coming home". The statement from their families comes as talks between Ms Faulkner and her estranged husband Ali Elamine break down over the custody arrangements of their two children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4. The 60 Minutes team in custody in Lebanon: Tara Brown, David "Tangles" Ballment, Stephen Rice and Ben Williamson. In a joint statement issued by Cara Williamson, Denise Rice, John McAvoy and Laura Battistel - the partners of the Channel Nine crew - they said some were still yet to tell their children what was happening. "It's not an easy conversation to have with a five or seven year old who ask as they go to sleep each night when mummy or daddy is coming home," the statement said. "Our natural instinct was to fly over and be there for them. Immediately. But our desire to be over there, possibly see them for ourselves and to give them our love and support has to be balanced against the advice from the people on the ground and that's to stay here." It occupied just two or three minutes of the 60, but it was the update Australia was desperate to hear even if, in the end, it was designed more to placate the authorities than to inform the watching public. It was left to Ross Coulthart to deliver the latest news on the Beirut kidnapping saga with the straightest of bats in a segment usually given over to feedback from viewers, rather than to them. "60 Minutes has been featured in the news a lot over the last week because four members of our team remain in police custody in Beirut, Lebanon," he began, referring to reporter Tara Brown and her crew. Los Angeles: Kevin Rudd has played down his chances of becoming secretary-general of the United Nations, joking he would have a better shot if his surname was "Ruddovich". The former Australian prime minister also refused to address Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's recent comments that he has been visiting world leaders to express interest in the UN's top job. "That is a statement she made, and I didn't," Mr Rudd said in an interview with India's The Hindu newspaper. They are less than 7 per cent of the Army's numbers, but they made up half the combat deaths in Afghanistan. The roughly 2000 soldiers who make up Australia's special forces mostly the Special Air Service Regiment and the 2nd Commando Regiment have done the lion's share of the heavy fighting in Australia's recent conflicts, particularly Afghanistan. "My command in the last 12 years has seen quite a bit of action thousands of combat missions, almost half the combat deaths," Jeff Sengelman, the head of Special Operations Command, told a Canberra audience last week. A Sydney mother-of-four claims she has been left in limbo six months after being threatened with deportation from Australia and separated from her young children. Venezuelan-born Ivonne Henriquez managed to win a visa extension last year to allow her to stay in Australia while she and her former husband sorted out custody arrangements for their children, aged between 7 and 13. Mother of four Ivonne Henriquez is facing deportation and separation from her children when her visa expires. Credit:Facebook However, Ms Henriquez said the case has dragged on and her temporary visa is due to expire in August. The Saudi Arabian government has threatened to sell hundreds of billions of dollars worth of American assets should the US Congress pass a bill that could hold the kingdom responsible for any role in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill's passage, administration officials and congressional aides from both parties say, and the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon. The burning buildings collapse amid huge plumes of smoke. Credit:NYC Police Aviation Unit The officials have warned senators of diplomatic and economic fallout from the legislation. The death toll from Saturday's powerful earthquake in Ecuador reached 262 late Sunday with thousands who lost their homes facing another night on the streets. Vice President Jorge Glas says more than 2,500 people are injured. He is overseeing the relief efforts until President Rafael Correa arrives after cutting short a visit to Italy. The strong 7.8 magnitude quake struck along Ecuador's Pacific coast and was said to be felt throughout the entire country. The tourist city of Pedernales and coastal area of Manta are among the hardest-hit areas. Rescuers were digging through the rubble with their bare hands looking for anyone who might be buried under collapsed homes and buildings. Glas said Pedernales is destroyed. "The country is in a state of disarray," said Denis Suarez, journalist from VOA TV affiliate Teleamazonas. "The aftershocks have affected people not just physically, but emotionally. I was at the supermarket when the earthquake began. The cans fell on the floor, people ran, the electrical wiring was moving, we lost electricity. That night a lot of people were unable to sleep." WATCH: Related video on Ecuador quake Canada's Global Affairs department, which handles the country's diplomatic relations, says two of its citizens are among the dead. There was hope amid the destruction, as firefighters dispatched to Manta from the capital rescued one woman trapped in rubble. The earthquake was felt 170 kilometers away in the capital Quito, where it knocked out electricity and cell phone coverage in several neighborhoods. Buildings swayed for about 40 seconds, causing people to rush into the streets. Quito-based journalist Luis Alberto Otero said residents in the capital are used to earthquakes, but it was how long Saturday's shaking lasted that scared him. "Everything moved," he told VOA's Latin America service Sunday. "I had to hold up the TV so it wouldn't fall." "As soon as it was over, I got in my car. People were fleeing to the streets for safety. The power went out for a few hours and the phone lines were down; even today, a day later, it's hard to get a line out." A bridge collapsed in the port city of Guayaquil. Glas says the national guard has been mobilized to maintain public order. An early tsunami alert has been suspended. President Correa was in Rome at the time of the earthquake after attending a Vatican conference. He cut short the visit to return home. Voz de America contributed to this report. PHOTOS: Powerful Earthquake Hits Ecuador, Killing Dozens A key official of the International Monetary Fund is urging China to continue the sometimes difficult effort to reform its huge and growing economy by making it easier to change the ownership and management of failing companies and by making bank loans and currency exchange more market-oriented. At a discussion with Chinese financial and business leaders, David Lipton said China needs to support economic areas that are likely to grow, and be careful not to prop up sectors that have excess capacity. Speaking Saturday in Washington at a global gathering of IMF and World Bank members and officials, he said policies that boost household spending would be good for the Chinese economy, and for the economic health of its trading partners. Chengyu Fu, who headed two large Chinese oil companies, said he had seen some encouraging signs that excess capacity in the petroleum and coal areas was diminishing. But he said he wasn't certain the trend would continue and added that the transition to a leaner workforce could take three to five years. Fu said China must retrain large numbers of workers who have outdated skills, while some Chinese companies also face the costs associated with huge numbers of retired employees. News reports have said China's banks face a large number of loans that are not likely to be repaid. Huang Haizhou, managing director of China International Capital Corporation, said China has a high savings rate and is a net exporter of capital. He said the large pool of savings would ease problems with bad loans, and that nonperforming loans were concentrated in state-owned enterprises. He said other sectors were doing better. Also speaking Saturday in Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Chinas economic transformation was one of the most important global economic challenges. He urged China to strengthen its social safety net, cut overcapacity and open key sectors to competition. Lew said there were challenges, but China has the tools to build a more sustainable economy based on consumer demand in that nation. Nine Yemen nationals have been transferred to Saudi Arabia from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the Obama administration pushes to close the controversial facility despite strong opposition from congressional Republicans. Television footage late Saturday showed the detainees, captured in the U.S.-led war on terror, arriving in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where they underwent medical exams and where a top Yemen official awaited their arrival. Several detainees thanked the Saudi government for taking them in. "We are looking to carry out a genuine program that gives them hope and a window into the future ... part of this society, one that is based on peace," said Yemen Human Rights Minister Ezzeldin Al-Abahi. The transfer, announced by the Pentagon earlier Saturday in Washington, came just weeks after President Barack Obama announced an accelerated plan to try to shutter the prison before he leaves office in January 2017. It also came days ahead of Obama's scheduled arrival in the Saudi capital for a summit of the six-nation security and economic forum known as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The transfer followed extended negotiations with Saudi officials, who eventually agreed to take in the detainees and put them through a government-run rehabilitation program that seeks to reintegrate militants into society. The Obama administration has ruled out sending Yemenis to their homeland because it is engulfed in civil war and has an active branch of al-Qaida. Hunger-striking inmate Saturday's transferred prisoners included Tariq Ba Odah, a hunger-striking inmate whom the U.S. military began force-feeding in 2007. At its peak, Guantanamo housed as many as 780 inmates. With the latest transfers, the Pentagon said the prison population now stands at 80. The remaining prisoners include 26 detainees already cleared for release in the coming months by a U.S. government interagency task force. Obama is seeking to make good on a 2008 campaign promise to close the facility, a vow that has met stiff opposition from Republicans both inside and outside the government. Republican 2016 presidential hopefuls have vowed to send more terror suspects to the facility rather than close it. Guantanamo is a U.S. naval base on the southeastern Cuban coast that former President George W. Bush designated as a prison for enemy combatants just months after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The designation classified the detainees as unlawful combatants, who were not afforded legal protections under the Geneva Conventions. Since then, the inmates' legal status has been challenged in numerous court cases. A Chinese spokesman criticized Taiwan after the self-ruled island released 20 fraud suspects just one day after they were deported from Malaysia, citing a lack of evidence. China and Taiwan have been tussling over which side would prosecute an international ring of Taiwanese who allegedly targeted hundreds of mainland Chinese in telephone scams. Malaysia authorities on Friday deported 20 suspects despite protests from China, which claims jurisdiction because its citizens were victimized. The spokesman for the Chinese State Councils Taiwan Affairs Office An Fengshan said Saturday that Taiwan had disregarded many victims interests and harmed them a second time after releasing the suspects, and urged Taiwan to immediately rectify their mistakes, according to a statement on the offices website. An said releasing the suspects harmed the two sides years-long cooperation on criminal investigations and called on Taiwan to prevent greater damage to the development of cross-Strait relations. The spat has become the latest source of friction in relations between Taiwan and mainland China, which split amid civil war in 1949. Officials in Taiwan have viewed the fight over deportees as a sign that China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has sought to isolate it diplomatically, is interfering with its citizens affairs abroad and exerting its influence over Kenya and Malaysia. Beijing, meanwhile, has voiced frustration that it cannot deal with criminal suspects targeting its own citizens despite extensive investigations. The international criminal gang, mostly based out of Southeast Asia, is accused of swindling Chinese through telephone calls by pretending to be police. Earlier this month Kenya sent 45 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China instead of Taiwan, infuriating Taipei officials. Gerry Shih, Beijing, AP The ethnic violence in the Rwandan capital Kigali is now spreading throughout the country, aid officials have said. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have died since Rwandas president died in a suspicious plane crash on 6 April. The killing has mainly been carried out by Hutu gangs, who blame Tutsi rebels for downing President Juvenal Habyarimanas plane in a rocket attack. The President of Burundi was also killed. Witnesses in Kigali say Hutu soldiers have been hacking Tutsi civilians to death with machetes in the street. A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Jean-Luc Thevoz, said hundreds of thousands of Rwandans had also been forced to leave their homes by the violence. The situation is catastrophic, not just in Kigali, but in the rest of Rwanda, he said. About 3,600 rebels from the mainly Tutsi Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) have infiltrated the capital. The group has said it will continue to fight until the Hutu-dominated government stops the massacres. The RPF is currently moving to take the city and has blown up a radio station that it said was broadcasting propaganda inciting Hutus to slaughter Tutsis. The 420 Belgian United Nations peacekeepers present in Rwanda are expected to withdraw within the next few days. Ten of their number were killed by government troops when the fighting began 12 days ago. The planned withdrawal follows a stalemate at the UN Security Council over how best to deal with the unfolding disaster. In the last few hours, an official from the RPF met the Rwandan ambassador in the Ugandan capital Kampala to discuss ways of ending the violence. But UN spokesman Moctar Gueye told reporters no accord had been reached. My impression is that the fighting is dying down in the capital. Unfortunately we have no ceasefire agreement for the time being, he said. Courtesy BBC News In context The massacre in Rwanda continued until July, when the RPF finally captured Kigali. About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus died in the violence, making it one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. The United Nations Secretary Kofi Anan has admitted he did not do enough in 1994 to prevent the slaughter. The UN has set up an international court in Tanzania to try the ringleaders of the massacre, but in its first eight years of operation it convicted only 17 people. Other militia members have been tried in Rwanda many in traditional village courts called gacaca but many thousands were released. Genocide survivor groups have protested strongly at the releases, but the Rwandan government said it would take 100 years to try all 120,000 people arrested after the massacre. The Portuguese Attorney General Office (PGR) is available to deepen cooperation with Macau in areas such as the fight against corruption, or training of judges, Joana Marques Vidal said yesterday to news agency Lusa. On the first day of her visit to the territory, Vidal had a meeting with the Macau Lawyers Association (AAM) where she expressed that the PGR is aware of the importance of the Portuguese legacy on Macaus legal system, and thus the continued cooperation between Portuguese and Macau authorities is vital. The Public Prosecutions Office is aware and understands this importance and is available to deepen this cooperation which can happen in many ways, providing the example of cooperation agreements in the fight against corruption or in the training of judges. Neto Valente, president of the Macau Lawyers Association, expressed his optimism and delight in the cooperation between the authorities of Macau and Portugal saying, its always useful to be able to have the opportunity to exchange views and see that there is an easy sharing of views on the collaboration with the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) and in the need to bring to Macau prosecutors from Portugal, he said. During her three-day visit, the Portuguese Attorney General will also have the chance to meet with the MSARs Prosecutor General. After Macau, Vidal will visit Beijing. MSAR government has always been confident to be on the side of those who pledge to protect Coloane as a nature safe haven, as an ecological reserve or with whatever exaggeration we dare to dress the already spoiled big island. But that does not matter. Of course we are not referring to a pristine oasis, we are talking about Macaus last green window, and yes, Coloane is under siege. Whenever officials, businessmen and urban addicts smooth talk about the need to strike a balance between environment and development, builders are already on the beach. But this time, for a change, 10 NGOs are also wired to Save Colane from an obviously menacing 100-metre tall residential project planned for the top of Coloane Hill. Even though the approval of Sio Tak Hong project seems to be in a bureaucratic limbo similar to that one made celebre by a well-known idiot of the non-denial denial, the NGOs launched an open petition and some action to promote awareness among Macau residents about the perversity of the project, while alerting to the risks of what Macau Green Student Union Joey Chan calls the chain effect. If this one residential project goes ahead, so muddled up with an unknown rationale, non-binding EIAs, non-approval approval, one has to fear 100-metre towers would pop-pop in the other mountains (hills), enough to grow another Taipa. Before we can describe it as a chain effect, there is the preliminary strategy to induce further developments. There is, or there was, a non-written understanding that Coloane would be spared by the casino industry. So much so that now the second wave of the Cotai development is not roaring as before the squeeze of the new normal. However uber luxury 13 is allegedly demanding a few baccarat tables, over there in the atrium of the island. Can we presume another chain-effect situation further in the Coloane area? Macau Civic Power Agnes Lam, usually an assertive but composed voice on public issues, took the outrage and assumed anger: we people in Macau are not just living here, it is not just a place to sleep and go to work, we are not pigs. We need somewhere to go. Macau residents are doing their part now it is the turn of lawmakers. Chief Executive Chui Sai On will attend a plenary session on April 22 to answer the questions legislators intend to raise on government policy and social issues; no doubt the Coloane hill station project would qualify. It would be an inconvenient waste of political time if the house did not take this window to speak its mind on behalf of what lawmakers may think to be in the public interest. But we would bet that besides pro-democracy Ng Kwok Cheong, New Hope number two, Kwan Tsui Hang, and perhaps the Chan Meng Kam ticket, nobody would give the environment issue a word other than one of submission to economic development. We do have to wait and in the meanwhile entertain a little guessing game about the issues lawmakers will ask CE about. On the nay column we would include the public consultation on the revision of the Legislative Assembly Electoral Law; on the aye column we would safely bet on the five measures contained in the Words of the Chief Executive. Either way, Chui Sai On wins. Final note dedicated to the Panama Papers. Tax paradises are perfectly legal. On the illegal activity using tax havens we have two types: the corrupt ones and the evading ones. Capital flight is served by 85 airlines all around the world. Dedicated to the conspiracy theorists or naive souls (same thing) we have the Vladimir Putin angle: an unknown source gave the Panama Papers to the Suddeutsch Zeitung; SZ gave it to a few selected papers; Goldman Sachs owns Suddeutsch Zeitung; Putin rests his case. TWIN FALLS Brittany Long had trouble swallowing when she woke up one day in July 2014. She had a headache a sharp pain that turned into a throb from the base of her skull down her neck. Thinking she was having an allergic reaction, Long took a Benadryl, an antihistamine. Instead of relief, she just had more trouble swallowing. She rushed to the emergency room at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, fearful that her throat was closing. She was given more antihistamines. That was the first trip, she said. Since then, the 25-year-old Twin Falls woman has lost count of how many times she has gone to the emergency room. She went once or twice per week for about a year. Her mix of symptoms confounded doctors. A recently divorced mother of three young children, Long is one of about 78,000 Idahoans in what is known as the Medicaid gap. She cannot afford health insurance but does not qualify for Medicaid in Idaho. The Medicaid gap has been in the headlines as people like Long shared personal stories in the past year. Dannielle Ryals, of Albion, has endometriosis and wants Medicaid expanded so she can see a doctor regularly. Jenny Steinke, a 36-year-old Idaho Falls woman, died in September 2015 from untreated asthma. Dr. Kenneth Krell, critical care director at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, told senators in February that not passing a Medicaid expansion has probably resulted in over 1,000 deaths in this state. Long wants lawmakers to expand the states Medicaid program to working-poor adults like her. She requested a meeting with one of her state legislators to talk about it. A Reality for Me Long had rapid heartbeats that anti-anxiety medication did not slow. She had fatigue, weakness, tremors in her hands and arms. She lost 60 pounds. She lost sensation in her limbs. She cannot hear well anymore. Some doctors dismissed her condition as psychological, she said. I even felt crazy, she said. It seemed like, what in the world? After one of many MRIs, Long learned that she has a congenital condition called a Chiari malformation. The cerebellum at the base of her brain is pushing into her spinal canal. That cuts off the flow of spinal fluid and causes a range of problems. If it goes untreated, then I will slowly become paralyzed, and from there I will end up on machines, she said. That is something that is a reality for me if I dont get it taken care of. The condition can be treated with surgeries. One surgery removes part of the skull to make more room for the cerebellum. She traveled to Phoenix last August to see a neurosurgeon at the Barrow Neurological Institute who specializes in her condition a trip funded by family and friends, she said. The neurosurgeon said Im definitely going to need surgery. When is the question, Long said. It wasnt necessarily emergent at the time, but we know its going to progress and get worse. Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance program created mainly for low-income and disabled people, would cover surgery, assuming she had a doctors referral. It could cover travel expenses, too. Deep in Medical Debt Long has also lost track of how much money she owes doctors, hospitals and an ambulance company. She said her medical debt surpasses $60,000, and she will eventually have to file for medical bankruptcy. A collections agency recently won a court judgment against her for about $800, which she said is from medical bills. (It was not clear last week why Long owes money to the nonprofit St. Lukes hospitals, which are supposed to offer charity care to low-income patients.) The debt started to pile up that day she woke up sick two years ago. By fall, she had missed two months of work. She could not hold a 9-to-5 office or retail job, but she wanted to keep working, so she went into insurance. The irony is not lost on her. As a self-employed insurance agent, she can work even when it is hard to get out of bed. If she is incapacitated for a week, her job will be there waiting the next Monday. But it does not always pay well. Long made $9,287 last year almost twice the income cutoff for single parents to receive Medicaid in Idaho. This year, she hopes to clear $20,000, which still leaves her in the Medicaid gap. Path to Neurosurgery? Absent a change in Idaho law, Longs options for obtaining health insurance are few. She could somehow start making thousands of dollars more. That would push her into a bracket where she would receive federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to pay most of her premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Tens of thousands of Idahoans who signed up for health insurance this year received those subsidies. She could stop working something she insists she will not do. I refuse to have to choose between health insurance and poverty, she said. I am not OK with the fact that it feels like it is an incentive in our state to live in extreme poverty. A third option is to marry her boyfriend and enroll in his insurance plan. Thats likely. They are engaged. She rejects the idea of marriage being one of few ways for low-income people to get medical treatment, though. We shouldnt be put in that position, she said. One Vote Out of 105 Long sent an email this month to state Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls. She wanted to tell him about her condition and how the Idaho Legislatures decision not to expand Medicaid affects her. Hartgen agreed to meet at some point in the future and invited other legislators Rep. Lance Clow and Sen. Lee Heider, both Republicans to join them. He also suggested Long contact the hospital and review her situation with the appropriate indigency authorities. The Twin Falls Republican told the Statesman that he feels for Long. Hartgen, who has Medicare Part A insurance, was in a wheelchair due to the immune disorder Guillain-Barre for much of the 2014 session, he said. I have some sympathy not only as a legislator but also as someone whos had some medical issues, he said. As for opposing a Medicaid expansion, Hartgen said he advocated for a waiver, seeking federal permission for an alternate approach to Medicaid expansion. But, he said, that view didnt prevail. Hartgen voted for a House bill to further study a Medicaid expansion. But when the Senate returned its version of the bill, allowing the state to start the waiver process, he voted against it in a vote along party lines. Im only one vote out of 105, he said. The making of legislation is sometimes not as easy as the medical care itself. Its a complex process, and it didnt get completed in this session. He said there is a balancing act between helping Idahoans who need health care, without incurring cost [or putting] the state in a situation which is unsustainable. Even if the legislature passed a Medicaid waiver bill during the 2016 session, it would take some period of time for Long and others to be enrolled in health insurance, he said. Asked whether he thinks the state is doing enough for people like Long, Hartgen said: As a lawmaker, I guess my honest answer would be no. And that was why I was one who stood up and said we need to solve this problem. And waivers are viable. ... But were not playing God here; were trying to pass laws. Long has told Hartgen that she wishes Idahos lawmakers would take action. I ... unfortunately cannot wait for political tides to change to get help I need, she wrote in an email to Hartgen. I was one of those both privately and in our caucuses and so forth, I felt like we should go ahead with some sort of waiver. Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls Watching it unfold from his home state of New York, Donald Trump was aghast when Ted Cruz picked up all of Colorados 34 delegates at the states Republican convention last weekend. As his grip on a first-ballot nomination slipped away, Trump lashed out: The system, folks, is rigged. Its a rigged, disgusting, dirty system. On the other side, Jeff Weaver, Bernie Sanderss campaign manager, vowed to contest Hillary Clintons nomination at this summers Democratic conventionpresumably because the system of superdelegates, among whom Clinton leads 469 to 31, is also rigged. Even pundits agree: Why does the Democratic Party even have voting booths? MSNBCs Joe Scarborough railed this past week, after watching Sanders win Wyomings caucuses only to receive fewer of that states delegates (including superdelegates) than Clinton did. Its true that both parties nominating systems are covered in warts. State caucuses tend to be held at night in winter, require at least an hour of voters time and result in low-turnout elections dominated by hard-core activists. Individual states on the Republican side have autonomy to apportion delegates as they see fit (take Colorado, where Cruz won all 34 delegates through a seemingly undemocratic statewide GOP convention), while Democrats have a convoluted allocation process, leading to outcomes like the one in Wyoming, where Clinton lost the caucuses by nearly 12 percentage points yet took the same number of pledged delegates as Sanders. Iowa and New Hampshire vote months before Texas, New York and California do, giving two lily-white states disproportionate power to winnow the nominating field. And theoretically, unpledged delegates in both parties could tip the scales in favor of a candidate who lost the popular primary vote, enabling elites to thwart the electorates will. A system that favors rich insiders and the strategists best able to game it, the critique goes, is hardly democratic. Party leaders, appearing to recognize this, have offered up only a meek defense of their respective nominating processes, saying, essentially: Rules are rules, these have the virtue of transparency, and everybody must abide them. But its time for a robust defense of the nominating process. The current systema potpourri of caucuses, primaries, state conventions, superdelegates and pledged delegatesis far superior to how nominees were chosen for much of the 20th century. It gives everyone a stake and deprives anyone of too much power, balancing competing democratic goals and legitimate party interests. Before 1972, party leaders had nearly unrivaled sway in determining the nominees; a relatively small handful of mostly white men ultimately decided who would be on the November ballot. In 1948, Republican nominee Thomas Dewey received a meager 11.58 percent of the primary vote yet carried the GOPs banner that fall. In 1960, the Democratic Party held only 16 primaries, and John F. Kennedy had to persuade state party leaders to back him at the nominating convention in order to secure the nod. In 1968, antiwar candidates Robert F. Kennedy (who was assassinated in June) and Eugene McCarthy together gained roughly two-thirds of the popular primary vote, but Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the backing of the unpopular president, Lyndon Johnson, and with it the nomination. Party leaders were historically happy to ignore the will of ordinary voters. That began to change in 1970. Democrats, responding to the chaos of their 1968 convention, enacted the reforms of the McGovern-Fraser Commission, making primary and caucus elections the main method by which the nominees were chosen. Republicans soon followed suit. The changes worked: In 1968, 17 states held Democratic primaries, and 16 had Republican ones. By 2000, 40 states were contested in Democratic primaries and 43 in Republican ones (the rest held caucuses). During the epic 2008 Obama-Clinton face-off, Democratic voters alone cast 35 million primary votes, a vast increase over the 13 million cast in both parties primaries during the 1968 contest. The new nominating process has empowered lower-income voters, young people, African Americans, Latinos and others who historically were prohibited from participating fully in American democracy. Although Al Gore won the popular vote yet lost in the electoral college in the 2000 general election, since 1972 neither Republicans nor Democrats have nominated a candidate who took anything but first in their primaries popular vote. The process in both parties isnt rigged, but its not purely about the popular vote, either. It offers a sensible, blended approach weighted toward voters, yet it leaves room for elected leaders, party officials and activists to have a say in the outcome. This scheme prioritizes the will of the people while imposing checks and balances, taking into account issues such as a potential nominees electability and suitability as the party standard-bearer. The system is fair-minded, democratic and responsive to voters, activists and party officials alike. The current nominating contests drive that argument home. Set aside the hyperventilating from the Sanders and Trump camps. The indisputable fact is that Sanders, despite his recent string of victories, has won a mere 42 percent of the Democratic primary popular vote, because his biggest triumphs have tended to be in low-turnout caucus states. Clintons popular margin over Sanders is massive: She has won 9.4 million votes to his 7 million. If the peoples will is supposed to be paramount, then Clinton is hands-down the front-runner. Moreover, its hard to imagine anybody winning the Democratic nomination without at least being competitive among African American voters, a key party constituency among which Sanders has routinely lost (by 38 points in Ohio, 59 points in Florida and 64 points in North Carolina). The talk that superdelegates will overturn the peoples will at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia is a red herring. Clinton is likely to win both the popular vote and the contest for pledged delegates, making her the democratically (and fairly) elected nominee of her party. Trumps path has been similarly fair-minded, even if he seems not to notice. The system that the GOP has established is simple: To win the nomination, a candidate must amass 1,237 delegates, a majority. The party has decreed that a mere plurality isnt enough to become the standard-bearer; Trump has won about 37 percent of the vote in the primary race thus far. The rules are in place to balance competing party interests (voters, grass-roots activists, local and state officials, members of Congress, national party leaders). They ensure that the party has reasonable backstopsthat its nominee isnt likely to become a general-election disaster, which is a legitimate concern for one of the nations two major parties. The GOPs rules also pay considerable deference to states and localities, a bedrock principle of conservatism, which means that each state has different procedures for selecting delegates. In addition, the rules determine who is eligible to vote in each states contests, when and how the votes will take place, how the delegates will be apportioned, and whether delegates are restricted from voting a certain way in a multiple-ballot contest. Parties are membership-based organizations, but independents sometimes get a role in determining the nominees, as some state parties permit any citizen to cast a primary ballot, regardless of her party registration. Trump and Sanders tend to perform well in these open contests, and its unsurprising that the outsider Republican front-runner and the independent, self-described socialist Democrat are the ones most critical of the nominating processes. But taken together, these layered, reasonably thoughtful rules are based on a belief that checks and balances in a party primary system guard against the prospect of, say, David Duke winning the nod. (Its hard to see how a Duke nomination would benefit democracy.) Whats more, the rules mean that candidates must create top-notch campaign organizations and navigate a complex series of state and national interests, which could be seen as a test of the organizational skills required to run the federal government effectively. Its fair to ask whether, if Trump has zero interest in organizing to win support in state caucuses and conventions, he will be capable of organizing a White House staff to guide the vast federal bureaucracy. Yes, just because this system is an improvement over the past doesnt mean it couldnt bear further reform. But any changes should at least start with the acknowledgment that, for both parties, theres no such thing as a purely democratic process. We already have the electoral college, gerrymandered congressional districts, two senators apiece from sparsely populated states, the filibuster and House rules giving the majority almost complete control over the legislative agenda. Faced with a vast array of competing forces, both parties chose rules that recognize the interests of voters, activists, elected officials, states, cities and towns. The rules are not arbitrarily elitist; theyre purposeful, balancing the different demands in a racially diverse democracy of more than 300 million people spread across 50 states. If Sanders can overtake Clintons lead in the popular vote and pledged delegates, then he will most likely win the backing of more superdelegates and become the Democratic nominee. If he cant, then he has a responsibility to respect the voters will and the partys democratic-minded nominating system. If Trump can prevail at the Republican convention in Cleveland, he, too, will be the duly elected nominee. If he falls short, he will have lost in a democratic contest, imperfect though it may be, that is still better than virtually all other political systems on the planet. This probably will beggar belief for the millions of Americans struggling to meet this years April 18 deadline to file their income tax returns, but the IRS says it has gotten better at handling taxpayer questions. Two years ago, only 38 percent of the taxpayers who called for help got the assistance they needed. Last year, the number went up to 70 percent. That the IRS counts this as progress is not exactly reassuring. But its very much in keeping with the long and vexed history of what is known as taxpayer assistance. For seven decades, the IRS has struggled to answer questions about the increasingly byzantine tax code. Sometimes it has succeeded; just as often, it has failed. Its hard to imagine now, but until about the middle of the 20th century, relatively few people filled out Form 1040. The IRS then known as the Bureau of Internal Revenue did little outreach, and when it did, the rare taxpayers who sought assistance actually spoke with deputy collectors of internal revenue, relatively high-ranking government officials who probably knew the tax code inside and out. Things began to change during World War II, when Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1942, which forced many more Americans to pay taxes. Thats when the trouble began. As more people paid taxes, more people filled out forms incorrectly. They sought out help at the tax agency, but often found the experience frustrating and impersonal. Then, in 1948, Congress banned the use of the W-2 declaration as a substitute for filling out the dreaded Form 1040. The number of confused taxpayers seeking help shot up more than 50 percent in a single year. In 1949, the lead tax collector for Massachusetts experimented with herding people into room and then tried to walk them through the form using a public address system. This method of mass-producing tax returns was not without problems: any questions could bring the rest of the class to a grinding halt. By the early 1950s, complaints about the IRS spurred President Harry Truman to craft Reorganization Plan No. 1, an overhaul of the Bureau of Internal Revenue aimed at making it more modern, efficient and responsive to taxpayers. President Dwight D. Eisenhower implemented the reforms, which sought to decentralize the agency by opening more local offices. He also renamed it the Internal Revenue Service. These reforms, a congressional report later noted, were animated by the then-revolutionary conviction that taxpayers should be able to receive from the IRS the same level of service expected from the private sector. So far, so good. Unfortunately, some IRS employees didnt get the memo, including Coleman Andrews, the commissioner of internal revenue in 1954. Andrews, apparently tired of Americans taxing the patience of his employees with their stupid questions do pet cats count as dependents? instructed his bureaucrats to halt their practice of helping citizens fill out tax returns unless the person soliciting assistance was illiterate, did not speak English or could not lift a pencil. Everyone else had to face the dreaded 1040 on their own. The outcry was immediate. Andrews departed, and his successor, Russell Harrington, reversed the order. Every taxpayer should be treated with courtesy, patience, and a genuine attitude of helpfulness. The Washington Post editorial page noted that the sudden graciousness of the IRS was more likely a pragmatic recognition that when it comes to making out income tax returns most taxpayers are illiterates and unable to read the English employed by the Internal Revenue Service. But this new concept that taxpayers were customers and entitled to the same kind of attentive service found at, say, Macys quickly ran into problems. For starters, unlike the customers in a department store, taxpayers were a squirrely lot, generally unhappy with making the trek to an IRS office, and rarely happy to hear the news that, yes, they did owe money to the federal government. Many of them, moreover, wanted the IRS to fill out the entire form names, birthdates, and so on and not just the confusing parts. A tug of war ensued. The IRS added more agents, but forced people to fill out as much of the forms as possible. Nonetheless, more people showed up in their offices. This spurred the agency to rely on telephone service lines, with the first toll-free service center opened in 1965 (local telephone service centers had been set up in the previous decade). In the late 1960s, newspapers began calling these phone lines, not to get advice, but to determine whether the advice given was accurate. It wasnt at least not consistently. When the Chicago Daily News presented IRS phone reps with a series of questions, they got incorrect answers 50 percent of the time. Worse, the IRS quickly established a policy that incorrect answers given by their own employees could not be used as an excuse for filling out forms incorrectly. Court rulings affirmed this policy in the 1970s. This didnt stop taxpayers from besieging IRS employees with questions. Telephone wait times went up, as did taxpayer tempers. In 1972, IRS Commissioner Johnnie Walters inaugurated yet another wave of reforms aimed at providing better service for the people he called his customers. The decade witnessed the introduction of mobile taxmobiles that put tax advice on wheels; increasingly comprehensive training for anyone charged with advising the public, and measures aimed at reducing telephone wait times. The IRS had plenty of room for improvement: studies in the 1970s found that agents routinely handed out bad advice to callers between 10 percent and 25 percent of the time, and that many callers never managed to get any help at all. In 1978 alone, 20 percent of callers hung up while still on hold; by 1984, after President Ronald Reagan had cut the IRSs budget, the number had shot up to 28 percent. And high error rates continued to plague the agency. Although these problems have ebbed and flowed since then, they have hardly gone away, despite a significant shift of IRS resources in the late 1990s from enforcement to customer service. Why? That the IRS never quite manages to cure its problems is not the fault of the agency. As the tax code has gotten more complex, the ability of low-level government bureaucrats to answer every taxpayer question never mind answer it correctly has become increasingly difficult, if not impossible. The IRS can try, but absent reform of the tax code itself, it is fighting a losing battle. And no amount of attention to customer service will fix the problem. This appeared in Saturdays Washington Post. In the years immediately after World War II, only a true optimist would have predicted that in the following seven decades nuclear weapons would never again be used on an enemy. Despite close calls and dangerous proliferation, the world has managed that feat. If President Obama chooses to become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, his goal should be to note that achievementand lay out the work remaining to ensure another seven decades of nuclear peace. The bombings of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and of Nagasaki three days later remain one of the most horrific chapters in the history of warfare, unleashing merciless blasts of heat and radiation. The atomic bombs brought an end to the war with Japan but also ushered in a nuclear age that left all in dread of another mushroom cloud. Survivors of the attacks, and the Japanese people more broadly, resolved to turn the horror into a warning, and they have borne witness ever since to the uniquely barbaric nature of nuclear arms. It would be fitting for Obama to pay tribute to their dedication. He can do so without passing judgment on President Trumans decision to use the bomb, and without interfering in Japans internal debate over the proper role for its non-nuclear military establishment in an increasingly dangerous region. After the Soviet Union obtained nuclear weapons, the era of mutually assured destructionMADbegan. Deterrence worked during a long, tense Cold War, but not without many errors and false alarms, frighteningly overstocked arsenals, proliferation to other nations and the threat of nuclear materials falling into terrorists hands. Now it is past time to end some Cold War practices, such as keeping U.S. and Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles on alert, ready to launch in a matter of minutes. The United States is not carrying out nuclear explosive tests, but ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, rejected by the Senate in 1999, deserves another chance in light of advances in computer-powered simulations. The reality is that nuclear weapons are not going away soon. They are woven into the fabric of the Atlantic alliance and the security umbrella the United States extends to allies Japan and South Korea. But at Hiroshima, Obama could examine the unfulfilled ambitions of his Prague speech in 2009, a nuclear agenda that brought him the Nobel Peace Prize, and describe how arsenals could be reduced. The agreement to head off Irans nuclear program needs to be monitored vigilantlyand matched with respect to North Koreas rogue program. Russia and the United States possess the largest nuclear arsenals on the planet; verifiable, binding agreements to reduce their size should remain a goal. The Nunn-Lugar program showed it is possible, working together, to lock up stray nuclear materials. Even China, long secretive about its nuclear programs, has been showing new interest in cooperation on nuclear security. Obama might fear that critics will distort the meaning of a trip to Hiroshima. But his presence and his words would draw attention to the difficult challenges ahead. He also could counter the reckless remarks of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who suggested that Japan and South Korea might consider starting their own nuclear weapons programs. Seven decades without a nuclear weapon being used in combat or terrorism is remarkable; it will take dedication to ensure this record continues. For a Longer Healthier Life in America, Get Rich (or move to Maine or Vermont) If you are feeling chronic stress, anxiety, apprehension and are worried about money, work, family matters, personal health and the economy you are in the majority. Since 2007, the American Psychological Society (APA) has conducted a Stress in America survey. It found that money and work are the top two sources of very or somewhat significant stress (67 percent and 65 percent in 2015, respectively). This year, for the first time, the survey reveals that family responsibilities are the third most common stressor (54 percent), followed by personal health concern (51 percent), health problems affecting the family (50 percent) and the economy (50 percent). In its March update, APA focused on The Impact of Discrimination to stress. Nearly seven in 10 adults in the U.S. (69 percent) report having experienced any discrimination, with 61 percent reporting experiencing day-to-day discrimination. Younger adults are the most likely to say they have experienced any discrimination (75 percent of Millennials, compared to 72 percent of Gen Xers, 67 percent of Boomers and 56 percent of Matures). Thirty percent of women cite gender as a reason for day-to-day discrimination, compared to just 8 percent of men. Disabled adults with a disability are twice as likely as adults without a disability (19 percent vs. 9 percent) to say that their life has been harder (a lot or some) because of discrimination. For all groups surveyed, the most commonly reported experiences of major discrimination relate to employment. While overall life expectancy at birth in the United States reached a record high in 2012, significant numbers of adults across different subgroups also are experiencing disproportionate rates of health disparities, including mortality rates. An April 10 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates life expectancy is significantly associated with income. (jama.jamanetwork.com) The JAMA study noted higher income was associated with greater longevity throughout the income distribution. The gap in life expectancy between the richest one percent and poorest one percent of individuals was 14.6 years for men and 10.1 years for women. Men in the bottom one percent of the income distribution at the age of 40 years in the United States have life expectancies similar to the mean life expectancy of 40-year-old men in Sudan and Pakistan. Men in the top one percent of income distribution have higher life expectancies than the mean life expectancy for men in all countries at age 40 years. Inequality in life expectancy increased over time. Between 2001 and 2014, life expectancy increased by 2.34 years for men and 2.91 years for women in the top five percent of the income distribution, but by only 0.32 years for men and 0.04 years for women in the bottom. In a JAMA editorial, Steven H. Woolf, MD, MPH commented, Life expectancy is lower and disease morbidity is higher in the United States than in other high-income countries. This situation, decades old, is not for lack of skilled medical care; the United States has among the worlds best hospitals and technology. Nor is spending on health care inadequate; per capita health expenditures in the United States far exceed spending elsewhere. The poorer health of racial and ethnic minorities does not explain the nations low rankings; the US non-Hispanic white population and other advantaged groups also have worse health outcomes than their peers in other countries. The US health care system certainly has deficiencies, he stressed, notably the lack of universal coverage, but this alone does not explain the pervasive health disadvantage. A February report from The Sightlines Project of Stanford Univ. (stanford.edu) found financial security is less likely for Americans in 2014 compared to 2000, particularly among the least educated, who are more likely to live at or near the poverty level, lack emergency resources, and are less likely to have investments that contribute to their financial futures. Millennials (ages 25 to 34) are facing ever greater uphill struggles, the Stanford project reported. Those who went to college are 50 percent more likely to carry debt. Moreover, the average debt in this group is five times higher than 25- to 34-year-olds carried just 15 years ago. Social engagement is declining. It is too soon to tell whether new forms of technology-mediated social engagement SMS, chat, video telephony, posting and tweeting are providing social benefits and how they may complement face-to-face engagement. Interactions with neighbors whose proximity could be especially helpful in times of stress or emergencies are becoming less common. These three reports, among dozens in the last years, portray stress levels, health outcomes and longevity across economic groupings; the JAMA study reveals significant gaps between the poorest and wealthiest one percent. But answers to why these differences exist are disputed and argued. Dr. Woolf (JAMA editorial) continues, A medical journal article reporting that income is significantly associated with life expectancy is a call to arms, but the answer cannot come from medicine or public health alone but from the health professions working with partners who share an interest in prosperity and good health. He encourages the collaboration of business leaders, school systems, the park authority, investors, retailers, the media, and community groups. In search of better health and a longer life? Reduce stress or get richer. Pay-off debt. Save. Limit buying to essentials only. Abhor credit cards. Enjoy nature (its free). Interact face-to-face instead of through costly impersonal devices. Write Letters to the Editor instead of posts to social networking sites (they have the lifespan of a snowflake). Attend community meetings and be involved in political decisions. Volunteer to help the less fortunate, disabled and elderly in your town and city. Turn off TV, radio and web stressors (theyll be there if you decide to go back). Eat healthfully (its cheaper). Love your neighbor (and help heal America!!!). In search of peace? Go to Iceland. The nonprofit Institute for Economics and Peace (economicsandpeace.org) ranks Iceland number one in peacefulness in its Global Peace Index for 2015. Alas, the United States ranked #94, just below Peru (#93) and above Saudi Arabia (#95). But if you are searching for the most peaceful area within the U.S., The United States Peace Index, a national subdivision assembled by the Institute, ranked Maine the most peaceful state in the U.S. in its 2011 and 2012 surveys. (Vermont ranked #2) A 24/7 Wall St. (247wallst.com) July 2015 survey also ranked Maine the most peaceful state in the country, performing well in each of five measures considered. (also ranking Vermont #2) The report reads: 1. Maine Violent crime rate: 129.3 per 100,000 (2nd lowest) Murder and non negligent manslaughter rate: 1.8 per 100,000 (7th lowest) Median household income: $46,974 (16th lowest) 2014 unemployment rate: 5.7% (21st lowest) Maine ranked as the most peaceful state in the country, performing well in each of the five measures considered. The state had a murder rate of less than half the national rate, as well as the second lowest violent crime rate, only just slightly higher than Vermonts. Not surprisingly, the state incarcerated the smallest proportion of its population in the nation, at just 163.6 people per 100,000 residents less than a third of the national incarceration rate. While it was the most peaceful state, Maine did not display all the characteristics of a state with low violence. For example, income tends to be higher in low-crime areas, but Maines median household income of $46,974 was the 16th lowest in the country. By other demographic measures, however, the state fits the profile as a peaceful place. For example, just under 92% of Maines adults had at least a high school diploma, the fifth highest rate in the country. Discounting Maines principal trigger for producing state-wide stress (Gov. Paul LePage), you cant find a more peaceful state in America (other than Vermont). And should Donald Trump become president, its just a short ride from any point in Maine to the seventh most peaceful country in the world. Hello Canada? Sources: 2015 Stress in America. American Psychological Association. March 10, 2016. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2015/impact-of-discrimination.pdf The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001-2014. Raj Chetty, PhD, et. al. JAMA. April 10, 2016. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2513561 The Good Life. Steven H. Woolf, MD, MPH. JAMA. April 10, 2016. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2513559 Seeing Our Way to Living Long, Living Well in 21st Century America. The Sightlines Project. Stanford Univ. February 2016. http://longevity3.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Sightlines-Project-Full-2_10_2016_855pm_FOR_WEBSITE.pdf On Death and Money. Angus Deaton,, PhD. JAMA Editorial. April 10, 2016. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2513558 Global Peace Index 2015. Institute for Economics and Peace. 2016. http://static.visionofhumanity.org/sites/default/files/Global%20Peace%20Index%20Report%202015_0.pdf Iceland remains most peaceful nation in the world, study says. Jethro Mullen. CNN. June 25, 2015. http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/25/world/global-peace-index-iceland-syria/ United States Peace Index. Institute for Economics and Peace. June 2012. http://economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2012-United-States-Peace-Index-Report_1.pdf Americas Most Violent (and Most Peaceful) States. Thomas C. Frohlich. 24/7 Wall St. July 15, 2015. http://247wallst.com/special-report/2015/07/15/americas-most-violent-and-most-peaceful-states/5/ (c) 2016 Michael T Bucci. All Rights reserved. Michael T Bucci is a retired public relations executive currently living in New England. He has authored nine books on practical spirituality collectively titled The Cerithous Material. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. A top public health official says there's been no local transmission of the Zika (ZEE'-kuh) virus in the United States, so any talk about women in the country delaying pregnancy "is not even an issue for discussion at this point." Dr. Anthony Fauci (FOW'-chee) of the National Institutes of Health also says it's "very likely" the U.S. could see "local transmitted cases as we get into the robust mosquito season" this summer. He says if there's a "local outbreak," it's up to health officials to work to contain it. For now, he says, women in the U.S. who are getting pregnant "should not be worried about anything regarding pregnancy"but steer clear of countries where there are outbreaks. Fauci appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" and "Fox News Sunday. Explore further Doctors urged to check pregnant women for Zika at each visit 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. My father spent his life in the retail business, and loved almost every minute of it, so I was especially pleased to see this poem by David Huddle, from his new book "Dream Sender" from Louisiana State University Press. The poet lives in Vermont. Stores Fifteen I got a job at Leggett's, stock boy, fifty cents an hour. Moved up I come from that kind of people to toys at Christmas, then Menswear and finally Shoes. *** Quit to go to college, never worked retail again, but I still really like stores, savor merchandise neatly stacked on tables, sweaters wanting my gliding palm as I walk by, mannequins weirdly sexy behind big glass windows, shoes shiny and just waiting for the right feet. *** So why in my seventies do Target, Lowes, and Home Depot spin me dizzy and lost, wanting my mother to find me, wipe my eyes, hold my hand all the way out to the car? *** We do not accept unsolicited submissions. American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright 2015 by Louisiana State University Press, Stores, from Dream Sender, (Louisiana State University Press, 2015). Poem reprinted by permission of David Huddle and the publisher. Introduction copyright 2015 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. Some residents of the Flathead Valley want to get bachelor's degrees but can't leave their jobs or families. Jane Karas, president and CEO of Flathead Valley Community College, wonders if they might be able to get four-year degrees at her two-year institution in the future. "There may be some very specialized degrees that, working with the university system, we may be able to offer," Karas said in a recent interview. Earlier this month, presidents of Montana's community colleges gave an update to members of the Interim Education and Local Government Committee in Helena. At the meeting, college leaders and lawmakers discussed how the schools were being responsive to workforce and business needs. In her remarks, Karas briefly mentioned that some other states allow community colleges to confer baccalaureate degrees. "Maybe, at some point, that's something Montana will consider," Karas said. At a subsequent interview, she said she doesn't want to compete with the four-year schools, but she does want to serve the Flathead community. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, an increasing number of states are freeing community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees, although the change isn't always welcomed by legislators. At the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, though, the Montana University System already has many ways to help students across the state get the degrees they want, including options for four-year programs. And officials said a change would be costly. "We feel like we're already doing the equivalent of what two-year community colleges issuing four-year degrees would be," said Kevin McRae, deputy commissioner for communications for the Commissioner of Higher Education. *** Karas said the idea is still in exploratory stages, and it would require action by the Montana Legislature. Currently, she said, state statute prohibits community colleges from offering four-year degrees. She isn't interested in duplicating programs offered at the universities or transforming Flathead Valley Community College into a four-year institution. "I do know that other states have provided the opportunity for their community colleges to offer limited very limited specialized four-year degrees, which is all I think we would be interested in exploring with the university system," Karas said. Martha Parham, senior vice president of public relations at the American Association of Community Colleges, said some schools usher in the change because enrollment at the four-year institutions is full not the case at the University of Montana, which has been facing a decline since 2009. However, she said some schools in rural areas want to eliminate the barrier for students who would otherwise have to travel far. According to 2015 data from the AACC, 23 states currently allow community colleges to award bachelor's degrees, but with the exception of Florida and Washington, fewer than four institutions in each state do so. In 2014, some 65 community colleges out of 1,123 in the country offered baccalaureate programs. "State higher education policies generally limit to the types of bachelor's degrees community colleges can offer," according to data provided by the AACC. In other states, Parham said, one concern legislators have raised as they've debated the issue is they don't want to take students away from the four-year universities. "Certainly, I don't think anyone's intention is to take students away from other institutions, but to provide even more opportunities and more access for students," Parham said. By design, she said, community colleges are built to respond to local needs, and sometimes, that means keeping people in the regional economy: "I think sometimes that means a bachelor's degree." She said a four-year degree from a community college is in no way diluted because the programs go through the same accreditation. *** Shannon O'Brien, dean of Missoula College, said her institution and Bitterroot College are fully embedded with UM. As such, they differ from the two-year community colleges in Dawson, Miles City and Flathead Valley, which each have their own boards and constituencies, albeit with similar oversight by the Montana Board of Regents. She said students at Missoula College know that their education will be seamless if they want to get a bachelor's degree from UM. The schools offer "two plus two" programs, which allow students to do a couple years at the college and finish after a couple years at UM. Peggy Kuhr, integrated vice president for communications at UM, directed questions about letting the community colleges grant bachelor's degrees to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. There, McRae and John Cech, deputy commissioner for academic and student affairs, said the system already offers an abundance of options for students to acquire four-year degrees without having to travel, including e-learning partnerships. In Helena, for instance, Helena College UM is partnering with Montana Tech in Butte to provide baccalaureate options for citizens in Helena, Cech said: "So those citizens don't have to drive to Butte." In the Flathead Valley, residents can get four-year degrees, too, although only in nursing or education, McRae said: "We acknowledge that it is limited, but it's limited because of what is sustainable and viable." And to date, bachelor's degrees in Montana still come from four-year institutions, a feature he believes students still prefer. A change would be costly in terms of planning and accreditation, McRae said. For instance, he said local taxpayers might have to foot the bill for more labs or facility upgrades. Qualifications for faculty also are different, he said. On the other hand, McRae said, if a community or college believes a need exists, the university system is willing to craft a way to address it. Currently, though, Cech said the state has many options to meet higher education needs with its existing approach. "I think the structure that we have in Montana is very good," Cech said. Im not here to congratulate anybody. We still have a long way to go, Debra Ricci said. Ricci was one in a group of victims of violent crime who were brought together Thursday in Missoula to talk at a forum hosted by Montana Attorney General Tim Fox. The forum, and a similar one held in Great Falls earlier in the week, were put on in recognition of National Crime Victims Rights Week, which concluded Saturday. Thirteen years ago, Ricci was assaulted by a man with whom she was in a relationship. She said when she reported it to Missoula police, an officer laughed at her and said the strangulation she went through could just as easily have been self-inflicted. Although the man eventually was charged in her case, Ricci said the case was not handled well. Without any discussion with me, the charges were dropped to misdemeanors and he moved to Stevensville and he found Patty, Ricci said. Sitting next to her at Thursday's forum was Patty Walters, the next woman to enter a relationship and be victimized by Riccis assailant. Walters said her local police department took her seriously and acted after she reported the case, but in her opinion the Ravalli County Attorneys Office didnt keep promises made to her. Each time I left that office, everything we talked about just disappeared, Walters said. I know we have to keep talking about this, because with that disconnect, youre losing a lot of lives. Im not a case file, Im a real person. As Walters handed the microphone back, Fox walked over and gave her a hug. The man who previously was charged with assaulting Ricci eventually was arrested on drug charges in addition to charges for his assault on Walters, and was sentenced to prison. Walters and Ricci, who held hands throughout the forum, only connected with each other about a month ago. They said they intend to go to his parole hearing in October and speak out against his release. *** In his introduction, Fox laid out a series of grim data points on violent crime in Montana, where he said there are five aggravated assaults a day, a rape every 23 hours, and a homicide every 14 days. There are lives behind these statistics. Were committed to ensuring the needs of crime victims are met, he said. We simply cant allow this to happen. Too much is at stake in our communities. Not all of the stories shared at the forum dealt with victims who believed the system had let them down. Lin Bateman said about 14 years ago after marrying her husband, her family was the victim of a stalker. During the first month of their marriage, Bateman said they received 58 obscene and threatening calls to the house. The phone became an instrument of terror, she said. She said police told her there was almost nothing that could be done unless she was physically harmed. Do I have to be shot, do I have to be beaten? Bateman said she remembered asking her husband. Three years in, the stalking was finally referred to the Missoula County Attorneys Office where Kirsten Pabst, now head of the office, was assigned to the case. She and the effort of her office saved my life, Bateman said. The case eventually went to trial, and though she had to sit on the witness stand for hours, Bateman said Pabst stood between her and her stalker while she was being questioned, and the person eventually was convicted and placed on a probation. *** Matthew Dale, the director of the Office of Consumer Protection and Victims Services, said the Montana Department of Justice understands there is more that needs to be done to support victims of crime. One of the programs staffers already are working on is building a better notification system to alert victims to changes in their perpetrator's status. The Department of Corrections already uses software called Victim Information and Notification Everyday, or VINE, but Dale said its reach is limited. The biggest gap in the current VINE system is the majority of the current offenders in Montana fall outside VINE. They either never make it to prison or are on probation or parole after completing their sentence, he said. The DOJ wants to build its own system that would extend to local jurisdictions and include perpetrators in county jails. The system would alert a victim if a person is released from custody or posts bail, or if they have a hearing in court. Specific to the idea of stalking or domestic violence, the vast number of offenders who engage in that behavior are misdemeanors, Dale said. Hope cards are another service the attorney generals office already provides. The small and durable cards include the most relevant information from a victim's permanent order of protection, including a photo of the perpetrator and details on all of the people protected by the order. Dale said Montana is the only state that provides such a service, which makes it easier for victims to prove an order of protection without having to carry the full legal document with them at all times. The paper order can sometimes be 15 or 20 pages long and the most important info. is on the first page, which is the most easily damaged, he said. With Hope cards, there is indestructibility but they can also have multiple cards and keep them in a purse, in the car, and give them to providers at a day care or their kids school. While interested people must request Hope cards, the Department of Justice provides as many copies as the victim wants free of charge. *** Both Fox and Dale said one of the key components for helping victims that needs to improve is bystander intervention. One of the duties of Dales office is organizing a statewide fatality review commission that tracks data on domestic homicide cases. In the majority of cases we review the victim, the now deceased victim, did not have contact with any kind of victim service. No police, crime victim advocates or orders of protection. But they did talk to friends, coworkers and family members about their concerns, their fears, Dale said. What we find is those conversations took place but very rarely did that person take any action. The attorney general said over the past three years he has worked to improve training across the state at all levels of the criminal justice system. In particular, he said the state law enforcement academy has put more focus on training officers to be better at conducting initial interviews with victims, and making them feel that they are being listened to. Those people are then more apt to self report and be willing to press charges and enter the justice system, Fox said. This week, the Montana Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the battle for control of the local utility that provides Missoula's drinking water. Last June, Judge Karen Townsend ruled the city of Missoula had the right to use its powers of eminent domain to purchase Mountain Water Co. from then-owner The Carlyle Group, and a subsequent court proceeding set the price at $88.6 million. Defendants appealed the Missoula County District Court ruling, and in January, global equity firm Carlyle sold the utility to Liberty Utilities, the subsidiary of a Canadian corporation. On Friday, justices will hear arguments about whether the District Court correctly applied Montana's condemnation statute, MCA 70-30-11, in ruling in favor of the city. The Montana Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments at the UC Ballroom at the University of Montana, with an introduction slated for 8:30 a.m. In this state, a government body may "take" private property in a forced sale if a court finds public ownership "necessary to the public use." If the property is already being used for the public, like Mountain Water's infrastructure, the court must find the taking is "a more necessary public use." In the 1980s, the city of Missoula lost its bid to condemn the local water utility in a case that also went all the way to the Montana Supreme Court. This time around, plaintiffs and defendants outlined their arguments in briefs filed with the state high court. The following highlight some of the points the city of Missoula and Mountain Water and Carlyle make about public necessity as well as the lower court's order. *** The Carlyle Group has argued it shouldn't be a party to the lawsuit at all, but regardless, it takes issue with the court's decision. The firm argued the court's interpretation of eminent domain law "went far astray" and liberally favored a public taking. "Left uncorrected, the court's preliminary condemnation order endorses a scheme under which public ownership will always prevail," the defendant said. One scenario the court did not properly consider is the city's ability to build its own water infrastructure, Carlyle said. In fact, Mayor John Engen admitted on the stand the city conducted no analysis of the option. "It was simply me saying I don't think that's feasible," Engen said in a statement quoted in the court document. "In the face of that admission, the district court's finding stands wholly unsupported by the record," Carlyle argued. "Because the City itself never analyzed the issue, there is no record evidence about the capital cost of constructing a new system or whether the city could afford that cost." The mayor only speculated about the cost, the defendant said: "As a matter of law, speculation does not constitute substantial credible evidence." The Montana Constitution affords strong protections for the rights of private property owners, and the Montana Legislature limits "the circumstances under which a municipality may use eminent domain to take a water system." In this case, the city of Missoula embarked on the path of condemnation without ever expressing concern about the system. "Given Montana's long history of protecting private property rights, it is hard to imagine that the Legislature intended to enact an eminent domain scheme under which government can take private property simply because it believes it would be a better owner, particularly when the city has not complained regarding the stewardship of the public utility," Carlyle said in the brief. *** In its argument, Mountain Water Co. notes the city plans to use the system "for the exact same public purpose," yet the evidence failed to show "what, if anything, the city will comparatively do better than Mountain such that City ownership is 'more necessary.'" Mountain Water disputed "the alleged financial benefits" to be gained by the city and customers. The city assumed a $77 million acquisition bond, yet former chief administrative officer Bruce Bender admitted rates would depend on the cost of the system, Mountain Water said. Later, a separate court proceeding set the price higher at $88.6 million, not counting any legal fees or other expenses related to litigation. The city repeatedly claimed the system is leaky and inadequately maintained, but "the proof showed Mountain invests heavily in the system, including over $34.8 million in the past 10 years." The result? "System leakage has decreased by approximately 19 percent since 2011." The city, on the other hand, has no plan for fixes, the defendant argued. "The city presented no specific plan for leak remediation, other than claims of increased capital expenditures, which are directly dependent on the acquisition bonding capacity," Mountain Water said in its brief. Additionally, city ownership would do away with oversight from the Montana Public Service Commission. Before the commission, "the interests of all of Mountain's customers are represented by the MCC (Montana Consumer Counsel), a sophisticated and experienced group that advocates for customers before the MPSC." The court considered the "more necessary" standard in generalities, not specifics, Mountain Water argued. "Unlike the District Court's approach, Montana does not automatically favor municipal ownership over private; rather, the specific advantages and disadvantages of ownership by this city in particular must be weighed against those of ownership by Mountain in particular," the defendant said. *** In its brief, the city of Missoula argues the district court "easily satisfied" the standard for public necessity in looking at finances, infrastructure and governance. "'Necessary' in the context of eminent domain does not mean absolute or indispensable, but reasonable, requisite and proper," the city said. One reason public ownership is necessary is Carlyle aggressively sought profit "in the best interest of (Carlyle's) investors." The city argued it would put revenue back into the infrastructure instead. "While limiting capital investment over its short period of ownership, Carlyle has paid itself between $11 million and $11.5 million in dividends" in three years of ownership, the city said. "Carlyle has not put a single dollar back into Missoula's water system." The system leaks an "unprecedented amount," and Mountain Water's own expert testified the more than 50 percent leakage rate is a "red flag," the brief said. Nearly half of the main lines are 45 years or older, and 20 percent of them have exceeded their useful life, the city said. All in all, the system needs at least $66 million and as much as $95 million to reach industry standards. The city also notes municipal ownership offers more local control and transparency in direct contrast to the private owner that "left local leadership in the dark and concealed information from local employees." Under public control, water users will experience more stability, the city also said. It argued private ownership demonstrated "a buy-and-flip mentality." "At trial, Carlyle's (managing director Robert) Dove testified owning a water system is like buying and flipping a house: 'You buy a house today, you redecorate it and you sell it.'" But the system needs long-term planning, the city said, and it has the ability to provide that oversight. "Under city ownership, the water system will not be operated for the purpose of maximizing short-term profits," the brief said. "The city will focus on long-term planning, which will stabilize rates and ensure adequate capital is being invested in the system." Mountain Water employees also are a party in the appeal. I had originally planned on writing this opinion to plead with Montana Democrats to cross over and vote in the Republican primary for Donald Trump, in order that he might be the opponent in the general election to ensure a Democrat would end up winning the White House and appointing U.S. Supreme Court justices. The local Democrats are not intelligent enough to understand that strategy; they simply do not get it. However, a more important event occurred that dominates the need for this space. The highly intelligent and much esteemed by everyone who knew him or heard of him, renowned worldwide, Dr. Chuck Jonkel, of grizzly bear and polar bear behavioral scientific research fame and an advocate for their survival, passed away April 12 at his home in Missoula at age 85. The Missoulian newspaper published an entire front-page tribute to Chuck Jonkel today about his biographical exploits so I will only discuss my personal relationship with this great man. I first met Jonkel while I was still living in Colorado near Rocky Mountain National Park, where I frequently hiked and skied and rode horseback. But RMNP did not have grizzly bears so I often drove to Glacier National Park for my vacations in order to view and study them under Chuck Jonkel's guidance. I eventually took very early retirement from my aerospace engineering career in Colorado to move near Glacier National Park and continue my studies on my own, unpaid, and do all I could to save the great bear from the ravages of being under the control of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; and the Flathead National Forest with their political mission of protecting people from them, and attempting to delist them from the protection of the Endangered Species List so they could be trophy hunted in their natural protected forest habitat and harvest the trees, at the very risk of their survival as a species. That is government at its very worst. During that time span from the 1970s until today, I was able to go on numerous 13-hour treks into grizzly bear habitat with Chuck Jonkel, the best friend of the grizzly, so he could teach me about grizzly omnivore food sources that a human could also eat, behavioral characteristics, defense of their young, hibernation, and inspire me to dedicate myself to their survival. I will be eternally grateful to Jonkel for spending time with me and teaching me. It was a momentous change to my life. I had previously met Drs. John and Frank Craighead who, along with Dr. Chuck Jonkel, were the first wildlife biologists to dedicate their lives to studying grizzly bears beginning in the early 1970s. Since moving here 15 years ago, I also met Brian Peck, a transplanted Colorado park ranger with a Masters degree in wildlife biology, who moved here before me, and am fortunate to now study under him as the next best friend of the grizzly. If Chuck Jonkel can hear me, thank you for all you did to transform my life, and I look forward to seeing you again on the other side. 1. New Yorkers will head to the polls on Tuesday for the states primary election. Hillary Clinton, who represented New York in the Senate, and Senator Bernie Sanders, who grew up in Brooklyn, clashed intensely in their debate last week, shouting over and interrupting each other. Leaders of the Republican National Committee will meet in Florida this week to set the rules for their convention, which looks likely to be contentious if no candidate enters with the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination. KABUL, Afghanistan With nearly 2,000 civilians killed or wounded and more than 80,000 people displaced this year already, the Afghan conflict continues to affect lives in record numbers, the United Nations said on Sunday. The report came as fighting raged across several provinces. For a third day, government forces repelled Taliban attacks across several districts of Kunduz and were trying to prevent the insurgents from taking the provincial capital, as they did in the fall. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan documented 600 civilian deaths and 1,343 wounded in the first three months of 2016, which by most accounts is expected to be a bloody year as the Taliban rejected the latest efforts to bring them to peace talks. While the death toll fell 13 percent from the same period last year, the number of wounded increased 11 percent, the report said, with a high rise among children. In the first quarter of 2016, almost one-third of civilian casualties were children, said Danielle Bell, the United Nations human rights director in Afghanistan. If the fighting persists near schools, playgrounds, homes and clinics, and parties continue to use explosive weapons in those areas particularly mortars and I.E.D. tactics these appalling numbers of children killed and maimed will continue. Mr. Jack W. Harkins passed away Thursday afternoon at Big Sky Senior Living following a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born in Butte, February 12, 1943, the only child to Jack and Edna (Beard) Harkins. He attended local schools, graduated from Butte High School and earned degrees in accounting, finance and marketing at Brigham Young University. He returned to Butte where he served with the Montana Army National Guard and assumed operations of Harkins Wholesale and Distributing until his retirement. Jack was a devoted son and following the death of his father in 1997, cared for his mother until her passing on February 17, 2008. He was a friend to everyone and loved children and animals, especially horses. Jack is survived by two cousins, Jenny Davis and her family of Dillon and Wilene Grimm and her family of Bainbridge Island, Washington. Funeral services will be conducted Friday morning at 10 o'clock in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home with interment to follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Express condolences at www.wayrynen-richards.com or www.mtstandard.com. Candidate for lieutenant governor Lesley Robinsons recent opinion piece has inconsistencies with her public record that deserve discussion. Lesley has been participating in the stakeholder meetings for bison restoration along with representatives from the major agricultural groups and legislators who farm and/or ranch. This undermines her argument that landowners werent being listened too when it comes to bison management. Establishing a viable wild bison population in Montana is a worthy project. Lesley is arrogant to imply this legitimate effort with a wide variety of stakeholders should be stopped before an honest evaluation has been completed. Commissioner Robinson has opposed new wildlife management areas as well as the Habitat Montana program. In 2013, she testified in support of a No Net Gain bill that would have hamstrung the popular program and forced the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to sell off any land in equal acreage to land acquired, making suspect her claim that no one wants to see public land sold off. As the chairwoman of both the Montana and the National Association of Counties Public Lands Committees, she advocated and voted for the Transfer of Public Lands. This makes her proclamation that she and Mr. Gianforte are opposed to transfer of public lands unbelievable. Lesley Robinson also says that landowners didnt have enough say in Sage Grouse management decisions, yet she testified in support of SB 261, the Montana Sage Grouse Stewardship Act of 2015, which passed with overwhelming support from urban and rural legislators, the agricultural industry, the Montana Association of Counties, sportsmen, conservationists and the energy industry. This effort is credited with ensuring state management of sage grouse and avoiding an Endangered Species listing. Montanans deserve an honest dialog when it comes to sportsmen/landowner relations. Its clear the past positions and policies advocated by Robinson are counter to her opinion piece. Wildlife management and land management is complex work. Governor Bullock has worked diligently to bring diverse groups together to develop responsible changes in the management of wildlife and public land. That model has led to successes like HB 140 in 2015, which ensures funding for our game agency. It has led to a better understanding of our stream access law under the Bridge Access Bill of 2009. Common ground provided the state better management of wolves under HB 73 in 2013 and its what brought organizations across the political spectrum together in defeating bad legislation such as the Transfer of Public Land onslaught of 2015. I applaud Robinson for joining Mr. Gianforte to present voters a choice in leadership for our state. To show leadership in the conservation arena she must move beyond the narrow localized positions she articulated in the past and demonstrate an ability to bring public and private interests together to solve the challenges of wildlife management, public access, and landowner relationships. The Bullock administration has demonstrated successes in this arena despite partisan politics. How the Gianforte/Robinson team propose to solve the remaining challenges remains as clear as mud. When Leon Billings was first asked to join a Congressional subcommittee on pollution, he was not interested. To me, I thought being polluted was having too much alcohol, the Helena native routinely quips to admit that he had known little about the topic which would come to define his career as he helped create bedrock environmental-protection laws. Sewage engineers talked about this. This wasnt part of a public discussion other than as a localized issue. There certainly wasnt a public consciousness. Billings was persuaded to leave his lobbying job in 1966 to become staff director of the Senate Subcommittee on Environmental Pollution. The influence of the then-minor subset of the Committee on Environment and Public Works would grow with the leadership of Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine, who later made two runs for the White House before serving as U.S. Secretary of State. At the direction of Muskie, Billings negotiated and wrote two landmark pieces of legislation: the Clean Air Act of 1970 and Clean Water Act of 1972. In a wide-ranging interview, Billings, 78, discussed growing up in Montana and his role in creating the first nationwide pollution standards. Leons parents, Harry and Gretchen Billings, are legendary in Helena history. The couple ran the Peoples Voice newspaper through the 40s, 50s and 60s. The liberal weekly, derided by conservatives as The Pink Reporter, was funded by a cooperative of unions and progressive leaders such as Lee Metcalf and James Murray. They were early fighters for justice in just about every aspect you could think of in Montana, said Dennis Swibold, a University of Montana School of Journalism professor and newspaper historian. A lot of people that grew up in progressive Montana got their start reading Harry and Gretchen. Former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams was one of them. When he was a sixth-grade teacher in Butte considering a career in politics, Williams said he drove to Helena twice a week to talk with the Billingses at their small office across the street from the capitol. He called them among the most important Montana progressives in my lifetime. Leon Billings, who was the same age as Williams, also developed an interest in politics because of his parents and their visitors. My folks had one rule: he said. Anybodys welcome at the house as long as they bring their own bottle of whiskey. Theyd sit around and talk all night. Anne Cantrell, who wrote her 2006 masters thesis at the University of Montana about Harry and Gretchen Billings, said they were ahead of their time, particularly on topics that broadened conservation beyond public land and wildlife issues to link environmental and human health. While the Anaconda Copper Mining Company-controlled papers known as the Copper Press suppressed environmental reports, the Peoples Voice worked to make environmental issues public, Cantrell wrote. Over the years, Harry and Gretchen reported and editorialized about a variety of environmental issues, including the dangers associated with building an aluminum plant in the Flathead Valley, the need for air pollution controls and the protection of water. For instance, she noted that a 1958 article about waste discharge from a pulp mill killing fish in the Clark Fork River near Missoula was published 12 years before the first Earth Day and the beginning of a national environmental movement, and 14 years before the state Constitutions guarantee to the right of a clean and healthful environment. Harry and Gretchen were just a touch out in front of the next progressive movement, Williams agreed. They were writing about things and pushing for them just before, just prior to Montana taking on an issue. Sometimes they caused it. I dont know that was their purpose. I think they were trying to get people to think big. But their aggressive idealism ultimately led to the failure of the newspaper in 1969. The Billingses staunchly opposed the Vietnam War, which angered some of their remaining funders. The reason it dried up financially, Williams said, laughter interrupting his recollection of the couples fierce independence, was the paper finally angered virtually every interest in Montana, including their good friends at organized labor. The Peoples Voice just didnt pull any punches. Neither did Leon Billings. When Muskie later suggested Billings as a candidate to lead the fledgling Environmental Protection Agency, President Jimmy Carter called the senator to discuss his concerns. Abrasive? Billings recalled Muskie saying into the phone. Abrasive, Mr. President? Youve never met Leon Billings. You have no idea how abrasive he is. Billings admits to being a mouthy kid, the youngest of three boys. He has said he started to hone a reflex for cutting quips while he was dropping off copies of his parents newspaper to offices in the state capitol, where his deliveries particularly to the Department of Agriculture were not always welcomed. He recalled being kicked out of history class at Helena High School eight or nine times junior year because I argued with the teacher who had very strong, very conservative views. The Billings boys were called commies and attacked, sometimes physically, by peers. At the time of Leons brother Harry Billings death in 1990, the Helena Independent Record quoted him as once saying, I kept a wrench on my desk in case the (American) Legion boys came galloping in, which they did one time. Obviously, Leon grew up in a very hostile world, to say the least, with a very radical mom and dad, Montana Historical Society spokesman Tom Cook said. It was an education growing up a Billings, Leon Billings said. Yet his role in crafting the Clean Air Act and other bipartisan compromises reflected a give-and-take political strategy at odds with his parents often all-or-nothing approach. There was a general philosophy among liberals back in the day that half a loaf wasnt good enough, he said. And I learned that if you get it right you could get three-quarters to seven-eighths of a loaf, but never the whole loaf. I had a mentor in Ed Muskie who taught me to get a result thats acceptable without just having a fight where you wont get anything at all. Pollution surged to the forefront of public discussion in the late 1960s as evidence of environmental degradation confronted Americans and a generation of progressive activists found a new cause. Rivers caught fire. Beaches were closed. Bad air days caused deaths. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wisconsin, organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, drawing millions to hear speeches about the importance of the environment. In this climate, the first nationwide air pollution standards were crafted with Billings, typewriter at the ready. Provision by provision, negotiated behind closed doors as was legal then with Democrats and Republicans. Muskies focus was protecting public health by infusing environmental controls with scientific rigor yet leaving room for them to adapt as research yielded new findings. Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tennessee, who would later serve as Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan, believed technologies that could cut emissions from cars might have to be forced to development by permitting renewals. Sen. Philip Hart, D-Michigan, sought a mechanism for the general public to force regulators or polluters to comply with the law, creating the citizen suit provision that brought environmental advocates to a negotiating table once effectively limited to lobbyists and bureaucrats. Carpooling between their homes and the U.S. Capitol each day in a pickup truck, Billings and minority staff director Tom Jorling hammered out compromises and refined pitches theyd make to their respective parties. Among the most pivotal changes to the Clean Air Act was substituting a single word, Billings said. Every instance of may was replaced with shall, shifting the statute from something administrators and elected executives might do when it suited their political purposes to something that they must do. President Richard Nixon also had tasked Republicans to update the Clean Air Act of 1963, although to a lesser degree, as part of a strategy to usurp the issue from Democrats in future campaigns. The version written by Billings and which passed the Senate in a unanimous vote nearly died in the House, then again in conference committee. Narrowly avoiding a deadline, the Clean Air Act of 1970 was finally approved late on Dec. 31. It was 38 pages long and is probably the most radical statute ever enacted, Billings said. We were in a full-scale war between protecting public health and welfare from environmental degradation and the profit motives of corporate America. Although environmentalists praise the landmark legislation he helped craft, some are hesitant to label Billings a champion. Jim Jensen, director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, noted that Billings later worked as a lobbyist and consultant for W.R. Grace, owners of the Libby vermiculite mine that contaminated the town with asbestos, causing hundreds of deaths. Billings said the work he did for Grace was at the request of a former Capitol Hill colleague who was hired by the company just as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer revealed that the company failed to disclose health threats to employees. He said he helped set up an initial meeting for the company with Sen. Max Baucus and gave advice on setting up health programs for employees and other measures. Billings said his work for Grace was less involved than what he did for other companies who hired him to help navigate the politics of setting up trust funds for victims or negotiating remediation efforts after being called out for major pollution. Because of my background on environmental legislation, by the time people came to me, they were in such desperate shape politically, Billings said. They wanted to know how to quickly resolve it after sometimes stonewalling and denying the issues for years. Most other environmental advocates point to his ongoing efforts to protect anti-pollution laws. Billings says he sees many of the same interests and arguments at play today as during the drafting of the federal statues, where the Clean Power Plan, Waters of the U.S., and the fate of the Environmental Protection Agency itself are dragged into campaign stump speeches and challenged in courtrooms. Williams explains Billings lifelong pursuit of environmental protections in two ways. Leon, having breathed clean air before he left Montana to go to Washington D.C., knew the difference between that air and this air, Williams said. He also grew up with a mom and dad who talked politics and policy all the time. Caring about an issue was not a shirt he had to put on in the morning. It was part of his skin because of Gretchen and Harry. 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 [] The City Press has reported that Denel is forging ahead with a Gupta partnership worth billions, despite finance minister Pravin Gordhan saying it is illegal. According to the report, Denel has awarded the contract for the cutting of steel for its new vehicles to VR Laser, a Gupta-linked company. VR Laser is also in a joint venture with Denel Asia a deal which City Press said was concluded in January. Denel spokesperson Pam Malinda confirmed that Denel would be responsible for the construction of 238 Badger vehicles, while VR Laser would do the steel cutting. She said VR Laser is a steel-cutting specialist, and that Denel followed the necessary procedures to award the contract to the company. Project Hoefyster, the name given to the production of 238 infantry combat vehicles for the South African National Defence Force, is no stranger to controversy. In 2013, DA MP David Maynier said the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, must not be allowed to cover up the cost of the 238 combat vehicles. At a Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans meeting, on 6 November 2013, the Defence Department refused point-blank to reply to any questions about the cost of Project Hoefyster, said Maynier. He said the total cost of the 238 vehicles being acquired was not known, but was estimated to be R10 billion. This means that each Badger infantry combat vehicle could cost approximately R42.5 million, said Maynier. Denel Land Systems said it designed and manufactured the Badger to meet the requirements of a modern army involved in both high-intensity warfare and peace-keeping operations. The modular combat vehicle is a platform originally developed by Finnish defence contractor Patria, and has been optimised by Denel in order to meet the needs of the South African Army. Get a copy of City Press newspaper today for the full story. Related articles SunSpace may be absorbed into Denel Dynamics Awesome weapons made in South Africa 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 The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Authorities on Sunday said there would be no restrictions in Srinagar city as the situation limped back to normal here. District magistrate Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Lone said there would be no restrictions in any area of Srinagar city on Sunday. However, as a precautionary measure, restrictions will continue in Handwara and Kupwara towns on Sunday to maintain law and order, the authorities said. Despite restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Saturday, there was a perceptible improvement in the situation over the last three days as skeletal transport operated and some shops had opened for locals to buy essentials in civil lines and outskirts of the city. District magistrate Kupwara Kumar Rajiv Rajan said restrictions would remain in force in Kupwara and Handwara towns on Sunday because of tension in the district. Separatist leaders have also not called for any shutdown or protests on Sunday. Parts of Srinagar city, including old city areas, remained under curfew-like restrictions during the last four days following killings of five civilians in firing by the security forces in Handwara, Drugmulla and Natnusa areas of Kupwara district. Authorities have still not revoked the suspension of mobile internet services which have remained suspended in Kashmir valley for the last five days. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met the family members of killed youth during her visit to Kupwara district on Saturday. Mufti met them at Kupwara Dak Banglow where she chaired a security meeting attended by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, chief secretary B.R. Sharma and police chief K. Rajendra Kumar. Mufti condoled the bereaved families and regretted that she had to come to Kupwara for offering condolences while she had planned to visit there as the chief minister to announce a special package for the border district. The chief minister told relatives of the victims that anybody found guilty of having violated the SOP (standard operating procedure) during crowd control in recent incidents will have to face the law. "I have spoken to the top officers of the army and told them civilian killings are not acceptable. Those found guilty of using excessive force against protesting civilians will be punished," she assured them. She also ordered ex gratia relief and other compensations to the next of kin of those who lost lives in Kupwara district due to firing by security forces. Meanwhile, the police late Saturday produced the minor girl allegedly molested by a soldier in Handwara on Tuesday before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) under directions of the state high court. The girl made a statement before the magistrate about the incident that triggered widespread violence in Handwara town on Tuesday. The high court has directed the police to declare the provisions of law under which the minor girl was being detained. This followed a petition filed by the girl's mother on Saturday. The next hearing of the case has been fixed for April 20. Giving details of the law and order situation in Kashmir Valley during the past five days, S.J.M. Gilani, IGP (Kashmir), said over 200 policemen including three superintendent of police and two deputy superintendent of police have been injured during this period. The inspector general of police said 28 civilians were injured during this period out of whom six were admitted in hospital and recuperating well from injuries sustained during the clashes. --Indo-Asian News Service sq/py/ ( 568 Words) 2016-04-17-09:28:06 (IANS) The station will be the second station to be covered under the free Wi-Fi project, after Mumbai Central in January this year. Under the Digital India initiative, Google and RailTel have collaborated to make Wi-Fi network available across 100 stations to deliver high-speed Internet to 10 million Indians a day by the end of this year. The Railway Minister, who is on a two-day visit to the State, told media persons that Odisha will figure as one of the most developed state in the country in next 3-4 years and Railways will contribute a lot towards this. He said that there are plans to set up two rail projects in Odisha one of which is at Narla in Kalahandi district. Prabhu also said that a joint venture company would be formed to maintain coordination between the Centre and the State for speeding up various ongoing railway projects in Odisha. (ANI) With an aim to reduce pollution and congestion in the national capital Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has suggested that the Delhi Government can introduce'Last Digit Automobile Rationing scheme on city's roads. The 'Last Digit Automobile Rationing' scheme will mean that the registration of vehicle number plates ending with 1 would not be allowed to drive on roads on 1st, 11th, 21st and 31st (date) of a month. Similarly, cars ending with number 2 would not be allowed to drive on roads on 2nd, 12th and 22nd (date). ''We suggest that the Last Digit rationing should be done for every digit from 0 to 9 covering all automobiles passenger cars, two- wheeler, taxis which include large numbers Diesel SUVs, commercial vehicles without giving exemption to any category other than vehicles on CNG , busses , Ambulances , Fire brigades and Police vehicles, '' said the company in a statement . As per a study done by United States Environmental Protection Agency, the universal average (Petrol and Diesel) CO2 emission from a car is 257 grams for every kilometer run and approximately 75 grams for 2 wheelers and 3 wheelers. According to preliminary study undertaken by CII, if a vehicle travels for 10 kms everyday for 365 days of the year, then the vehicle will emit 9.4 lakh grams of CO2 in the air. Subsequently, if all registered vehicles of the Delhi State run for 10 kms for 365 days, then they are bound to emit 1,277,288 tonnes of CO2 in Delhi's environment. "This is a unique step taken by the Delhi Government again. The industry fully supports this decision and other measures to clean the air of Delhi. Cleaning up the environment should be the top priority and I can see State Government is fully committed to make Delhi a more livable city," said Rumjhum Chatterjee, Chairperson, CII Northern Region, Group MD in a statement. Taking this further, if Odd-Even Scheme is implemented for 15 days every quarter of the year, which means four times in a year for 60 days, then the total reduction in CO2 emission would be to the tune of 4,823 tonnes in a year, which is 0.37 per cent of the total emission in the year. It is notable that the Odd-Even scheme is only applicable to Private four-wheeler with exemption to two-wheeler, three-wheeler, commercial vehicles, women drivers and CNG fitted cars.However, if the scheme is implemented throughout the year, then the total reduction in emission would be 10,549 tonnes during that time, which means reduction is 0.82 per cent of the total emission in the year, provided that only commercial vehicles including buses, taxis., police vehicles, ambulances and fire brigades are exempted from this scheme.UNI RN NM PR SV RK0940 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-686367.Xml The Chennai-based ACME Consulting, the largest Healthcare Quality Advisory Group, today launched a new Healthcare platform 'QHEALTH4U' for providing easy access to high quality healthcare exclusively from the NABH Hospitals in the country. All the Hospitals showcased on this platform have been validated for clinical quality, good administrative practices and patient-friendly measures by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) and Healthcare Providers from the Union Government. This initiative from ACME Consulting was backed by the NABH and by AHPI --the Association of Healthcare Providers (India). The national launch of QHEALTH4U was done today by Dr. K.K. Kalra, CEO of NABH. At the launch, all the NABH Accredited and Certified Hospitals of Chennai were felicitated with a Certificate of honour given by Dr Giridhar J Gyani, and present NABH Board Member and Director General of the AHPI. Talking to reporters, ACME Managing Director B G Menon said the prime objective of QHEALTH4U', was to make people aware of this stringent, very credible hospital quality standard that ensures that the best and safest level of patient care was provided. Dr. Kalra said by taking NABH to the people, a major change would happen in the way healthcare services in the country was being delivered. ''With better awareness, people would start demanding that their hospitals be NABH approved, thus bringing about an overall improvement of quality across healthcare providers. With about 500 NABH Hospitals across the country today, there is sufficient choice for the people to select from'', he added ''While we look for standards and certifications in the essential products we buy and services we seek, there is not enough awareness of such quality parameters that can be applied while seeking healthcare services. I am sure this innovative venture from ACME will educate people on the NABH quality standards and ensure they get quality healthcare at every stage from consultation to complete treatment," Dr Giridhar Gyani said.UNI GV JK 1018 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-687166.Xml Restrictions continued on separatist leaders, including chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) who remained under house arrest while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief and several other leaders remained under detention in Kashmir, where life remained crippled for the sixth day today.There was, however, no strike call today by any organisation.A spokesperson for the hardline HC said chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest since his return from New Delhi on April 6 .Large number of security force and state police personnel remained deployed outside his Hyderpora residence where a police vehicle has been parked in front of the gate.He said HC general secretary Shabir Ahmad Shah also remained under detention in police station Raj Bagh for the past about one month while other senior leaders, including Nayeem Khan, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee, Peer Saifullah, Mohammad Ashraf Laya, Raja Mehrajuddin and Altaf Raja, are also under house arrest.Mr Geelani was not even allowed to offer Friday prayers in a mosque since his return from Delhi.A spokesperson for the moderate HC said chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq remained under house arrest since April 11 evening when he had called for a general strike. He said security force and state police personnel had been deployed outside the Nigeen house of Mirwaiz, who was scheduled to address Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid. However, no prayers were held in the Masjid due to restrictions.JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik also remained detained in police station Kothibagh. Mr Malik was taken into preventive custody on April 11 morning to prevent him from leading a protest march against attacks on Kashmiri students outside the valley.UNI BAS SV PM1133 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-687200.Xml The city of Taj Mahal has became the third city in Uttar Pradesh where decorated horse-drawn tonga rides have started attracting the tourists. Currently, the Tonga is restricted to the Taj Mahal vicinity, but with this new initiative, tourists will be able to ride around town in the carriages. After Lucknow and Kannauj, Agra has become the third city in Uttar Pradesh where this facility has been launched. According to UP tourism officials, four horse buggies would be allowed to ply in the first phase and based on its performance, more such rides would be introduced. The state tourism department last week issued a public notice inviting applicants who have tongas to register with them. After a lottery, the tongas for the first phase were selected. Tourism department officials here today said that the service was launched in Lucknow last year and at present eight horse-driven carriages ply in the state capital. In Lucknow, three-tour packages of four hours are being offered to tourists at a base price of Rs 1,100 for four passengers. Kannauj became the second place offer this "royal ride" only last week where four tongas were dedicated to the public during an event attended by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.UNI MB SV RK310 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-687242.Xml Police said here that some persons called Mr Tanti from his residence at Jhapra Tola and opened fire on him.He died on the spot in the attack. "All the criminals managed to escape from the spot after the incident", police said adding that raids were being carried out to nab them.Motive behind the killing was being investigated, police informed. The body had been sent for postmortem examination , police stated. LJP leader Brijnathi Singh and BJP leader Visheshwar Ojha were shot dead in Patna and Bhojpur districts respectively few weeks back. Some other local leaders irrespective of their political allegiance were also killed since the grand alliance government took reins of the state on November 20, 2015.UNI XC KKS KK ADG RK1319 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-687302.Xml All those killed were tourists who were on their way from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Gaya town in Bihar, a district police officer said. "Five people were killed on the spot and two were seriously injured and admitted to a hospital in Varanasi for treatment," the police officer said. The accident took place near Mohania town in Kaimur when the vehicle in which the Andhra Pradesh family was travelling crashed into a truck parked by the roadside, the officer said. All the victims were identified as residents of Rajahmundry in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. --Indo-Asian News Service ik/kb/vt ( 142 Words) 2016-04-17-14:08:05 (IANS) Official sources today said that Dr. Vardhan will arrive at Dimapur and drove to Kohima. On his way to Kohima, he will visit Production Facility established by DBT under the project "Value Chain Citrus Development" ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Jharnapani tomorrow. He will visit Mithun farm, ICAR National Research Centre on Mithun, Jharnapani. He will also inaugurate DBT created Biotech Infrastructure facility at ICAR- National Research Centre on Mithun, Jharnapani. He will also meet Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang and Nagaland Governor P B Acharya. On April 19, Dr Vardhan will inaugurate Twinning Network Project on Chemical Ecology of North Eastern Region at Nagaland Science and Technology Council. At 0930 hrs, he will visit the DBT Healthcare Laboratory & Research Centre at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima. Later, Dr Vardhan will visit Model Naga village Kohima, sources informed. UNI AS KK SV AN1437 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-687236.Xml Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang has urged the people from different organisations and political groups of the state to come together and work in unison for the ongoing peace process. Addressing the Silver Jubilee celebration of Phom People's Council (PPC) at district headquarters Longleng yesterday, Mr Zeliang said early solution to the protracted Naga Political issue could be solved through the active participation of all sections of people of the state. "Naga political solution can be solved through participation of all the people including church organisations of the state," said Mr Zeliang. Therefore, he called upon the people from all walks of life to unite and extend cooperation for early and permanent solution. Asserting that a number of Naga political groups (undergrounds) have cropped up in the state, Mr Zeliang said it was a matter of great concern for the future if early remedy was not taken. He added that more problems would be faced if new factions cropped up in the future. Zeliang reiterated that his Government was sincere and committed to finding early solution to the Naga political issue so people could see the ray of peace and development. Meanwhile, commenting on the construction of Hydro Project at Dikhu River, Zeliang said the State Government has completed the project plan, however, work could not be started due to the land issue. Pointing out that Dikhu Hydro project alone could provide sufficient power supply to the state, Zeliang, therefore, urged the landowners to consider the issue for the development of the district in particular and state in general. Mr Zeliang also urged the people to rededicate themselves to the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation through the celebration of Jubilee. He also lauded the leaders of Phom the community for upholding and ushering peace in the district. On the occasion, the chief minister declared Longleng district as "Land of Peace". Addressing the occasion, Nagaland Minister for Rural Development & REPA, C L John, said Jubilee was a time to retrospect on the past years and to honour the past leaders who rendered tireless service for the society. He also lauded the leaders of the Phom community for cultivating lasting peace in the district. He also urged the Phom people to play a vital role in facilitating and ushering peace and unity in ENPO area in particular and among Nagas in general. Others who spoke at the celebration included parliamentary secretary for land resource development & excise, B.S.Nganlang Phom, S.Pangnyu Phom, MLA and ENPO president S.Khoiwang Konyak. UNI AS KK JW PM1413 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-687264.Xml Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has said that a Special Task Force (STF) has been constituted to settle the Hill Transport Subsidy (HTS) Scheme claims of Nagaland, which have been pending for over 20 years.Addressing a press conference at Police Complex in Chumukedima near Dimapur yesterday, Mr Paswan said that STF consisting of officials from the Central Ministry, Department of Food Cooperation of India (FCI) and State Government would submit report by July 30. In this regard, the Union Minister said that he had a "long and frank" discussion with Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang and state officials on April 15. During discussion, it was learnt that there were problems from both sides, he said, adding "we are also bound from some norms and state government has some difficulties."Mr Paswan said that he assured Mr Zeliang and state officials that once Nagaland implemented the National Food Security Act 2013, there would be no such delays in the future. "We have enough money, we have no shortage of money, only thing we are bounded by some guidelines," said the Union Minister.Union Joint Secretary (BP & PD) Food and Public Distribution Deepak Kumar said that as per Nagaland government, the amount due to Nagaland was over Rs 700 crore for the last 20 years. He explained that HTS Scheme was given to hilly states to ease out the transportation cost as the same was much more in the hilly states. To avail the subsidy, he said the state government should produce record/evidence such as utilisation certificate, payment vouchers, cheques and accompanying documents as per prescribed format to prove that the subsidy had been utilised. He also said that the record and documents would then be verified by FCI and it would acquire the money from the Ministry. In case of Nagaland, Mr Kumar said there has been "anomalies on the submission of the report," for which the claims was kept pending.Since STF has been formed, the Joint Secretary said that the department would try to sort out the issue at the earliest. UNI AS KK RJ AE 1544 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-687404.Xml Mr Modi, on a hectic election tour, suddenly changed his path from Dum Dum Airport to be driven straight to the hospital to see the ailing nonogenarian Sanyasi Swami Atmasthananda. Mr Modi is scheduled to address to BJP rallies at Krishnagar andKolkata in next two hours. Sources said when Mr Modi heard at the airport that the chief of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission president was in the hospital he asked his aides to take him there first. Mr Modi spent around 15 minutes at the hospital and then drove straight to Kolkata Race Course to fly to Krishnagar by a helicopter. On his return, Mr Modi will address a rally in the city and then return to Delhi.Swami Atmasthanandaji, President, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, who has been undergoing treatment at Seva Pratishthan hospital, Kolkata, for the last one year, had urinary tract infection with high fever and episodes of low blood pressure towards the middle of the last month. His health condition was stabilised with intensive medical care. He continues to be at Seva Pratishthan.UNI PC KK AE AS1545 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-687465.Xml On the showcause notice issued by the Election Commission, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee today said since the elections are held under the supervision of the EC, some times, they have to show that they are in charge. Sometimes they have to issue showcause to show off.''I endorse showcausing for a valid reason, but if there is a political bias behind it, or if it is done for political vendetta, we have to speak for ourselves. They must check whether the reason for which they have issued showcause notice has any basis of truth or not. I have no objection to a showcause for the right reason,'' Ms Banerjee said on AITC's website. The showcause that has been issued is just a blatant display of authority. The formation of a new district in Asansol was decided three months ago. It is not a new policy, yet, they issued the showcause notice, she charged. The Chief Minister said EC is a constitutional body, which has members nominated by the government at the Centre.''They are not elected like us; that is their advantage. The current chairman assumed office, when Congress was in power. Two other new members were nominated by the current BJP government,'' she pointed out. Ms Banerjee said when someone acts beyond their constitutional mandate and interferes in the internal affairs of others, the situation becomes worse than emergency. This is what happened in West Bengal. ''Interference in law and order. Not following the federal structure. They are trying to take over the entire policeadministration. They are transferring or sacking DMs and SPs at will. I am not accusing the Election Commission. I am pointing fingers at those who are orchestrating this,'' she said.Moreover, a constitutional body should have its facts in place before issuing showcause to another elected body with the same constitutional mandate. They should know this is not a new policy, Ms Banerjee commented. The Chief Minister said, ''The creation of new district in Asansol was announced in December, along with four other new districts in Jhargram, Basirhat, Sunderbans and Kalimpong. We decided to create new sub-division in Purulia also. The decision was passed by the Cabinet two to three months ago. I have possibly spoken about it in the State Assembly also.''Wherever I have held rallies, I have mentioned about this decision. It was even announced at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting. It is already in the papers. So, this whole showcause was based on a lie. Whoever did it, should have exercised more caution. They can exercise their power, if they so wish. But they shouldcross-check whether that is within their ambit. What happened was clear misuse of power,'' the Trinamool supremo said.''We will respond with facts. We will say what is right,'' she said,On the role of intellectuals, Ms Banerjee said the Congress, BJP and the CPI(M) have created a syndicate in Bengal.''A syndicate of complaints. They are speaking in the same voice. And another organisation 'Amra Chokranto,' which is just a CPI(M) lackey, has joined them. They are all CPI(M) sympathisers. ''Those who went to the Election Commission, what is their political affiliation?,'' she questioned. ''I respect Shankha Ghosh. In a democracy, everyone has a right to opinion. They can support whichever political party they want. We also have the support of many intellectuals. From Mahashweta Devi to Subodh Sarkar, Arindam Sil, Shaonli Mitra or Jogen Da if I ask them, they can also go to the EC tomorrow,'' the Chief Minister said. She said, "there are some members of CPI(M) who call themselves intellectuals. They were 'Buddhajibis' during CPI(M) rule; now they are 'CPI(M)-jibi'. We also have the support of intellectuals. If they have four supporters, we have four lakh.''More UNI BM CJ RJ AS1628 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0343-687616.Xml Gen Singh arrived on official visit to Headquarters Northern Command this morning and was received by Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda, Col S D Goswami, defence spokesperson here said. He said the Army Commander briefed the Army Chief on the overall security situation in the Command theatre. "The Army Chief interacted with the Corps Commanders and took a first hand assessment of the prevailing internal security situation specifically in view of the recent incidents at Handwara and Nutnusa," said the spokesperson.UNI VBH CJ AE 1627 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-687582.Xml Superintendent of PMCH Dr Lakhinder Prasad said here today that Kartik Malakar, a native of West Bengal, was arrested from train on charges of consuming liquor and sent to Phulwarisharif jail last night. "Malakar died while being brought to PMCH for treatment," Dr Prasad said, adding that the body had been sent for post-mortem. When asked about the reason behind the death, Dr Prasad said doctors of Jail hospital had treated Malakar and he died while being rushed to the PMCH. He refused to divulge exact reason behind the death of prisoner. UNI KKS PL AE AN1619 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-687531.Xml A minor girl in police custody since April 13, has informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Handwara that she was not assaulted by Armymen.Massive protests erupted in Handwara after people took to streets, alleging that the girl was molested by an Army jawan on April 12.The girl, along with her father and aunt, were produced before the CJM, Handwara in Kupwara, following directions by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court yesterday. A police spokesperson here this afternoon said that the girl in her statement before the CJM, revealed that on April 12, after school hours, while proceeding to home with her friend, she entered a public lavatory near the main chowk of Handwara for answering the call of nature. ''As soon as she came out of the lavatory, she was confronted, assaulted and dragged by two boys and her bag was snatched. One of the boys was in school uniform,'' the girl claimed. HC has asked police to declare the law and authority, under which they have kept a minor girl, her father Mohammad Akbar Ganai and aunt Zaiba Begum in custody and ordered that she should be produced before CJM and Judicial Magistrate or any other nearest court.The court gave the order on a petition filed by Taja Begum, mother of the girl, alleging that her minor daughter has been taken into illegal custody by police on April 13.She also contended that her husband and sister have also been illegally detained by the police. She pleaded before the court that these persons have not committed any offence. However, Army released a video on April 13, in which the girl was shown saying that no soldier molested her and in fact, two local youths attacked her when she was in a washroom at Handwara Chowk. The Court directed the police not to produce the minor before the media. The directions were issued after counsel of the petitioner, Advocate Pervez Imroz pleaded before the court that in violation of legal and constitutional rights, the police authorities are forcing the girl and her father to make some statements before the media, which is not permissible under law. However, the mother of the girl alleged that her daughter was forced to make statement by the police and her husband and sister, who were called to police station, were also detained.Advocate Imroz had pleaded before the court that the petitioners have been kept in illegal detention, in violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Five people, including a woman, were killed in security force firing in different incidents of Kupwara, where curfew-like restrictions continued since the eruption of violence on April 12.UNI BAS RJ AE 1708 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-687581.Xml Senior Congress leaders today in one voice called the youth to follow the ideology of Dr B R Ambedkar and end the caste discrimination besides questioning the BJP government at the Centre to reply what ideology are they trying to implement in the society. The leaders assembled at Gandhi Bhawan on the concluding function of the 125 th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar reiterated that Congress is the party which honoured Baba Saheb the most and criticised the other political parties for targeting the Congress about their relationship with Dr Ambedkar. The Congress leaders alleged that BJP is a 'copycat' political party and they announced to celebrate Dr Ambedkar's birthday only after Congress disclosed to do it. Congress Working Committee member and Rajya Sabha member Mohsina Kidwai attacking the Narendra Modi government alleged that the Muslim League at the time of independence and RSS in the present time are two sides of the same coin. "While Muslim League was instrumental in the partition, the RSS was indulging in dividing the society and the country on the communal lines now." The Congress leader went ahead in her attack saying that where was RSS at the time of independence? She also alleged that RSS is now adopting Gandhi, Patel and Ambedkar just to show their fake love for the country as they have no leaders in their own party. She also clarified that Jawahar Lal Nehru never left Ambedkar nor was there any dispute between them."Nehruji made Dr Ambedkar the chairman of the Constitution Committee." Senior Congress leader and the former Union minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, speaking as the chief guest in the function, said ,"we should follow the path shown by Dr Ambedkar through our entire life to give him a real tribute. He said Baba Saheb's main agenda was to fight for the rights of the oppressed sections and not only for the Dalits.'' "Dr Ambedkar wanted that all the oppressed sections should get covered through the Constitution besides ending the caste and creed discrimination in the society," he added. Mr Shinde said he too followed the steps of Dr Ambedkar by contesting from general seat in the assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Calling the party workers to follow the path shown by Dr Ambedkar, he said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi had too during their Nagpur rally admitted that Dr Ambedkar ideology is the best for the country. AICC general secretary and In-charge of Uttar Pradesh Madhusudan Mistri in his address criticised the BJP government at the Centre for curtailing of funds for the Dalits and other oppressed sections besides threatening to end the reservation facilities."BJP has gone for double talk with RSS questioning its continuation and PM assuring that it will continue". AICC SC Cell chairperson K Raju said that party vice president Rahul Gandhi had always supported the cause of the Dalits and always try to go there whether it is Rohit Vemula case of Hyderabad or any other Dalit atrocities. "Congress had always fought for the Dalits but on the other hand BJP was trying to do vote politics through celebrating Dr Ambedkar birthday," he alleged. The function was addressed by the senior Congress leaders like Rajya Sabha members P L Punia and Pramod Tiwari along with state president Nirmal Khatri. Mr Punia appreciated the Bhim Jyoti Yatra that covered 44 districts of Uttar Pradesh brought out on the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. He also demanded reservation facilities in private sector besides implementing reservation in promotion. On the occasion Congress leaders who worked for the success of the Bhim Jyoti Yatra were also facilitated. UNI MB CJ AE 1828 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-687765.Xml The National Mission for Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK), announced the formal launch of the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (CGRBMS), here today. The Ministry had signed a 10-year Memorandum of Agreement with IITK for the provision of continual scientific support in the implementation and dynamic evolution of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti gave a detailed description on why the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies was needed for the mission and how important the collaboration was. ''We are trying to make a framework, where opinions from people across the globe, who are interested in our rivers, should be invited,'' Ms Bharti said. The Minister also informed that her Ministry was focusing on cleaning the Ganga by setting up Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). ''These are the issues, which can be solved by procuring technologies around the world. But, what is important here is how to ensure continuous flow in the rivers,'' she said. To solve this, efforts were needed to be done by each and every individual, which includes government authorities, academicians, researchers and many others, the Minister added.More UNI RBE RJ AE 1830 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-687766.Xml Nagaland Minister for Roads & Bridges Y Vikheho Swu, along with a team, inspected the progress of the ongoing construction of international trade road, also known as Indo-Myanmar Friendship Road, connecting Avakhung village in Phek district and Chera- Layshee in Myanmar, which will be a vital road for Act East Policy. According to an official report today, Mr. Swu along with Minister for School Education and SCERT, Yitachu and Parliamentary Secretary for Industries and Commerce Amenba Yaden and Chief Engineer of Road and Bridges Department Tali, visited the construction site, which is over 300 km from the state capital by road on Thursday. The specification is 3.5 meters, but the contractor has almost done five meters, he said. Mr Swu said a lot of things still have to be done, adding that carpeting has not done yet. "I am satisfied with the progress of the road sponsored by the Central Government under North Eastern Council (NEC), which has already been interconnected from both sides, but about 2 km stretch on Mount Pellang, has to be realigned as it is very steep and not viable commercial vehicles to ply," Mr Swu said. Appreciating the work of the contractor for satisfactorily taking the fresh cutting on this side of the border, he expressed the hope that the re-aligned two km stretch is likely to be completed and the entire road ready for inauguration by end of November this year. MLA of Meluri Sub-Division and Minister Mr Yitachu said once the two countries are inter-connected through the friendship road, it has good prospects to not only develop trade and commerce, but also strengthen the relationship between India and Myanmar. "We (India) have the prospects of supplying textile, medicine, vehicle parts, agricultural machineries and other hardware, while the Saigaing region in Myanmar has surplus rice, fish and live stock," he said. He said linkage between other South East Asian countries can also be strengthened. He also expressed happiness that despite the steepness at Mount Pellang, a Tata Mobile loaded with health drink managed to come this side recently. Nonetheless, Mr Yitachu hoped that once the re-aligned fresh cutting is completed and the road inaugurated at an appropriate time, trade and commerce and friendship will be boosted between the two nations, the report said. UNI AS PL PY AE AN1840 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-687561.Xml The students' community of Manipur today paid tributes to two martyrs who sacrificed their lives during a "Go Back Foreigner" campaign in 1980. The day is observed as Meekap thokpa Numit (Realisation day) organised by the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU). Floral tributes were offered to the statues of Huidrom Loken and Potsangbam Premananda who died in police firing on April 17, 1980 at the memorial complex. The students were fighting for the protection of indigenous people and ouster of all illegal immigrants from the state. AMSU president S Subhaschandra said,'' it is apt to remember the sacrifices made by the students to demand implementation of Inner Line Permit in the state.'' Those present demanding immediate implementation of the three Bills passed by the state Assembly to protect the Indigenous people of the state. The students also displayed placards to support the movement for protection of indigenous people. The speakers said the population of illegal immigrants is more than the tribal population and their population has reached about 30 percent of the population.UNI NS PL AE AS1838 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-687700.Xml Alleging mass irregularities in nine constituencies of Birbhum district in West Bengal, BJP today demanded the Election Commission to conduct repolls on these seats. The party also demanded shifting of the Chief Electoral Officer, accusing him of allowing the Trinamool Congress (AITC) to flagrantly violate the constitutional mandate, electoral laws and the Commissions' orders.A delegation of the party, comprising Nirmala Sitharaman, Bhupendra Yadav, Shrikant Sharma and Om Pathak in support of their demand, also handed over a memorandum to the Election Commission.The memorandum urged the Chief Election Commission to issue strict warning to AITC for violating the constitutional provisions and electoral laws.BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said here today that the way AITC chief Mamata Banerjee was challenging the Election Commission, was nothing, but a result of desperation. He added that Ms Banerjee had completely failed in providing good governance and to hide her failure, she was taking on the constitutional bodies. In the memorandum, BJP had requested for immediate and serious attention of the Election Commission against AITC's activities.BJP said the notice, instead of being issued to the AITC for violating the MCC, was intentionally and mischievously served on Ms Banerjee in her capacity as Chief Minister, by the Chief Electoral Officer of the state."This, we see, as a clear attempt to undermine and negate the directions of the Election Commission and hoodwink the other contesting parties, hence defeating the very doctrine of FREE & FAIR elections," the party said in its memorandum.This was not the first incident, where the Chief Electoral Officer had acted in a biased manner and such incidents were already brought to the notice of the Commission, Mr Sharma alleged.The memorandum also stated that in clear violation of EC orders and encouraged by Ms Banerjee, district president of AITC Anubrato Mondal continued to tour all nine Assembly constituencies in Birbhum. UNI RBE RJ AE 1915 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-687702.Xml The bodyguard of former MP Magnilal Mandal was thrashed by locals suspecting him to be a thief under Rupaspur police station area in Patna district late last night. Police said here today that bodyguard Mahesh Kumar Singh was attacked by locals at Rupaspur village, suspecting him to be thief. He sustained serious injuries in the attack. The injured had been admitted to a local hospital, police said adding that a case in this connection had been registered at concerned police station.UNI KKS BM SHS BL2034 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-688050.Xml A 'jail bharo' programme by agitating Patidar (Patel) leaders turned violent on Sunday, forcing the authorities to clamp curfew and deploy the Border Security Force (BSF) in Gujarat's northern town of Mehsana. Unruly mobs attacked the camp offices of Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel and Health Minister Nitin Patel, who is also the head of the committee of seven ministers constituted by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to hold talks with the two Patidar outfits -- Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG). The two ministers were also targeted during the violence on the night of August 25 last year following police action at a massive rally in Ahmedabad. The committee has submitted its report to the chief minister and a decision is expected soon. Porbander BJP Lok Sabha member Vitthal Radadia, who is also a Patel, has been mediating between jailed Patidar leader Hardik Patel and the government and had recently said a rapprochment was around the corner. Facing sedition charges, Hardik Patel has been in jail for the last eight months. The SPG and the PAAS have agitating for reservation for Patels in government jobs and educational institutions under the Other Backward Classes category. Sunday's 'jail bharo' programme was in support of the demand for the release of jailed Patel leaders and withdrawal of cases against them. The SPG had earlier announced its second round of agitation if its demands were not met by April 17. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all north Gujarat towns, besides Ahmedabad and Surat, which are known strongholds of the pro-quota Patels, following incidents of arson and stone-pelting in Mehsana as well as Surat. More than 1,000 agitators from the Patel community in Mehsana and over 500 in Surat were taken into preventive custody as large crowds gathered near the district jails in both places in defiance of prohibitory orders. Surat Police Commissioner Ashish Bhatia told TV channels that most of those detained were from the Patel-dominated Varachha area. Asserting that trouble-makers would not be spared, Bhatia said: "This city belongs to all and those creating mischief will be dealt with strictly." Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said after a government programme in Gujarat's southern town of Valsad: "Our government is for the people and not for agitators." She issued a statement asking people to maintain peace and harmony and not get waylaid by rumours. Speaking to Gujarati TV channels, state BJP president Vijay Rupani asked the people as well as police to exercise retraint. Authorities suspended internet services and mobile phone applications till Monday morning in Mehsana and other north Gujarat towns after the violence to prevent the spread of incendiary information. Similar action is likely to be taken in Ahmedabad and certain cities of Saurashtra region, sources said. The agitators set on fire an FCI godown and a state government building in Mehsana. The Patel mobs also torched a sub divisional magistrate's vehicle and a state transport bus. Two buses of the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) were attacked with stones in Patidar-domiated Ghatlodia area of Ahmedabad. A group of Patels blocked the Bhavnagar-Talaja highway in Saurashtra region. About 200 state transport buses were diverted from sensitive routes as a precaution and drivers were instructed to take the buses to the nearest police stations. In Ahmedabad city also, some buses run by AMTS were diverted from Patel-dominated pockets while civic authorities were holding a meeting to decide on discontinuing several routes in the city. Police hurled over two dozen tear gas shells and used water cannons as well as rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. SPG convener Lalji Patel sustained head injuries as his supporters pelted stones at policemen. Gujarati TV channels quoted police as saying that Patel was hurt in the stone-throwing and not baton-charge. Lalji Patel along with his supporters was also taken into preventive custody. The SPG has given a call for a shutdown in Gujarat on Monday in protest against the police action. --Indo-Asian News Service desai/pm/ ( 679 Words) 2016-04-17-23:04:06 (IANS) A 26-year-old woman from Mumbai was allegedly gangraped by two men in Central Delhi's Old Rajender Nagar, police sources said today. According to police sources, the incident took place on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, when the victim had gone to the flat of the accused, to discuss their marriage plans. However, a friend of the accused also came to the flat and forced himself on her. Both of the accused forced the victim to drink alcohol and gangraped her. Later, she managed to escape from the flat and called the police control room. When the police team came to help her, they found her heavily drunk and rushed her to a hospital, where medical authorities confirmed rape. Police have arrested one person in this connection, but the other one is still on the run. A case of gangrape has been registered at Rajendra Nagar police station. The victim met the accused on social networking site Facebook, while she was in Mumbai. Soon, they started chatting on Facebook and the accused proposed her for marriage and asked her to move to Delhi. The victim came to Delhi and started living in a rented accommodation in South Delhi's Safdarjung around seven months ago. UNI SM SHS RJ 2308 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-688190.Xml The Delhi Police has arrested a Tantrik, along with his associates and rescued a four-month-old girl from altar before her ritualistic sacrifice, police said today. According to police, complainant Shan Mohammad alleged that on April 14, his brother-in-law Asif kidnapped his four-year-old daughter Hina (name changed) from his house. The complainant made a phone call to the alleged Asif and also visited his house at Old Mustafabad, Delhi, but he could not find him. When he failed to trace his daughter and brother in-law, Mohammad reported the matter to police at Khajuri Khas Police Station. Police registered a case under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code. Police arrested the accused Asif, who disclosed that he sold the infant to his associates Dilshad and Mohd Illyas for Rs 40,000. ''On the instance of Asif, Dilshad and Mohd Illyas were arrested from Ghaziabad, UP and the infant was safely recovered within six hours of registration of the case,'' Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-east) Dr Ajit Kumar Singla said. The accused disclosed that they were going to perform some 'Pooja' at Shamshan Ghaat, where the baby was to be sacrificed for enhancement of witchcraft powers. The weapon, with which the sacrifice was to be performed has been seized, along with the remaining Rs 10,000. Rest of the money was used to repay the bills. Girl clothes have also been recovered from the accused.UNI SM SHS RJ 2340 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-688224.Xml The Election Commission (EC) will examine the CD of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech where he criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for misusing the state machinery, an official said. "We will send the video CD to EC," Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta said here. In an election rally in Krishnanagar on Sunday, Modi accused Banerjee of misusing the state machinery by asking the state's chief secretary to reply to the EC's showcause notice on her behalf. "Polls will come and go, but if these institutions are destroyed, the country will not be able to be run. The EC gave notice to you and it was your responsibility to put forth your stand, your views but instead you are saying, you will see the EC after May 19 (day of counting)," he said Modi was referring to Banerjee's April 14 outburst against the poll panel after getting a show-cause notice for violation of the model code of conduct. --Indo Asian News Service sgh/pku ( 174 Words) 2016-04-18-00:46:05 (IANS) United States Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that he will talk with his commanders in the coming days to identify new ways the US can intensify the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, which including more airstrikes and cyber attacks. According to the Guardian, Carter expressed confidence that the White House will approve recommendations, saying nothing he has asked President Barack Obama for yet in the conflicts has been turned down. The Pentagon announced yesterday that, air strikes by the US and its allies on Friday hit 15 Isis targets in Iraq and three in Syria. Carter has said that Obama and other US leaders will encourage other Gulf nations to contribute economically to the effort to rebuild Iraq once Isis is defeated. (ANI) Ecuador launched rescue operations today after its biggest earthquake in decades killed at least 77 people, caused devastation in coastal populations, and left an unknown number trapped in ruins.The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off Ecuador's Pacific coast on Saturday night and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, causing panic in the capital Quito and collapsing buildings in the large commercial city of Guayaquil.Nearly 600 people were injured.Northwestern coastal areas nearest the quake were worst affected, including Pedernales, a tourist spot with beaches and palm trees, and nearby Cojimies. But information was scant from there due to poor communications and transport chaos."There are people trapped in various places and we are starting rescue operations," Vice President Jorge Glas said on Sunday morning before boarding a plane to the area.The toll of 77 dead and 588 injured was bound to rise, he said. A state of emergency was declared in six provinces."There are villages that are totally devastated," Pedernales' major Gabriel Alcivar, said in a radio interview, adding that "dozens and dozens" had died in the rustic zone."What happened here in Pedernales is catastrophic."In Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, rubble lay in the streets and a bridge fell on top of a car."It was terrifying, we were all scared and we're still out in the streets because we're worried about aftershocks," said Guayaquil security guard Fernando Garcia.About 13,5000 security force personnel were mobilized to keep order around Ecuador, and $600 million in credit from multilateral lenders was immediately activated for the emergency, the government said.FLEEING FOR HIGHER GROUNDRamon Solorzano, 46, a car parts merchant in the coastal city of Manta, said he was leaving with his family."Most people are out in the streets with backpacks on, heading for higher ground," he said, speaking in a trembling voice on a WhatsApp phone call. "The streets are cracked. The power is out and phones are down."President Rafael Correa cut short a trip to Italy to return."Everything can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be recovered, and that's what hurts the most," he said.Parts of the highland capital Quito were without power or telephone services for several hours but the city government said those services had been restored and there were no reports of casualties in the city.The government described it as the worst quake in the country since 1979. In that disaster, 600 people were killed and 20,000 injured, according to the United States Geological Survey.Among international aid, Venezuela and Mexico were sending personnel and supplies, the Correa government said.A tsunami warning was lifted on Saturday night but coastal residents were urged to seek higher ground in case tides rise."At first it was light, but it lasted a long time and got stronger," said Maria Jaramillo, 36, a resident of Guayaquil, describing windows breaking and pieces falling off roofs."I was on the seventh floor and the light went off in the whole sector, and we evacuated. People were very anxious in the street ... We left barefoot."State officials said the OPEC member's oil production was not affected by the quake but the principal refinery of Esmeraldas, located near the epicenter, had been halted as a precaution.The Ecuadorian quake followed two quakes that struck Japan on the opposite side of the Pacific. A 7.3 magnitude tremor struck Kumamoto province early on Saturday, killing at least 32 people, injuring about a thousand and causing widespread damage. The first quake, late on Thursday, killed nine.Ecuador and Japan are both located on the seismically active "Ring of Fire", which sweeps from the South Pacific islands, up through Indonesia, Japan, across to Alaska and down the west coast of the United States and Central and South America.A smaller 6.1 magnitude quake hit the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Sunday, with no immediate reports of damage.REUTERS CJ AS1846 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-687869.Xml India and Iran today agreed to finalise the commercial contract for developing the strategic Chabahar project, which will prove to be a gateway for India to the middle east region, with New Delhi deciding to extend 150 million dollar of credit for the project. The agreement on Chabahar project was reached after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a wide ranging talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, during which both sides discussed the progress on the project and other issues, including terrorism and Afghanistan. "Both sides agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar, as well as the modalities for extending 150 million dollar credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the very near future. Decisions on this line of credit, as well as 400 million dollar credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by India," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The agreement on the project is likely to be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tehran, which is to take place later this year. After the delegation level talks, Ms Swaraj called on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who hoped for closer consultations with India on regional issues, especially Afghanistan and the challenge of terrorism.Mr Rouhani spoke of Chabahar project as a defining partnership, which has the potential of connecting the entire region.Recalling his meeting with Mr Modi in Ufa, the Iranian President said India and Iran have had very rich cultural ties through history and this could pave the way for enhanced partnership in tourism and more people-to-people links. In terms of connectivity, Iran said it fully supported India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two Ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar Zahedan Railway link.On Trade and Investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense. Ms Swaraj will be departing for Moscow tomorrow, where she is scheduled to attend the Russia-India-China ministerial meeting. UNI MK RJ AE 1950 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-687941.Xml The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) said today Islam is not compatible with the German constitution and vowed to press for bans on minarets and burqas at its party congress in two weeks' time.The AfD punished Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats in three regional elections last month, profiting from popular angst about how Germany can cope with an influx of migrants, over a million of whom arrived last year."Islam is in itself a political ideology that is not compatible with the constitution," AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung."We are in favour of a ban on minarets, on muezzins and a ban on full veils," added Storch, who is a member of the European Parliament.Merkel's conservatives have also called for an effective ban on the burqa, saying the full body covering worn by some Muslim women should not be worn in public. But they have not said Islam is incompatible with Germany's constitution.The AfD's rise, which has coincided with strong gains by other European anti-immigrant parties including the National Front in France, has punctured the centrist consensus around which the mainstream parties have formed alliances in Germany.Last month, the party grabbed 24 percent of the vote in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, surpassing even the Social Democrats (SPD), Merkel's coalition partner in Berlin. The AfD, founded in 2013, also performed strongly in two other states.The party's rise has been controversial. Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat, has said Germany's far-right, led by the AfD party, is using language similar to that of Hitler's Nazis.Such accusations have not swayed the party from its anti-immigration course."Islam is not a religion like Catholic or Protestant Christianity, but rather intellectually always associated with the takeover of the state," said Alexander Gauland, who leads the AfD in Brandenburg."That is why the Islamisation of Germany is a danger," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.REUTERS SHS PR2143 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-688167.Xml Senior Syrian opposition negotiator Mohammad Alloush, representing Jaish al Islam, a major rebel group, said today rebels should retaliate against what he called Syrian army attacks on civilians."I say this response should be retaliation so that the regime does not think of attacking civilians as it escalates its attacks," Alloush told Arabic TV al Hadath"I don't think this is a call to escalate violence, it is a call for self-defence no more," he said.REUTERS SHS BL2348+ -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-688236.Xml Wrong, mischievous Dennie and four other high-ranking directors of the SSA last week threatened to sue the State over what they call their illegal and unfair firing from the agency. The five former director Bisnath Maharaj; former deputy director Keron Ganpat; Dennie; former assistant director information and communications technology Alanzo Flemming and assistant director of administration Seukeran Singh have sent out pre-action protocol letters to the Solicitor General seeking compensation for substantial loss of earnings. Speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday, Dennie and Flemming said they intend to do what was necessary to defend their reputations. Both men, who collectively have more than three decades in the SSA, said they believe they were fired because they refused to assist then director Matthew Andrews in weeding out Indians in the agency. Both National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi have denied that any directives were given for any employee of the SSA to be fired based on their ethnicity. Attempts to reach Andrews, who in 2015 was appointed interim director of the SSA after three years at the agency, were futile yesterday. Retired Col George Robinson now heads the agency. Approached three times In his interview with Sunday Newsday, Dennie, who joined the agency in 1997 after being transferred from the Defence Force, which he joined in 1981, said he was approached by Andrews on the issue of getting rid of Indians in the SSA. In his pre-action letter he said he was told by Andrews that the minister (of National Security) wanted to get rid of some of them. He was asked to assist with identifying the weak ones who would not put up a fight but would go quietly. Dennie said his response was that Indians in the agency were in the minority and were beneficial to certain operational aspects of the work. Dennie said he was accused of not being a team player and was told he would be dealt with. This is not about politics. I refused to help him (Andrews), Dennie said. Dennie said he did not and will not support discrimination based on race. This is Trinidad and Tobago. We have to live together, he said. This was not the first time Matthew Andrews came to me. The first time I warned him. The second time I reported it to director Bisnath Maharaj, Dennie told Sunday Newsday. I said then I was very comfortable to say what he came to me with and I was not moving from that position, he said when the two of them (Andrews and himself) were called into a meeting with Bisnath. I have to be a madman to make up something like that, he said. Dennie said the issue was dealt with by Maharaj. He said the third time he was approached, it was after Andrews became interim director. What he was actually doing in the agency was getting people across to his side. Dennie said at a meeting on November 16, 2015, at the agencys boardroom on St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain in the presence of 15 other executives and members of the agency, Andrews told the group he was told by the National Security Ministry to provide a list of names of persons who were not in support of him (Andrews.) He asked me to brief him at that meeting on sensitive information and I refused. I told him feel free to take my name down to the ministry if you wish, Dennie said. He also said he and another colleague were asked to do unethical things as it related to interception of things which were against the agencys policy. Dennie scoffed at claims that his and the other directors challenges of their dismissals were politically motivated. People are free to have their opinions. I am not aligned to any political party. I vote but I do not have a party card. I am born and raised in Point Fortin and for the past, I dont know how many years, the area has gone to one party only. That is my response to persons who say I am politically aligned to a certain party, he said. According to Dennie, he chose to speak out because of what was done to him. Do you know how difficult it is to get a job? My last interview I was asked where I worked previously and what was the reason for my leaving. I had to say because the Minister of National Security lost faith in me. I must defend my character. What Andrews did was wrong and mischievous. How can you put someone as director and within that time several people were fired. Then you move him and put in another director. I am aggrieved and was unfairly treated. This is not about politics. This is about my character. Dont stand and tarnish my character, he stressed. His only solace is that he has the full support of his family and close friends. People who know me, Carlton Dennie, know I would not make up anything like that, he said. Putting up a fight Flemming also adamantly said he intends to put up a fight of his termination from the SSA. I was wrongfully and illegally terminated and I will take redress, he said. Flemming, who joined the agency in 2003, said his relationship with Andrews became strained around July/August of 2015, when he too was approached on the issue of weeding out East Indians in the SSA. I was told I had to feel envious of the opportunities being given to East Indians in the agency. I declined, he said. This was before Andrews was appointed as interim director of the SSA. I believe in equal opportunity and I said so. However, when he became director he threatened my employment, Flemming said. He was fired from the post as assistant director information and communications technology on December 4, 2015, without being given an opportunity to respond to the allegations against me, he said. One of the allegations against him was that he was found to be bringing the agency into disrepute and bringing the office of the director of the agency into disrepute. His letter of dismissal stated he was being fired on the ground of gross misconduct. He said this was as a result of his questioning Andrews claim to be director of the SSA and not interim director, after he was told that he (Flemming) was no longer on the authorised list of persons allowed to transact business on behalf of the agency. He said his response was that he cant do that. He doesnt have any letter of appointment from the President. He doh have that authority. Flemming said it was on this alleged utterance, he was found to be bringing the SSA into disrepute. He was also accused of breaching Section 8 (1) of the SSA Act and of disclosing information without authorisation. The former information and communications technology assistant director said he was never afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations and was told by Andrews that the States pockets were very deep and that they could go the full distance. Flemming said he wrote to the Minister of National Security on December 11, 2015, asking for a meeting to be heard and informing him that if no fault was found in his work at the agency, he (the minister) should reconsider reinstating him. I am still waiting a response from the minister, he said. Flemming also dismissed claims that his decision to fight his firing was politically motivated. There are procedures to be followed before issuing a notice of termination. You are required to give the employee an opportunity to be heard. That did not happen so I have to take redress. If that is political I dont know what to say but I have to do what is necessary because it is my view that the notice of termination given to me was illegal, he said. The five fired directors of the SSA have given the State 21 days in which to respond to their pre-action protocol letters. On Friday, an amendment to the SSA Act, which will expand the agencys powers and its scope for interception of a wider range of offences, was passed in the House of Representatives. Womens bodies dumped like garbage Speaking in the wake of the gruesome death of store clerk Felicia Persad, whose decomposing body was discovered on Friday wrapped in plastic on a tree in the Mitan River, Manzanilla, Sampson-Browne said human beings were now relegated to being less than discarded garbage. People usually take care of their garbage before discarding it, by bagging it and securing it, putting it at the sides of the roads, but humankind has become less than that, she said told Sunday Newsday. Sampson-Browne, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, also noted the heinousness with which many murders were being committed. We have people that are dumping bodies in water, persons being pushed over precipices and heads going one way while the rest of the body goes another, she observed. Persad, 29, of Oropouche Road, Sangre Grande, had been missing since April 2. Police said she was found around 9 am on Friday with her hands tied behind her back, mouth gagged, with wounds to her stomach. Police are working on the theory that the woman was killed elsewhere and dumped at the Mitan River. The discovery of her body came exactly one month after the headless body of Nekeisha Teesdale was found floating down the same river. Sampson-Browne said Trinidad and Tobago must return to the state when citizens respected one another and valued life. We have to take collective responsibility for what has happened to these young women and we need all hands on board, she said, adding that persons also must be steady in the way they do business. Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation and councillor for the electoral district of Toco/ Fishing Pond, Martin Terry Rondon observed the eastern region, within recent months, had become a dumping ground for dead human beings. Calling for an increase police patrols in the region, Rondon expressed condolences to the families of the murdered women. Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein, meanwhile, in whose constituency Persad lived, urged the Government to devise strategies to address the potential fallout from volatile relationships. From what I have read, it seems that the woman had applied to the court for a restraining order as her life had been threatened. And with the economic situation and continued unemployment, Government needs to take a look at that and provide some form of counselling, she said. It may be a costly exercise but persons may be more liable to cope if such services are provided. Newallo-Hosein, who served as the Minister of the People and Social Development under the former Peoples Partnership government, said persons involved in turbulent relationships should try to reach some common ground or go their separate ways. They must agree to disagree and if they cant make it together go on their own. This violent loss of life is unacceptable. We seem to be reaching a violent state in this country. Newallo-Hosein, who said she planned to visit Persads family this week, claimed that crime in this country flourished whenever the Peoples National Movement was in power. When the PP was in government, crime was never so high sand there was never such discord, disrespect and disregard for life, she claimed. Learmond thanks public, hopes for surgery His medical situation first came to light when he suffered a heart attack more than a month ago. Doctors later found that he was suffering from high blood pressure and clogged arteries and advised bypass surgery. The cost for the procedure is $110,000. The local theatre fraternity launched a fund raising drive to assist Learmond, who has been in the business for more than 30 years. As part of the drive part proceeds from productions were dedicated to the cause and an account set up for donations. Learmond, speaking with a weak voice yesterday, reported they did not get to even half of the target amount of $110,000. He said his cardiologist had been speaking with the Health Ministry to have them cover the cost of the procedure. Learmond will be going in to hospital on Wednesday and will find out if the request is approved. He explained that, if successful, he will be warded that same day for the operation the following day. He said the operation is a frightening thing but he has to do it. He is avoiding looking at the procedure online because if he sees it he might run and hide in the hills. Im really scared, he added. Learmond said he is praying a lot and going on faith. It out of my hands any way, he added. Asked how he was feeling physically Learmond responded some days better than others. He reported that yesterday he had been lying down whole day, feeling weak, dizzy and nauseous. I had a lot of those feelings the last few days, he added. He said some times he is okay and he cannot exert himself too much as he gets tired fast. I will take it easy and hopefully everything will work out on Wednesday with the operation, he said. On the response from the general public Learmond described it as overwhelming. I never expected to get that response, he commented. He said wherever he goes while in public people walk up to him and shake his hand. They say they are rooting for me. I really didnt expect that much support, he added. He recalled on Friday while at a chiropractors office someone told him they hoped he was seeing how much people loved him. Because I really didnt know, he said. He noted the theatre community was responsible for everybody finding out about his situation and publicised it. He explained that he was just home and in bed and not doing anything but the theatre community decided to take the bull by the horns, put it out on social media and raise funds. Literally they responsible for saving my life, he added. Anyone seeking to assist can deposit funds to First Citizens account number 2226912 on behalf of Learmond or contact 334-4787 for more information Let outside children share in payout In declaring this position, San Fernando attorney Subhas Panday yesterday called on all women who have children for members of the protective services to have a DNA test done before it is too late. Panday said every single child of a slain officer is entitled to the States disbursement of the $1 million, because the rules of inheritance by will or deed do not apply as far as the payment of these monies are concerned. Panday also suggested yesterday that housing be incorporated as a form of compensation. A former minister in the Ministry of National Security, Panday held a press conference yesterday at his law offices on Gordon Street, San Fernando, where he also called on Government to immediately provide counselling to the relatives of slain officer, PC Anson Benjamin. Benjamin, 44, a father of five, was laid to rest on Tuesday following his death at hospital days after being shot in the head by a bandit during a robbery at a grocery in Ste Madeleine two weeks ago. Panday explained, Some people claim that the million dollars may ease pain and suffering of the families of the fallen officers. I hold a contrary view, in that this money, is to fill a shortfall in income. The State should counsel these children or family, as long as is necessary for them to stand on their own feet. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon have said procedures for the disbursement of $1 million to families of officers killed in the line of duty are to be drafted for implementation. Panday said the relevant ministry or agency should have located Benjamins offspring shortly after his death so as to also include them as members of the family. Benjamin had three young children with his common-law wife, and two older children, one aged 17, and the other is 21, from a previous relationship. Asked whether age and being born out of wedlock should be factors that determine if a child benefits from the compensation, Panday said he was of the view that all children should benefit from the $1 million payout. The rules of inheritance and distribution do not apply in this case. There should be no distinction between the various categories of the children of the fallen officer. A needstest ought to be carried out and monies be released according to needs, Panday said. He then urged women to have paternity tests done on their children. Go immediately and do your DNA test, Panday advised. Establish paternity, because if you do not do that now, and you try to do that after the person dies, you have to go through the court and get all sorts of evidence before you can establish paternity. If you establish paternity now, you will be in the same position as the legitimate children. Panday advised that the family of Benjamin must not be allowed to fall in the sad situation as that of the Baboolal children. Five members of the Baboolal family, of Williamsville, were murdered by Piparo drug dealer Dole Chadee in 1994, but the children, a brother and sister, of the victims survived. The State did not provide care for the boy who ran into trouble with the law as a youth. The girl was adopted by relatives and taken overseas. The little son was abandoned by the family and society, and, he ended up not having an education. He also found himself before the courts and into the prison system, Panday said of the Baboolal case. We must not allow the children of the slain policemen to suffer that faith. Harping on the delay in paying out the $1 million since it was announced two years ago by former Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissesar, in whose administration he served early in its term, Panday said, As politicians we usually put some onions on our fingernails, go to the funerals and cry, and after turn our backs on the people. AG: Blame PP for high crime Some 21 Government MPs voted for and 11 Opposition MPs against it, reported Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George . On whether the bill allows breaches of privacy, Al-Rawi said the Constitution does not protect privacy but a private life, although lamenting a lack of past judicial comment on the topic. He said a mere simple majority can change the general human rights spelt out in the Constitution . Al-Rawi challenged Opposition claims that crime is usually high under PNM regimes, saying kidnapping for ransom in fact fell to zero under a former PNM government, by the use of intelligence-led policing . Refuting claims by Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, the AG gave figures to suggest an improved rate of detection and conviction for homicides under the former Peoples National Movement (PNM) regime (2001 to 2010), but which then worsened under the Peoples Partnership (PP) administration (2010 to 2015) . He said detection and conviction rates improved from 15.9 percent (2008) to 26.8 percent (2009), but then successively fell to 22.8 percent (2010), to 21.9 percent (2011), to 16.6 percent (2012), to 10.3 percent (2013) and continuing. He also said a United States government report said that from 2010 to 2014, some 2,400 murders had occurred in TT . Blaming high crime today on the PP regimes decision to cancel border security, he said, When you cannot police your borders crime will increase. He also hit the former regime for not turning on the cellphone jammers that it possessed, a failure that allowed hits from prison . Under this Government, cellphone jammers have blocked some 1.5 million calls, 126,000 SMS texts and 364 illicit phones in one prison, he said . We are operationalising the laws of TT and ensuring that when you are in jail, you are in jail. He had visited jail and witnessed scanners unearth shavers, wi-fi spots, digital scales, cocaine, marijuana, bullets and a 22-inch flat-screen TV in Death Row under surveillance . He advocated two measures for greater accountability of national security operations. Firstly, he said the National Operations Centre (NOC) must be moved from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to the SSA, and so be brought under the purview of the Auditor General as had been the controversial LifeSport programme under the former PP regime. Secondly, the AG said the House has a committee on national security for improved accountability . Al-Rawi queried Opposition calls to send the bill to a JSC while in fact they have acce ss to many documents on the subject, including the SSA Annual Reports for 2009 to 2014. He remarked that offences of money laundering, firearms and trafficking are already covered in the SSAs power . Expressing distaste at current media reports of remarks of too many East Indians in the SSA, he said he abhors racism, and blamed the stories on an Opposition bereft of ideas on the SSA, but which instead just spouted race . He recalled a letter to the then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar from a top officer of the SSA (Surajdeen Persad) who identified officers very loyal to the SSA head, Nigel Clements. He recalled the former PM claiming two Israelis had removed secret information recalled by the SSA under the former PNM regime . If only I could bring a motion of privilege today for 2010, he said Those files were delivered to the home of Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago at her request, he said . Al-Rawi cited a second letter, which he said had urged the appointment of Reshmi Ramnarine as SSA head, and the firing of former SAUTT and SSA heads, Peter Joseph and Nigel Clements, respectively . Of Ramnarines appointment, he said, This is scandalous. Al-Rawi said he had got the Solicitor General to write to seek out the reasons for the former regime calling a state of emergency but that to date he has never learnt why from former minister of national security, Brig John Sandy; former AG Anand Ramlogan nor Persad- Bissessar . Offering curbs on one power of the SSA, he said wire-tapping can only be approved by the Commissioner of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and SSA head, and that old information must be destroyed. He alleged that the PP is content for penalties for white collar crimes to be less than five years imprisonment . Al-Rawi assured that the bill is proportionate, necessary and long overdue, as he begged to move . California Polytechnic State University researchers propose a system capable of probing the molecular composition of cold solar system targets such as asteroids, comets, planets and moons from a distant vantage. Their concept utilizes a directed energy beam to vaporize or sublimate a spot on a distant target, such as from a spacecraft near the object. With sufficient flux, our published results indicate that the spot temperature rises rapidly, and evaporation of materials on the target surface occurs (Hughes et al., 2015; Lubin and Hughes, 2015; Lubin et al., 2014). The melted spot serves as a high-temperature blackbody source, and ejected material creates a molecular plume in front of the spot. Molecular and atomic absorption of the blackbody radiation occurs within the ejected plume. Bulk composition of the surface material is investigated by using a spectrometer to view the heated spot through the ejected material. They envision a spacecraft that could be sent to probe the composition of a target asteroid, comet or other planetary body while orbiting the targeted object. The spacecraft would be equipped with an array of lasers and a spectrometer, powered by photovoltaics. Spatial composition maps could be created by scanning the directed energy beam across the surface. Applying the laser beam to a single spot continuously produces a borehole, and shallow sub-surface composition profiling is also possible. Their initial simulations of laser heating, plume opacity, material absorption profiles and spectral detectivity show promise for molecular composition analysis. Such a system has compelling potential benefit for solar system exploration by establishing the capability to directly interrogate the bulk composition of objects from a distant vantage. They propose to develop models, execute preliminary feasibility analysis, and specify a spacecraft system architecture for a hypothetical mission that seeks to perform surface molecular composition analysis and mapping of a near-earth asteroid (NEA) while the craft orbits the asteroid. This drawing illustrates a system concept for investigating the molecular composition of a distant target, such as an asteroid or comet. A spacecraft is sent to the asteroid, and enters into orbit. Solar cells generate electricity that is used to power a laser, which is directed at the asteroids surface. The laser will heat a spot on the surface, and very quickly material will begin to evaporate from the spot. The glow from the heated spot is visible at the spacecraft through the plume of evaporated material. Sensors in the spacecraft measure the intensity of light across a span of wavelengths; analysis of light intensity patterns provides information about materials in the plume of evaporated material. Credits: Mark Pryor (Vorticity, Inc.) , Gary B. Hughes (Cal Poly SLO) Stand-off molecular composition analysis Conceptual drawing of a proposed laser ablation system for remote composition analysis. Composition of distant stars can be explored by observing absorption spectra. Stars produce nearly blackbody radiation that passes through the cloud of vaporized material surrounding the star. Characteristic absorption lines are discernible with a spectrometer, and atomic composition is investigated by comparing spectral observations with known material profiles. Most objects in the solar systemasteroids, comets, planets, moonsare too cold to be interrogated in this manner. Material clouds around cold objects consist primarily of volatiles, so bulk composition cannot be probed. Additionally, low volatile density does not produce discernible absorption lines in the faint signal generated by cold objects. They propose a system for probing the molecular composition of cold solar system targets from a distant vantage. The concept utilizes a directed energy beam to melt and vaporize a spot on a distant target, such as from a spacecraft orbiting the object. With sufficient flux (~10 MW/m2 ) on a rocky asteroid, the spot temperature rises rapidly to ~2500 K, and evaporation of all materials on the surface occurs. The melted spot creates a high-temperature blackbody source, and ejected material creates a molecular plume in front of the spot. Bulk composition is investigated by using a spectrometer to view the heated spot through the ejected material. Spatial composition maps could be created by scanning the surface. Applying the beam to a single spot continuously produces a borehole, and shallow sub-surface composition profiling is possible. Initial simulations of absorption profiles with laser heating show great promise for molecular composition analysis. Arxiv Directed Energy Missions for Planetary Defense ABSTRACT Directed Energy Missions for Planetary Defense Directed energy for planetary defense is now a viable option and is superior in many ways to other proposed technologies, being able to defend the Earth against all known threats. This paper presents basic ideas behind a directed energy planetary defense system that utilizes laser ablation of an asteroid to impart a deflecting force on the target. A conceptual philosophy called DE-STAR, which stands for Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation, is an orbiting stand-off system, which has been described in other papers. This paper describes a smaller, stand-on system known as DE-STARLITE as a reduced-scale version of DE-STAR. Both share the same basic heritage of a directed energy array that heats the surface of the target to the point of high surface vapor pressure that causes significant mass ejection thus forming an ejection plume of material from the target that acts as a rocket to deflect the object. This is generally classified as laser ablation. DE-STARLITE uses conventional propellant for launch to LEO and then ion engines to propel the spacecraft from LEO to the near-Earth asteroid (NEA). During laser ablation, the asteroid itself provides the propellant source material; thus a very modest spacecraft can deflect an asteroid much larger than would be possible with a system of similar mission mass using ion beam deflection (IBD) or a gravity tractor. DESTARLITE is capable of deflecting an Apophis-class (325 m diameter) asteroid with a 1- to 15-year targeting time (laser on time) depending on the system design. The mission fits within the rough mission parameters of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) program in terms of mass and size. DE-STARLITE also has much greater capability for planetary defense than current proposals and is readily scalable to match the threat. It can deflect all known threats with sufficient warning DE-STARLITE is one component of a more far-reaching philosophy for directed energy planetary defense. A future orbiting system is envisioned for stand-off planetary defense. The conceptual system is called DE-STAR, for Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation. Fluctuations in the Earths atmosphere significantly hinder ground-based directed energy systems; thus, deploying a directed energy system above Earths atmosphere eliminates such disturbances, as the interplanetary medium is not substantial enough to significantly affect the coherent beam. The DE-STARLITE mission design, which is detailed in this paper, utilizes the same technologies and laser system as the larger standoff directed energy system. Namely, DE-STAR is a modular phased array of lasers that heat the surface of potentially hazardous asteroids to approximately 3000 K, a temperature sufficient to vaporize all known constituent materials. Mass ejection due to vaporization causes a reactionary force large enough to alter the asteroids orbital trajectory and thus mitigate the risk of impact. Each DE-STAR system is characterized by the log of its linear size (Lubin et al., 2014). DE-STARLITE is basically a DE-STAR 0, consisting of a laser phased array on the order of 1 meter in diameter. DE-STARLITE utilizes deployable photovoltaic arrays to power the system. Artistic rendering of a deployed DE-STARLITE spacecraft deflecting an asteroid. The spacecraft is outfitted with two 15 meter diameter MegaFlex PV Arrays, a z-folded radiator deployed up and down, a laser array mounted on a gimbal at the front, and ion engines at the back. The laser array can be either a phased array or a parallel non phased array. A baseline mission includes 1 meter total aperture, with a goal to produce a 10 cm spot from a distance of 10 km. This is an artistic rendering only, demonstrating the overall concept. Note that the optimal thrust vector for orbit deflection is generally parallel or anti-parallel. One advantage of this approach is the ability to target the asteroid from a significant distance, mitigating the effects of the ejecta on the spacecraft. In addition to the ion engines shown in the rear of the spacecraft, there are small ion engines on the sides of the spacecraft for station keeping and maneuvering toward or away from the asteroid. DE-STARLITE fits into the same basic launch vehicle and mass envelope as the current Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) block 1 program, which is designed to capture a 5-10 meter diameter asteroid; however, DE-STARLITE is designed to be a true planetary defense system capable of redirecting large asteroids. It has been designed to use the same ion engines as the ARM program and the same PV system, though due to the reduced mass of DE-STARLITE, a much larger PV array can be deployed within the SLS block 1 mass allocation (70 tons to LEO) if desired. The scaling to megawatt class systems is discussed below. This paper will focus on a 100 kW (electrical) baseline DE-STARLITE as a feasible and fundable option that could pave the way for the ultimate long-term goal of a full standoff planetary defense system. Larger systems are also discussed. This paper details the design of the main elements of the spacecraft, namely, the photovoltaic panels, ion engines, laser array, and radiator as well as the parameters of the launch vehicles under consideration, and details the deflection capabilities of the system. Conceptual design of the deployed spacecraft with two 15 meter PV arrays that produce 50 kW each at the beginning of life for a total of 100 kW electrical, ion engines at the back, and the laser array pointed directly at the viewer. A 2 meter diameter laser phased array is shown with 19 elements, each of which is 1-3 kW optical output. A 2 meter diameter optical system is one of the possibilities for DE-STARLITE. More elements are easily added to allow for scaling to larger power levels. A 1 4.5 meter diameter is feasible; no additional deflection comes from the larger optic, just additional range from the target. The objective of the laser directed energy system is to project a large enough flux onto the surface of a nearEarth asteroid (via a highly focused coherent beam) to heat the surface to a temperature that exceeds the vaporization point of constituent materials, namely rock, as depicted in Fig. 4. This requires temperatures that depend on the material, but are typically around 2000-3000 K, or a flux in excess of 10^7 W/m2. A reactionary thrust due to mass ejection will divert the asteroids trajectory (Lubin et al., 2014). To produce a great enough flux, the system must have both adequate beam convergence and sufficient power. From a distance of 10 km, a spot size on the asteroid of 10 cm provides enough flux to vaporize (sublimate) rock (Hughes et al., 2014). Optical aperture size, pointing control and jitter, and efficacy of adaptive optics techniques are several critical factors that affect beam convergence. As mentioned, the optical power output of the laser is projected to be between 35 kW and 70 kW, depending on technological advancements in laser amplifier efficiency in the coming years. Currently the amplifiers are about 35% efficient but it is expected they will exceed 50% within five years. Similar requirements are sought by power beaming systems (Mankins, 1997; Lin 2002). For the optional (non-phase-locked) fiber focal plane array the lasers are even more efficient and already exceed 50%. Any power level in this range will work for the purpose of this mission, but higher efficiency allows for more thrust on the target for a given electrical input as well as for smaller radiators and hence lower mission mass. The proposed baseline optical system consists of 19 individual optical elements in a phased array. Single element of laser phased array, showing fiber-tip actuator for mid-level pointing control and rough phase alignment Mounted hexagonal laser phased array with a baseline of 19 elements depicted: (a) at 45 degrees, (b) face on, and (c) from the back Both the laser array and the PV arrays are easily extended to larger power levels. The mass per unit power of the laser amplifiers is about 5 kg/kW currently with a strong push to bring this down to 1 kg/kW in the next five years. Similarly the PV is about 7 kg/kW, or similar to the laser amplifiers. Interestingly, it is the radiator panels that are the most difficult to scale up, at about 25 kg/kW. This is an area that needs work, though in all simulations for mission masses the assumption is 25 kW (radiated) for the radiator panels. ATK has to scale their existing 10 meter diameter design to push the PV arrays to 30 meter diameter which will yield about 225 kW per manufactured unit, or 450 kW per pair and still fit in an SLS PF1B 8.4 m diameter fairing. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show the scaling and deployment of the PV arrays to larger sizes for various launch vehicles. Even larger sizes into the megawatt range can be anticipated in the future. The DE-STARLITE system provides a feasible solution to asteroids and comets that pose a threat to Earth. By utilizing a directed energy approach with a high powered phase locked laser array to vaporize the target surface the thrust generated from the mass ejection plume is able to propel the asteroid threat away from the original collision trajectory towards Earth. DE-STARLITE is a very system at a modest cost. As outlined above, DE-STARLITE employs laser ablation technologies which use the asteroid as the propellant source for its own deflection, and thus is able to mitigate much larger targets than would be possible with other proposed technologies such as IBD, gravity tractors, and kinetic impactors. With the equivalent mass of an ARM Block 1 arrangement (14 tons to LEO full SLS block 1 is 70 tons to LEO), designed to capture a 5-10 meter diameter asteroid, DE-STARLITE can mitigate an asteroid larger than Apophis (325 m diameter), even without keyhole effects. Much smaller DE-STARLITE systems could be used for testing on targets that are likely to pass through keyholes. The same technology proposed for DE-STARLITE has significant long-range implications for space missions, as outlined in other DE-STAR papers. Among other benefits, the DE-STARLITE system utilizes rapidly developing technologies to perform a task previously thought to be mere science fiction and can easily be increased or decreased in scope given its scalable and modular nature. DE-STARLITE is capable of launching on an Atlas V 551, Falcon Heavy, SLS, Ariane V or Delta IV Heavy, among others. Many of the items needed for the DE-STARLITE system currently have high TRL; however, one critical issue currently being worked on is the radiation hardening of the lasers, though it appears achievable to raise this to a TRL 6 within 3-5 years. Laser lifetime also poses an issue, though this is likewise being worked on; a path forward for continuous operation looks quite feasible, with or without redundancy options for the lasers. Given that the laser amplifier mass is small and the system is designed to take multiple fibers in each configuration, redundant amplifiers can be easily implemented if needed. DE-STARLITE is a critical step towards achieving the long-term goal of implementing a standoff system capable of full planetary defense and many other tasks including spacecraft propulsion. DE-STARLITE represents a practicable technology that can be implemented within a much shorter time frame at a much lower cost. DE-STARLITE will help to establish the viability of many of the critical technologies for future use in larger systems. Since all asteroids rotate at varying rates, this will cause the average applied thrust to decrease and this must be taken into account in the system design. A lower limiting rotation period for gravitationally bound objects greater than 150 m is observed to be 2-3 hours consistent with being rubble piles. This effect needs to be taken into account for larger asteroids and for small fast rotators. Since the plume thrust begins within 1 second after the laser is initiated it is possible to compare the time scales of the laser spot motion to the mass ejection time scale to determine the effect of the rotation. In many cases rotation is not a fundamental concern but for those cases where it is, an option is to de-spin the asteroid, since this is an option with the proposed system. Running in a high peak power pulsed mode is one option available to mitigate rotation and allow de-spin. In summary, directed energy is an extremely promising option for true planetary defense. It is modular and scalable and allows for a very cost effective approach that has wide applications beyond planetary defense. Russia is deploying its ballistic missiles and attack submarines in numbers, range and aggression not seen in two decades, according to a top U.S. Navy official. In an exclusive interview, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe told CNN that the buildup reflects an alarming strategic world view. NATO is viewed as an existential threat to Russia, and in the post-Cold War period, the expansion of NATO eastward closer to Russia and our military capability they view as a very visceral threat to Russia, Adm. Mark Ferguson said. Ferguson spoke from his base in Naples, Italy, home to U.S. Naval forces in Europe and the Navys 6th Fleet. Adding to U.S. apprehension, Russia is deploying new submarines that are harder for U.S. naval forces to track and detect following years and billions of dollars in investment. They are quieter, better armed and have a greater range of operation. The submarines that were seeing are much more stealthy, Ferguson said. Were seeing (the Russians) have more advanced weapons systems, missile systems that can attack land at long ranges, and we also see their operating proficiency is getting better as they range farther from home waters. The U.S. currently has 53 submarines in its inventory, but because of decommissioning and budget decisions, Ferguson said that figure will drop to 41 by the late 2020s. We cannot maintain 100% awareness of Russian sub activity today, retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander, told CNN. Our attack subs are better, but not by much. Russian subs pose an existential threat to U.S. carrier groups. Russia plans on adding an additional six Kilo-class subs to the Black Sea Fleet, along with 14 to 18 diesel-electric submarines similar to Lada-class subs over the next 15 years. Russia plans to replace its Delta III- and Delta IV-class submarines with Borei II subs in the coming years. The Oscar II class will be replaced with the new Yasen class after 2020. 13 Ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) 7 Cruise missile submarines (SSGN) 18 Attack submarines (SSN) 21 Attack submarines (SSK) 2 Special-purpose submarine 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. Southwest has removed two Muslim passengers from flights in the past few weeks. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images The Daily Californian reports that two weeks ago, a University of California, Berkeley, senior was removed from a Southwest Airlines plane after he was heard speaking Arabic before his flight from Los Angeles to Oakland. Khairuldeen Makhzoomi, a 26-year-old Iraqi refugee, was removed from the April 6 flight, detained, and later interrogated by the FBI. Apparently, the planes flight crew had decided to investigate potentially threatening comments made by Makhzoomi while he was on the aircraft, as overheard by another passenger. According to Makhzoomi, he had in fact been speaking to his uncle in Arabic about a dinner he had attended the night before at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and upon ending the call with a customary inshallah, noticed that a passenger was looking at him suspiciously. That passenger left her seat after Makhzoomi made eye contact with her and a Southwest employee soon arrived to take Makhzoomi off the plane. He would later find out that the other passenger had thought shed heard him say shahid, which means martyr, and decided to report him. Makhzoomi says the employee who removed him treated him like he was an animal and became enraged when Makhzoomi accused him of Islamophobia. He was then told he could not return to the flight, and was escorted to another area of the terminal where security personnel, a police dog, and Southwest employees soon amassed: [S]ecurity officers searched his bag again and continued to ask him if he had any other luggage he was keeping secret. Makhzoomi alleged that one police officer publicly searched his genital area and asked him if he was hiding a knife anywhere. That is when I couldnt handle it and my eyes began to water, he said. The way they searched me and the dogs, the officers, people were watching me and the humiliation made me so afraid because it brought all of these memories back to me. I escaped Iraq because of the war, because of Saddam and what he did to my father. When I got home, I just slept for a few days. The New York Times notes that Makhzoomis father was a former Iraqi diplomat who was jailed in Abu Ghraib prison by Saddam Hussein and later killed by the regime. The Daily Californian adds that Makhzoomi is also pursuing public service, and that since he arrived from Jordan as a refugee to the U.S. in 2010, Makhzoomi has worked at a Cheesecake Factory, built a school in a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, worked his way through community college, transferred to UC Berkeley, where he is part of Model United Nations and the Berkeley Political Review and currently writes for the Huffington Post. The FBI eventually arrived at the airport and interrogated Makhzoomi in a private room about his phone call and his family, before ultimately deciding he was not a threat. When he was released, the same Southwest employee who had removed him told him he could not fly with the airline and refunded his ticket. He later caught a Delta flight home. Makhzoomi says he has considered suing the airline, but decided he just wants an apology. The Times reports that Southwest Airlines said in a statement that they would not discuss the behavior of any one specific employee but that they regret any less than positive experience a customer has onboard our aircraft. According to the Daily Californian, they also insisted that they wouldnt remove passengers from flights without a collaborative decision rooted in established procedures. Another Muslim passenger was taken off a Southwest flight last week in Chicago. Getting emptier, but still a long way to go. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images The U.S. detainee count at Guantanamo Bay is down to 80 after 9 Yemeni men were released into the custody of Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Reuters reports. The population at the detention facility is now the lowest it has been in 14 years as the Obama administration continues to try and close the prison and fulfill one of the presidents inaugural promises. As the Guardian highlights, there are now more low-level detainees approved for release (26) than there are so-called forever detainees (22), whom the U.S. will likely never let go. Those prisoners would likely have to be transferred to the U.S., something U.S. law forbids and the Republican majority in Congress is extremely unlikely to allow anytime soon, though whether Obama will attempt to move prisoners using executive action before the end of his presidency remains to be seen. Obama has promised to move all low-level detainees out of the prison to other countries by this summer. Thirty-two detainees are still stalled at some stage of the military tribunal process. The nine Yemeni men had been cleared for release years ago, but the political disintegration of their home country prevented them from being repatriated there. Among them was Tariq Ba Odah, who reportedly only weighs 75 pounds and has become critically ill after persistent hunger strikes at the facility. He has been force-fed daily since 2007. Like most of the detainees at Guantanamo, he was never charged with a crime. Though the White House insists its a coincidence, the acceptance of the prisoners by Saudi Arabia comes a week before President Obama is set to travel there for a diplomatic visit. Saudi Arabia is also in the news this weekend after, according to the New York Times, threatening to abandon all of its billions of dollars in U.S. holdings if a piece of proposed legislation, which would allow the Saudi government to be held liable for any role it may have played in the 9/11 attacks, is passed in Congress. (The White House opposes the bill and has been lobbying against it.) The Womens Entrepreneur Festival. Photo: Womens Entrepreneur Festival/Facebook On a very high-up floor of 1 World Trade Center on Thursday, a couple-hundred businesswomen came together at the Womens Entrepreneur Festival to share their best-kept work secrets. Between panels and workshops, a lively keynote and cocktail hour, and a lavish lunch of wraps! and orzo! and ice cream!, the group discussed the sunny realities of what its like to be at the top, or at least somewhere vaguely near it. I explained to two female entrepreneurs at lunch one of PinkWisdom and another a content strategist that the days jargon was a little foreign to a person like me, whose only relationship to business is nosily getting into other peoples. But all the talk of investments and seeding and the reality of being a bootstrapping entrepreneur made me feel mildly hopeful for the future of women changing the ratio. Why shouldnt this terminology be more available to any woman who chooses to grab for it? Sharing openly and honestly and directly about what happens when women make it behind the closed doors that men have historically guarded like watchdogs was the theme of the day, and I came out wishing that even more women may someday join them. Interested in starting a business? Or just curious to know what those people on Shark Tank must be thinking as they face those grumbling sharks? Here are seven of the most interesting insights from the conference. Cybrids are the future. During her a.m. address, Erica Orange, EVP and COO of the Future Hunters, brought our attention to a new term that Im quite sure very few of us had ever heard before. Cybrids are cyber hybrids, under-18-year-olds who learn how to swipe before they know how to crawl. Orange asserted that millennials are statistically risk-averse, and as a whole were not entrepreneurial at all (I might suggest thats due to graduating college during an economic recession), but cybrids, Orange claimed, are interested in self-starting and will continue to be. As Orange put it, cybrids are what are really going to shape the future. If you want to start a business, start small At a panel of women business owners whose companies had grown from bare-bones to modest empires, Kate Whiting, CEO and founder of Educents, said the best thing to do when thinking about starting a new business is to Take smaller chunks of what you want to do, then exceed those chunks. That way, the thought of starting something doesnt seem so daunting or overwhelming, and youll be happy to have exceeded your own expectations. But its important to remember that its very hard to come back from a bad culture. As the British say, start as you mean to go on. If you start a business, Whiting added, its essential to have an understanding of how you want your businesss culture to operate right from the get-go: [Culture] cannot be an afterthought. Do you want your company to be hard-partying and freewheeling? Then itll probably stay that way forever. Are you caring and encouraging of your staff from the ground up? Then most employees will continue to feel that a long way down the line. While all members on the panel claimed it was a challenge to draw in great talent initially, once it happened, their businesses grew according to the culture they had set up from the start. Accept that you dont know everything. Beatriz Acevedo, founder and president of Mitu, explained that she was comfortable knowing that she was in the dark about some things. I was Googling terms under the table that Google execs were throwing at me. Its okay to not know, she said at a panel on getting customers, users, and clients. Give yourself permission to say, I dont know, but I will learn. To add to that, Diane Hessan, CEO of the Startup Institute, added, The big skill to have is curiosity. Be able to sell your vision not just to investors, but to everyone. This seems somewhat self-evident, but most of the information being transmitted at this event was from women expressing the importance of thoroughness of vision. In a world where female business owners are few (but growing in number), there is nothing more valuable than being aware of what you want to put forth into the world. Being steadfast can only help in communications to investors, consumers, and future employees. But, Courtney Nichols Gould, founder of SmartyPants, added, you really need to be a good listener and accepting of feedback and criticism when it applies, which is why Rejection is simply information. One of the bigger focuses of each of the panels was refreshingly how the women CEOs and bosses handled the emotional toll of being rejected by investors, particularly male investors who did not understand the value or place of their projects and products. Lisa Abeyta, a founder and CEO of APPCityLife, put it plainly that rejection is simply information. Failure is data that tells us something didnt work. The important thing, instead of wallowing in being turned down for meetings or investors or anything, is to follow up and ask why. Kim Kardashian and Sheryl Sandberg are two sides of the same coin. In the breakout sessions at the WeFestival, women were asked to consider questions like, How important is it that your business is funded by a woman? and Is an entrepreneur born or bred? One particularly interesting part of this thought experiment involved Kim Kardashian and Sheryl Sandberg. When you think of a big female brand, which of the two do you think of? This caused a bit of healthy debate in the room. But the point that came out of the exercise was that both women exist in the same spectrum, doing wildly different things with their businesses. Other big female brands the women thought of? Oprah. Martha. And Hillary (to resounding applause and hollering). Director Deborah Esquenazi. Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images In 1994, four lesbian women in San Antonio, Texas, were convicted of sexually assaulting two girls ages seven and nine. Three of the women Anna Vasquez, Cassandra Rivera, and Kristie Mayhugh were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Elizabeth Ramirez, the aunt of the alleged victims, got 37.5 years. Vasquez, Rivera, Mayhugh, and Ramirez came to be known as the San Antonio Four, and their conviction came at the tail end of the satanic-ritual abuse panic in the late 80s and early 90s. All four women were convicted based solely on testimony from the two children and medical evidence (which later turned out to be scientifically flawed) proffered by a pediatrician. All four maintain their innocence to this day, and although the state of Texas has granted them the right to new trials, theyre still fighting for exoneration. In Southwest of Salem, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival Friday, director Deborah Esquenazi introduces each of the San Antonio Four and tracks the gradual unraveling of the evidence against them. The documentary, which is also Esquenazis first feature-length film, spins the story into a true-crime narrative thats as emotional as it is infuriating. As Mike Ware, an attorney for the Innocence Project of Texas puts it in the film, if people only knew how little truth and justice had to do with the legal system, theyd probably storm courthouses with lighted torches. In lieu of torches, we spoke to Esquenazi just after the premiere about criminal justice reform, the sudden popularity of true-crime narratives, and how she became interested in the story of the San Antonio Four. What drew you to the story of these four women in the first place? I got a call from my mentor, a woman named Debbie Nathan, who said, You should look into this. So I read I read Lizs trial transcripts, and they were horrific. They included phrases like gang rape, cult-type activity, a certain perversion, and it was all very sexualized. When I finished reading, I was broken. Then she sent me a VHS tape that they had recorded on their search for exculpatory evidence, and I was like, oh my God, this is a story not just about injustice but about a family torn apart. It really hit home for me because at the time I was also in the process of coming out I didnt come out until I was 33 and Debbie said to me, This could be you. So you went to meet them? Yes I met Anna Vasquez first, and I was stunned. Shes so powerful on screen; imagine if you had seen that in a prison. Then I did interviews with Liz and Cass, and after that, I mean you cant let it go. If you meet people like that, you have to do something. But youd never made a feature-length film before, correct? Id made many shorts, but never a full-length film. I really wanted to do it as a radio piece, but no one wanted it. At one point it was going to be a short film for Texas Monthly, but again, it didnt pan out. It was really hard to get funding. But something happened after we released the footage [of one of Lizs nieces recanting her testimony in 2012]. I caught her reaction on tape, and I thought, This is a reason for people to start giving a shit. So I released it to the local press, and I found myself in the middle of the story. That sort of reminds me of what happened with Serial when one woman contacted a journalist with evidence of a botched trial. Do you think enthusiasm for the film had anything to do with the momentum behind things like Serial and Making a Murderer and people becoming invested in these kinds of stories? I do think were in the middle of an important questioning of criminal justice right now. I dont think it should just be about policing we also have to investigate prosecutions and juries and the way people frame stories in a courtroom because all of that is part of the narrative of criminal justice in America. So I do feel like this film is part of a zeitgeist. Speaking of enthusiasm, the women were incredibly well-received at the screening tonight. Getting them here was such a pain! How so? They cant leave beyond 75 miles of their homes in San Antonio, so every time they travel the Innocence Project of Texas has to, has to file a series of court orders, and then they have to be cleared. So we cleared them for Tribeca, but were going to Hot Docs in Canada after this, and we just found out that because of their convictions Canada wont let them in. What has it been like to advocate for these women and to see them fighting for exoneration now? I love these women. Ive come to think of them as my family because I was there in November 2012 when Anna was released, and I was there a year later when the other three were released. The power of those women is such that when they speak their truth, they mobilize others. I dont know what theyve learned or what theyve grown in their souls, but when they advocate for themselves, theyre incredibly powerful. Its also a testament to the power of film. I started to do screenings of unedited footage because I wanted to get them out of prison, and we went from 30 people in one of those screenings to 250 people. The film gave a voice to the women, and when people were in that screening room, they had to listen. Megyn Kelly at the Republican debate on January 28. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images On the morning of April 13, Megyn Kelly slipped into Trump Tower for a meeting with Donald Trump. The Fox News star was there to make peace and a pitch: She wanted Trump to end his personal attacks on her and agree to appear on a Barbara Waltersstyle special that Kelly is hosting next month. She arranged the private sit-down herself. She told Trump that not even her boss Roger Ailes knew she was there, according to a source familiar with the meeting. After a reporter spotted her entering the building, news of a possible detente in the Trump-Kelly war boomeranged around the internet, and both CNN and MSNBC devoted breathless segments to the story. Fox executives, caught off guard by Kellys clandestine outreach, released a statement suggesting this was all according to plan: Ailes had spoken to Trump a few times over the past three months, it noted, implying that he had helped her get the meeting. Later that night, Kelly confirmed on her show that she and Trump discussed the possibility of an interview. She made no mention of Ailes. The meeting was at my request, Kelly said. If Kelly did indeed go rogue on the Trump meeting, it says a lot about her relationship with her employer and about her employers relationship with the GOP front-runner. Ever since she tangled with Trump in front of the 24 million viewers watching the debut GOP debate last summer a performance that transformed her in the eyes of many into a fearless interviewer and feminist symbol Kelly has become Ailess biggest star, and biggest management headache. Meanwhile, Trumps attacks on Fox have badly damaged its credibility with its core right-wing audience. (A February poll reported that Foxs standing with Republicans had plummeted by 50 percent since the beginning of the year.) Trump has engaged in an on-again-off-again feud with the network since September, refusing to appear one-on-one with Kelly for eight months, so a Kelly-Trump interview would undoubtedly draw big ratings. Presumably, Kelly went off on her own because she wants to claim credit for the booking. She did it to prove she doesnt need Ailes to make things happen for her, a high-level source said. Or perhaps she is taking a page from Trump himself and operating as if her own brand were bigger than Foxs. Since she became the breakout star of this election cycle, Kelly has beaten Bill OReilly in the ratings, graced the cover of Vanity Fair, and been interviewed by Katie Couric at Tina Browns Women in the World Summit. In early April, Hillary Clinton called her a superb journalist. This publicity tour makes it clear that she is about to attempt a feat that no other Fox personality has yet accomplished: successfully crossing over into the mainstream. Kelly is in the final year of her Fox contract and will be weighing offers from Fox and rival networks. But it will be no small task to go up against Ailes, a ruthless boss who has treated Fox anchors who play hardball like traitors. When Paula Zahn left Fox for CNN in 2001, he famously told the Times he could get better ratings with a dead raccoon. Zahns career never recovered. Kelly isnt acting like shes scared of Ailes. Although her contract prevents her from formally discussing outside offers, shes been negotiating in public like the corporate lawyer she was in her pre-Fox life. I dont know whats going to happen, she told Variety earlier this month. Ive had a great 12 years here, and I really like working for Roger Ailes. I really like my show But you know, theres a lot of brain damage that comes from the job. There was probably less brain damage when I worked in the afternoon. I was less well known. I had far less conflict in my life. When asked by Charlie Rose recently to envision the perfect television show, Kelly gave an answer that sounded nothing like the shoutfests on Fox News. How about if we merge a little Charlie Rose, a little Oprah, and a little me all together. And we serve that up as an hour? Wouldnt you watch that? In many ways, Kelly is like a presidential candidate whos won the primary and now must pivot to the general election, expanding her support without losing her base. But it wont be easy. Every day, Foxs anchors preach the evils of the biased, liberal, mainstream media. And Kelly has proudly played Ailess game of racial and resentment politics on-air. During one two-week stretch in 2010, her show aired 45 segments on the bogus New Black Panther scandal. In 2013, she caused controversy by declaring, For all you kids watching at home: Santa just is white. Still, it is conceivable that every major network with a news division will make a play for her. CNN chief Jeff Zucker tried in the past to hire her. So did NBC News. ABCs Ben Sherwood is said to be a superfan. In fact, media executives say Sherwood is likely to make the most aggressive pitch. Kelly could shore up struggling Good Morning America, and ABC could offer her regular prime-time specials. As much as Kelly seems to signal her willingness to leave Fox, executives say Ailes will likely make an offer that will be difficult to refuse. Sources speculate that Fox could pay her $20 million a year (or more) to stay, which would set a cable-news record (OReilly, the reigning king, reportedly makes north of $15 million). One sign of how keen Fox is to retain her is the reported $5 million book deal HarperCollins, Rupert Murdochs book publisher, extended to Kelly to write a memoir this fall. Ultimately, Fox cant afford to lose her. Foxs lineup is more in flux than it has been in years. According to sources, Sean Hannity is the only prime-time personality who has recently reupped for another term. OReilly, who turns 67 this year, has yet to commit. If Ailes were to lose Kelly and OReilly, Foxs evening schedule the source of most of its advertising revenue would collapse. Theres not much of a bench, one veteran Fox executive says. And CNN is already nipping at Foxs lead in the key advertising demographic of 25-to 54-year-olds (though Fox still has more total viewers). This is all happening when Ailes, who turns 76 next month, is ailing. A source said the Fox CEO, who suffers from hemophilia and debilitating arthritis, was recently out of the office for several weeks recovering from back surgery; he also took an extended health leave in 2014. With Murdoch having passed the management of Foxs parent company to his sons James and Lachlan, neither of whom is close with Ailes, its possible they could install fresh leadership and reposition Fox as a less ideological network when Ailess contract expires, reportedly in 2018. This would make Kellys centrist appeal even more valuable. (Ailes, through spokesperson Irena Briganti, did not respond to requests for comment.) But money may not be the central factor in Kellys decision-making calculus. She could decide to take less money if it meant getting out of a place thats become less and less hospitable to her. Shes said to have been upset that Ailes was slow to forcefully defend her after Trumps initial assault when Fox executives were deluged with emails from his supporters. And her relationship with OReilly has deteriorated over their ratings rivalry and OReillys coziness with Trump. Kelly recently told More magazine she was hurt that OReilly allowed Trump to attack her uninterrupted on his show. I would have defended him more, Kelly said. Last September, Kelly left her agent Carole Cooper, whom she shared with OReilly, because she and OReilly were at odds. (It will be up to Kellys new Los Angelesbased agent, Matt DelPiano at CAA, to guide her through the upcoming negotiations. She has no offers, DelPiano told me. She has a contract with Fox News; she cant talk to people.) Meanwhile, tensions at Fox are only getting worse. Two sources told me that a senior Fox executive instructed on-air talent not to defend Kelly against Trumps attacks. Kelly seems up for the battle. Or any battle. On the day of her Trump meeting, she conducted a testy interview with Al Sharpton. At one point in their exchange, Sharpton told her to calm down. Now, watch it with calm down, Kelly shot back. Ask Bill OReilly about that. I had to lecture him on that one. *This article appears in the April 18, 2016 issue of New York Magazine. By now everyone not living under a rock has heard the Doha talks have collapsed without a deal, but it is hard to overstate how surprising the outcome was to the world of energy analysts and market watchers. WTI and Brent prices are set to plunge on Monday, reflecting the failure of OPEC to reach a deal, as oil traders had largely baked in the production freeze deal into the price for crude. Oil prices had moved above $40 per barrel in recent weeks, about 50 percent higher than their low point in February when OPEC and Russia originally announced a preliminary agreement to freeze output. Since the Doha summit was put on the calendar several weeks ago, a production freeze looked all but certain. Even though there were murmurings about certain parties holding out particularly the Saudis who vowed not to agree to a deal without the participation of Iran most people thought the comments were bluster. It seemed hard to imagine that OPEC, having been subjected to ridicule and questions about its relevance since the collapse of oil prices a year and a half ago, would put its credibility on the line once again only to come up empty. That was particularly true since the objectives for the Doha meeting were not all that ambitious a freeze at record levels of production for nearly all parties involved was never going to have a major impact on the global oil supply imbalance. Related: Are We On The Right Track To An Oil Price Recovery? That meant that OPEC surely would leave Doha with at least a token agreement in hand. But Saudi Arabia held its ground at the last minute and insisted that any deal must include Iran. Iran, of course, was never going to sign up, having just been relieved of several years of sanctions. Iranian officials said as much from the beginning. That makes the Saudi position all the more puzzling. If Saudi Arabia was not going to go along with the freeze deal without Iran, why agree to a meeting in the first place? One possibility is that Saudi Arabia had at least some intention of signing up to the freeze, but let its antipathy towards Iran get in the way at the last minute. The fact that Saudi Arabia seems to have blocked the deal is an indicator of how much its oil policy is being driven by the ongoing geopolitical conflict with Iran, Jason Bordoff, the director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, told Bloomberg. Another possibility is differences between Saudi officials themselves on how to approach Doha. Doubts over a potential success in Doha surfaced in recent weeks following comments from Saudi Arabias Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who laid out Saudi Arabias position not to freeze without Iran following suit. He reiterated those comments three days before the meeting. If all major producers dont freeze production, we will not freeze production, Prince Salman said on April 14. If we dont freeze, then we will sell at any opportunity we get. Much of the world, including many negotiators, again thought that this was bluster. Related: Horizontal Land Rig Count Summary 15th April 2016 The Wall Street Journal hinted at the fact that Saudi Arabias delegation to Doha, led by the iconic oil minister Ali al-Naimi, had quite a different tone from the powerful young prince. As late as Saturday, the Saudi delegation appeared to be willing to sign a deal despite what they described as political statements from Prince Salman, the WSJ wrote, based on comments from its sources familiar with the talks. On Sunday, al-Naimi unexpectedly backtracked, and the Doha negotiations dragged on for hours before ultimately falling apart. Although it is unclear what caused the change, one would have to wonder if Prince Salman ultimately prevailed over his countrys delegation to take a hard line over Iran. Ahead of Sundays meeting, Bloomberg surveyed 40 oil market watchers and analysts, and half of them expected a successful result from Doha, and half predicted failure. The pessimists turned out to be right. Thus, oil prices could careen downwards. This is an extremely bearish scenario and we will probably see a knee-jerk reaction on the market, Abhishek Deshpande, an oil analyst at Natixis, told The Wall Street Journal. Prices could touch $30 a barrel within days. Related: U.S. Oil Industry Fears That New Regulation Could Cost $25B Russias energy minister Alexander Novak expects the oil market will take an additional six months to find a balance because of the collapse of Doha; he now sees the supply overhang disappearing in mid-2017. In an ominous sign for oil prices, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman also said a few days ago that his country had the ability to immediately ramp up production by another 1 million barrels per day to a whopping 11.5 mb/d if we wanted to. Separately, Kuwaits oil workers could do more for the markets than any OPEC production freeze. While oil traders are focusing on the failed Doha talks, Kuwaits oil production dropped by half this weekend because of a worker strike. Kuwait Oil Company reported that its oil production fell to a staggering 1.1 mb/d after workers began a strike over wages. Kuwait Petroleum Corp., the state-owned refiner, saw production fall from 930,000 barrels per day to just 520,000 barrels per day on Sunday. Kuwaits government has ordered its companies to replace striking workers, but it is unclear when production will resume to normal levels. If Kuwaits production stays offline for any lengthy period of time, oil traders will quickly forget that OPECs Doha summit ended with a disastrous result. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Note: Robert Berke has written 3 articles on the Silk Road project in the past, you can find them here: In Part 1 of The New Silk Road, we examined the Chinas plan for rebuilding the silk-road, stretching from Europe to Asia. In Part 2, we looked at currently proposed projects, and geopolitical rivalries that could stall and hamper progress. In Part 3, we examine the geopolitical rivalries, prospects for success, and investment implications. Will China's Slowing Economy Stall the Silk Road Project? Only two years ago, the world press headlined exciting stories about the Chinese proposed project to rebuild and modernize the ancient Silk Road, re-opening the fabled route to the world, both on land and across seas. Numerous new 'Silk Road' websites sprang up across the internet almost overnight, promising an information-thirsty world news of progress on the new, new thing. Optimists had high hopes that the project would also have global reverberation, not only as a connector of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but also as a model for regional development in other regions of the world. If China could do it across Asia, why not an American Silk Road, across North and South America? Or an African Silk Road? For a world that faced a tepid economic recovery, the Silk Road seemed to offer the prospect of a much needed global economic stimulus that was and still is largely lacking in the west. Related: Why India Matters More For Oil Than China Now, it seems the excitement has died down, and is no longer front page news. What changed is the slowing of the global and Chinese economies, and with it, a growing skepticism that China could manage this multi-trillion dollar project while at the same time struggling to keep its economy afloat. That has led much of the western financial press to dismiss the massive attempt to connect the world as just another utopian dream. No doubt, the critics make a believable case, but if they're wrong, they could be missing out on the largest economic development project and building effort ever undertaken. In a new report from HSBC, On the New Silk Road IV, which looks at the continued globalization of Chinas capital. We believe the economic case for the continued globalization of Chinas capital is intact despite (or because of) the slowdown in its domestic economy, the report concludes. China is looking to invest in assets that will make long-term returns. There's little indication that China is stopping or even slowing its Silk Road plans. Instead, the project continues to move forward at an astonishing pace, not only as a part of Chinas major growth plan, but also a major component of its defense. In Europe, which has a thousand year trading history across the Silk Road, the plan is viewed far more optimistically. Practically every European nation has plans or signed agreements to become a Silk Road partner, with hopes that the Road may also provide some relief to Europe's continuing economic doldrums. Growth of the Maritime Silk Road A look at recent developments of the Maritime Silk Road (i.e., sea route) gives ample evidence of the projects continuing growth. Last week brought news of the $400+ million purchase of the Greece's largest port in Piraeus by China's Cosco, the world's fourth largest container shipper. Also announced, another new China take-over of a port in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, adding another node on the Maritime Silk Road. Related: OPEC Report Suggests Massive Oil Price Rebound Other reports include development of logistic centers by Alibaba in Bulgaria's second largest port city of Burges, on the Black Sea, "which will be connected to the Chinese city of Zhengzhou by a cargo train line..." Cosco is also developing another major port in Singapore, as its main container trans-shipping center in Southeast Asia, while China Communications Construction Co. (CCC) has reported a $1.4 billion deal with Sri Lanka's Colombo to build a major port on the Indian Ocean. Another major ongoing project is the ongoing Chinese development of the port of Gwadar, Pakistan on the Arabian Sea. In March, the European countries seeking to join the Road were Italy, Spain, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. In February, it was Middle Eastern countries, vying to become prime energy suppliers and partners with China. In Asia, most nations in the region are lining up to join the venture. One example, where the first-ever cargo train from China to Iran pulled into Tehran, reducing the time of the journey to just 14 days from the usual sea born route of one month. The Western consensus is that China is going through a slowing, but much needed transformation from a manufacturing led economy to a consumer led economy. But what if the consensus is wrong? What if China is moving towards a totally new trajectory, creating not only a new export market for its products and services but also for its finance, engineering, construction, and labor, along the entire length of the New Silk Road? It's not only increased trade that we're talking about here, but also bringing modern technology to large parts of the developing world. The alluring high-tech product that China is selling is the promise of economic development, and its proving irresistible to many developing nations in the region. Lighting the Earth One of the most intriguing part of the Silk Road project is China as 'power source builder,' across the Silk Road. As reported here, China is already a surplus power producer, having invested heavily since 2004 in hydro, coal fired plants, nuclear, and renewables. China has also mastered ultra-high voltage technology, enabling it to transmit power across large distances from its eastern plants to its far west. Power, in every sense, is key to the Chinese plan, with a focus on nuclear plants that it hopes to develop for export to clients along the Silk Road. China, currently the largest growth market for nuclear power plants, has aspirations to build some 300 of the projected 400 nuclear plants that are expected to be contracted over the next decade. Related: Why the Saudis Want a Deal in Doha As it has done with several other key Silk Road-related industries, China has recently consolidated most of it giant nuclear development companies, merging China Power Investing with general contractor State Nuclear Power. The new company is in partnership with Westinghouse, the former U.S. company, now part of Toshiba, with agreements to build plants in Turkey, while also pursuing an agreement with South Africa. The plan envisions building nuclear plants, developed by China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion apiece, far below the costs of western plants that often exceed $10 billion. As stated here, the goal is no less than development of an Asian super-grid that connects a super-continent that holds almost half the world's population, and the focus of many market experts as the place where most economic growth will occur. China also has also been busy acquiring foreign power companies in a growing portfolio of power assets, as a base to build upon. These include companies in Brazil, Italy, Australia, and the Philippines. China's plan to develop renewable energy as part of the Road is no less ambitious, featuring plans that its critics would undoubtedly see as utopian. These include drawing electricity from windmills at the North Pole and giant solar arrays in the African deserts. If, as we think, the Silk Road project should be viewed as a crucial part of China's economic future rather than a hazy dream of reviving past glories, then the world needs to become familiar with the industries most likely to benefit from the fact that Road development continues apace. These will be covered in future articles. Coming Soon: Future articles will continue to follow Silk Road progress, investment opportunities, competition, and continuing rivalries. By Robert Berke for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: So, why do so few people ever hear about these polls? Well, the Clinton people debunk them at every turn, for obvious reasons. The mainstream media tend to share that campaign's view of what is real and what is not, so these results tend to confound them and they prefer to quickly move on to the next subject -- I see that Bill O'Reilly was recently expressing his disbelief in the results of his own network's poll showing Sanders beating all Republican comers. And I think that for some time even we Sanders backers couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the numbers because we accepted the conventional wisdom that independent voters would prefer the more centrist Democrat, when the reality is that many of them view Sanders as a honest man and Clinton as a hack. JB: Despite Bernie's impressive string of wins, eight of the last nine contests and the fact that he is Brooklyn-born and bred, the Clinton campaign claims that New York is Hillary turf and that it will be challenging to upset her there. No matter how you slice it , a lot is riding on the NY primary on Tuesday. Your thoughts? TG: I agree. I think that the race is moving inexorably toward Sanders, as people have had the time to realize what he's saying and compare it to Clinton. But we are racing the clock. JB: You were in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for a time and you've since relocated to California. What's the race look like out there on the coast? TG: Well, the latest Field Poll showed Clinton's lead down to six points, so I'm more optimistic that we can catch up here than I am for my original home state -- New York. But the more interesting aspect of that poll was how unpopular it showed Clinton to be. This is the other facet of the secret hiding in full sight -- not only does Clinton not poll as well as Sanders against the Republicans, but people flat out don't like her. According to this poll, 49% viewed her unfavorably, compared to 48% favorable. And we see this nationwide. So we kind of have to congratulate the Clinton people for maintaining the widely-held perception that this unloved candidate is the best option the Democrats have. The interesting thing about California is that we vote last, so we work on all the other states first. I've made Sanders calls to Iowa, Illinois, Hawaii, Alaska, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and maybe a couple of others I don't remember, and I've yet to call a Californian (at least intentionally -- today I called a New York voter and he told me he'd moved to California). But that is about to change. Usually Californians vote after the nomination has pretty much been settled. But this year, we might have a chance to have an impact. And the really interesting thing is that we may be looking at the first contested convention in awhile. Bernie Sanders/Hilary Clinton (Image by AP/Jacquelyn Martin/Reuters/Carlo Allegri/Photo montage by Salo, Author: United States Department of State) Details Source DMCA JB: Maybe. Anything you'd like to add before we wrap this up? TG: I think when this all started all of us who supported the Sanders effort -- candidate included -- would have been very happy to be able to take this thing to all fifty states and that's what we're going to do, as far as I can see. I don't know that anyone could have imagined that this campaign would, in the process, revolutionize campaign fund raising, allowing a candidate who explicitly ran against the influence of big money in politics to actually raise more a candidate who said that she had no choice but to take their money, by getting people to contribute an average of $27. A year ago a scenario like what has played out would have been dismissed as lunacy. In principle, we all believed that if you talked sense to the American people, they would respond. But would they really? We have our answer -- they have. It's hard to imagine Clinton not going to the convention with a lead -- although you never know. But an unintended consequence of the superdelegates is that she's unlikely to have enough committed (elected) delegates to clinch. So it ain't over until it's over, which probably gives Sanders delegates great opportunities for raising issues at the platform convention and will likely add an overall element of frisson to the proceedings. Are the superdelegates likely to wake up to Clinton's weakness as a candidate and turn their votes around? Probably not, but it's worth the try. And there's something else -- is there anyone confident that, all the discussion about how thoroughly Clinton has been vetted over the years notwithstanding, there isn't another shoe that may drop regarding her past? Should something happen between now and the convention, it's important that we maintain a living, breathing alternative, in the form of the Sanders candidacy. JB: I just interviewed Seth Abramson, The Audacity of Nope: Clinton's Nix on Transparency. We discuss the Goldman-Sachs speeches and why Hillary is adamantly refusing to release the transcripts. He says that this is just one more example of poor judgment on her part and something voters should be very aware of. He surmises that if the transcripts were to emerge, the contents would reflect even more poorly on her than her refusal to release them. Comments? TG: I've read his assessment and it seems about right. When you think about it, if a company drops $225,000 on you to come to talk to them, well it might seem a bit ungrateful of you to say anything but that they're a bunch of nice fellows doing great things for humanity -- a sentiment that would not play nearly so well among the great foreclosed-upon masses. JB: I never asked: When and why did you become a Bernie supporter, Tom? TG: I've known about Bernie Sanders for a very long time. Some time in the late '80s, after my stint in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, I spent a Fourth of July with him, going to picnics while conducting an interview for "Socialist Review." I've always believed in socialists engaging in electoral politics and he was one of a handful of others doing it. I've been the chair of the San Francisco chapter of Progressive Democrats of America for a few years and the organization ran a "Run Bernie, Run -- as a Democrat" campaign for a year before he declared. I also wrote a book, The Primary Route: How the 99% Takes on the Military Industrial Rout e, which argues that there will never be an American electoral left until we start running candidates in the Democratic presidential primaries, along with several articles urging Bernie to carry the banner. (Hey, I might have looked like a prophet if anyone had bought the book!) Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Gender theorists and a score of different types of scientists, from evolutionary theorists and climatologists have weighed in on how their chosen field of concentration affects both society and the world as a whole. The conversation about ecofeminism, however, is about the intersectionality of human and animal rights. Many of us are seeking changes in the world and society that we live in. We look for the end of hunger, for young girls to have the guarantee of a good education in a world where the shocking majority of illiterate are women, we seek to end the needless torture of countless animals whose worth has incorrectly been defined by our palates. It is difficult to face the issue of speciesism without taking into consideration how the oppression entailed there compares to the oppression handed down by a patriarchal society. Part of the commentary of feminism responds to a common thread or feeling that some women share; the feeling that misogynists have treated them as though they are little more than a slab of meat. Using this tragically commonplace and damaging correlation between women and "meat" alone draws the parallels that ecofeminism and its adherents fight to shake free from. The aim of feminist pursuits is a peaceful coexistence which directly calls for equality between genders regardless of association, but how can we deny the equal rights of non-human creatures in this pursuit of equality? As feminists, we fight the exploitation paradigms that we live under, and as ecofeminists, we strive to include all life in the harmony of equality. Part of the separation of genders as prescribed by modern society is a holdover from previous generations: The hunt, or rather, the act of hunting, particularly by men, particularly hunting animals thought of as dangerous, proving their masculinity. Not only are males expected to take part in these activities, societal pressures equates the death of innocent creatures with a concept of masculinity as arcane as they come. The uncomfortable truth is that the majority of hunting in North America takes place not for sustenance, but for sport. The taxidermy industry quietly thrives on the steady flow of carcasses murdered and claimed in the name of masculine pursuit, just as the struggles of the modern woman are paralleled by this. Women today, too, often feel "hunted", as more report stalking behavior and other unwanted attention, and the struggle of feeling like prey simply by walking to a vehicle in a dark parking lot prevails. Our duties to be kind and loving to our fellow creatures knows no bound, but in practice, we human beings tend to leave much to be wanted. Think of your faithful pet, and the joy and love they bring to your lives. What if it were that simple for all of us to bring joy and love into the lives of all we encounter? Animals are our greatest teachers. Let us look to them for inspiration in loving kindness. John Kerry is the 1st American Secretary of State or U.S. Government official to lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Memorial. After over 70 years, the U.S. Has recognized the tragedy of the over 100,000 civilian casualties that resulted. The total civilian casualties from U.S. Bombings over Japan was well in excess of 500,000. But, the greater tragedy to the world was that this event unwittingly triggered the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. This analysis is mostly about the affect of the success of the atomic bomb test on our diplomatic strategy with the Soviet Union rather than its military justification. During the so-called "fog of war" dropping of the bombs on Japan may have been a result of a strong emotional hatred of Japan after almost 4 years of war. The military situation did not justify the dropping of the bombs according to quotes from our most famous military leaders. A fruitful way to begin is to note General Eisenhower's recollection of the Potsdam discussion at which Stimson told him the weapon would be used against Japan: "During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of "face."....... "It wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing," Eisenhower Concluded.....before the atomic bomb was dropped each of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advised that it was highly likely that Japan could be Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). WASHINGTON, D.C--The sustained, daily civil disobedience at the Capitol by demonstrators denouncing the capture of our political system by corporate money is part of one of the largest and most important movements for social justice since the Occupy uprising. Join it. Six hundred of the protesters have been arrested, and I was among 100 arrested Friday. The protesters, organized by Democracy Spring, have converged on Washington from across the country. Young. Old. Black. White. Brown. Native American. Asian. Christian. Jew. Muslim. Buddhist. Atheist. From the left. From the right. Some marched for 10 days along a 160-mile route from Philadelphia to Washington. On Friday, about a dozen protesters who had slipped into a tour group to get into the Capitol used zip ties to bind themselves to each other and to scaffolding inside the rotunda. They remained until they were arrested. In addition, scores of other protesters were taken away by police during the day. "We the people demand a democracy free from the corrupting influence of big money and voter suppression," they shouted. "We demand a democracy where every vote is counted and every voice is heard. Democracy Spring!" The hundreds of arrests this past week have been largely ignored by a corporate media whose lobbyists, along with those of other corporations, are a familiar presence on Capitol Hill. The mass media's blackout of the largest number of arrests at the Capitol in decades is one of innumerable examples of our corporate coup d'etat. And until corporate power is overthrown -- and it will be overthrown only from the streets in sustained acts of civil disobedience -- the nation will continue to devolve into an authoritarian police state. Corporations will continue to strip us of our remaining rights, carry out the deadly assault on the ecosystem, impoverish workers, make a mockery of our democracy and cannibalize what is left of the country. The system of corporate power is incapable of reform. It must be destroyed. We will have to do this together. No one will do it for us. And as the numbers in the streets swell -- and I will be with the protesters in Washington again on Monday -- the corruption of our political system becomes ever more apparent. It is imperative to protest in Cleveland and Philadelphia during the Republican and Democratic conventions later this year. The building of movements and sustained civil disobedience is far more important than voting. Voting without powerful and organized movements is futile. Voting without profound electoral reform, including banishing corporate money from politics, is useless. The hope of Democracy Spring organizers is that growing waves of people will be arrested at the Capitol. Monday is expected to draw hundreds of people to a sit-in. While the protests center specifically on four bills before Congress that would expand public financing for federal campaigns, pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, end gerrymandering and restore the Voting Rights Act, they also have challenged corporate domination of all aspects of society. The daily marches have focused on themes: labor, racial justice, student debt and (on Saturday) climate justice. Democracy cannot be sustained if it cannot be seen. Those in power must be made to fear movements that are willing to disrupt the machinery of state. The elites must be kept in check. The question, as the philosopher Karl Popper pointed out, is not how to get good people to rule. Most people attracted to power, Popper wrote, are at best mediocre and usually venal. The question is how to build movements to stop the powerful from doing sustained damage to the citizenry, the nation and the environment. It is not our job to take power. It is our job to keep power constantly off balance and fearful of overstepping its reach to pillage on behalf of the elites. This is why, as Ralph Nader points out, our last liberal president was Richard Nixon. Nixon was not a liberal or endowed with a conscience. However, powerful grassroots movements, including the anti-war movement and labor unions, frightened him and others in power. Nixon in 1974 signed an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act that raised wages by more than 40 percent. He created the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He called for universal health insurance and passed progressive legislation including the Mine and Safety Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act -- much of it authored by Nader. He pushed through a minimum tax on the wealthy -- the alternative minimum tax -- and called for a guaranteed minimum income for the poor under the Family Assistance Program. During his administration, for the first time since World War II, spending on social service programs exceeded expenditures on the war machine. It was the pressure of radical movements and independent parties such as the Progressive Party and the Communist Party that saw Franklin Delano Roosevelt create the New Deal, which delivered a series of social and economic reforms that only the Nixon presidency would rival. Roosevelt warned his fellow oligarchs that they had better part with some of their money to create public works projects, Social Security and some 12 million jobs during the Depression or face the prospect of a revolution in which they would lose everything. Roosevelt later said that one of his greatest achievements was saving capitalism. The insurgent candidacies of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have made it clear to citizens across the political spectrum that money has replaced the vote. Their supporters and other Americans now understand that the elites have gamed the system. They grasp that they have been shut out. And this has engendered the anger and frustration that fuel movements willing to step outside the established boundaries of the political process. The corrupt institutions of power have, for decades, successfully used empty political theater to create the fiction of democracy. In our managed democracy, usually only corporate-approved candidates -- including Barack Obama, who was anointed by the Chicago political machine -- are able to get elected to state or national office. It is nearly impossible in our system of inverted totalitarianism to vote against the interests of ExxonMobil, Bank of America, Raytheon or Goldman Sachs. On all of the major structural issues, from the failure to regulate Wall Street to imperial wars and the evisceration of our civil liberties, there has been complete continuity between the Bush and Obama administrations. Obama thinking? (Image by MrLunch) Details DMCA The most recent round of peace talks are not likely to be the sham that previous ones were. Despite Kerry's tough talk of a Plan B, the US has dropped demands that Assad step down as a precondition to a deal. The alternative to a negotiated resolution, recently leaked to the Wall Street Journal, would involve escalating the conflict by providing more dangerous weapons to the jihadist "rebels." However, the plan is most likely being presented as the only credible alternative to capitulation to Russian demands in Geneva. Knowing how man-portable air defense systems (Manpads) could be used by the terrorists in the wake of a collapse of the Syrian government, supplying them to the al Qaeda-affiliated anti-Assad forces would be lunacy. It would make little sense for Obama to give in to Saudi demands to do so at this point, when he has resisted the temptation for five years. Erdogan may be starting to see the futility of further attempts to take down Assad. The most recent evidence of this is a series of high level Turkish visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran. While Turkey and Iran have common economic interests and a mutual desire to prevent the emergence of an independent Kurdish state, it is hard to imagine that they could make much progress on working together as long as Turkey is pursuing a foreign policy course that is an existential threat to Iran's status as a regional power. There are other compelling reasons for Erdogan to try to make nice with the Sauds, but it is unlikely that he will be able to thaw relations at the same time he is negotiating with their nemesis. Unless, that is, they are also discussing letting go of the goal of toppling Assad. There are also clues that the Obama administration US efforts are being stepped up to curb further Saudi aid to terrorist "rebels." The barrage of criticism that the Saudis are taking in the US media is unprecedented and most likely orchestrated. It is also somewhat risky, in that it highlights the cynicism of US "humanitarian interventions" against targeted dictators while it is allied with the most brutal, repressive regime in the region. From Biden pointing out that it is the chief financial sponsor of terrorists in the region to recent critical reports on the generally politically correct Frontline and 60 Minutes to Obama's announcement that the government is about to make a decision after two years on declassifying the 28 pages of a report said to implicate high level government officials in financing the 9/11 attack, the heat is clearly being turned on these feckless "allies." Cynics who charged that this was only a ruse to buy time to regroup for a renewed attack on Syrian forces seem to be ignoring evidence that the situation has changed since the earlier attempts to "negotiate" a US-dictated solution in Geneva. Realists in the Obama administration seem to be serious this time. Kerry was forced into agreeing to talks by the timely intervention of Russia. He had no real choice. Had the offensive continued unchecked, Assad's forces would have routed ISIS and Putin would have been able to dictate terms. This is what forced Kerry to agree to peace talks despite having to bargain from a weak position. In addition, Erdogan's panicked response to the prospect of new peace talks suggests that he believes that the Americans are looking for resolution. Having responded to advances by the Russian and Syrian militaries and Kurdish defense forces by stepping up threats, he doubled down once talks were announced, at one point declaring that an invasion was not off the table although when directly confronted with Russian accusations, he denied any such intent. The Turkish military was reported to be against such an ill-advised action, but troop buildups along the border had convinced many that he was serious. The Turkish call for invasion was echoed by Saudi Arabia, which offered to take part in a joint campaign if it was led by the US. This was obviously just bluster. After all, the threat of invasion was the result of Erdogan's frustration at US unwillingness to prioritize defeating Assad or to abandon its alliance with Syrian Kurds in the fight against ISIS. There was no way that the US was going to support an invasion that would risk WWIII by targeting both the Kurdish YPG and Assad, backed by Russia and Iran. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The desire to punish for the joy of punishing, for revenge, or for racist or sadistic domination has always had certain difficulties hiding behind the pretense of punishing for protection from danger. Creating fear of (young, black, male) "super predators" was a propaganda tactic for politicians like Hillary Clinton that bore some similarity to the efforts by politicians like Hillary Clinton to create fear of Iraqi weapons that didn't exist. The latter was meant to hide U.S. aggression toward Iraq. The former was meant to hide mad, raging punitive vindictiveness that sought to put lots of people in cages for lots of time regardless of the damage done. One of the difficulties that pretending to punish people for public safety has in hiding real motives for mass incarceration is that the people whom the punishers most want to lock up for the longest time (or execute) are generally the least likely people to commit another crime (even if guilty of the first one). A 2009 study cited in the remarkable new book, Boy With a Knife, found that those who had been incarcerated for homicide were the very least likely to commit any kind of crime. In California in 2011 almost 49% of prisoners released later returned to prison for new criminal convictions, but that figure was less than 1% for those released who had been convicted of murder. Part of the explanation for this may be that those convicted of murder were kept longer in prison and that older people are less likely to murder than younger people. But many studies have also found that prison has the opposite effect of rehabilitation, that people who learn to survive in prison are learning how not to survive when released, and that being released with the label of "felon" and little to no assistance in finding employment or income makes rehabilitation less likely. But even the theory that age is a factor or a theory that prison actually rehabilitates people cuts against the theory of the "super predator," of the subhuman monster incapable of reform. There's also overwhelming evidence that locking up children makes them more likely to commit crimes as adults. This is true in general, and most children who are locked up are locked up for minor, non-violent crimes, the sorts of crimes that tend to be repeated a lot more than murder does. Yet, the United States, now the only nation on earth that has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which would put an end to such practices, locks up children in adult prisons and tells itself this outrage is justified by the need to protect the public from what Hillary Clinton used to call "super predators." The U.S. tries about 250,000 children in adult courts each year, not because this serves the children or adults or society, but because of a general sense of hatred of and fear of those children. Wildly out of proportion to actual levels of crime, 62% of the children tried in adult courts are African American. Boy With a Knife provides this context but principally tells the true account of a crime and its punishment. In 1993 in Massachusetts a white boy named Karter Reed fatally stabbed another boy. Nothing excuses that action anymore than anything excuses flying an airplane into the World Trade Center. But learning the events that led up to it explains it, just as learning what U.S. foreign policy was during the 1990s explains 9/11. Reed was denied a father by incarceration. Reed grew up in a culture of violence and danger. Reed believed, just like the Pentagon, that being armed with deadly weaponry would keep him safe. Reed panicked and lashed out, not bombing Libya but sticking a knife into another boy's stomach. He did so not imagining the boy would die. Nobody dies from such things on television, after all. He did so in a crowded school classroom full of adults there to break up a fight, adults who were guaranteed to witness his action and to apprehend him. Karter was tried in adult court and sent away to adult prison following a trial in which he was falsely presented as a monster who had killed joyfully. Beyond the actual crime, which was indeed monstrous, Karter was prosecuted for supposedly being rebellious, anti-social, cool and calculating, enjoying murder and reveling in it -- all of which happened not to be true, but none of which had anything to do with the suffering of the victim, the victim's loved-ones, the witnesses, or the community. How many decades should be added to a child's sentence in hell for having smiled or for having broken trivial prison rules since being locked up pre-trial? How is restitution made or justice restored by locking a child in a cage until he's old? The answer, it seems, is: with great difficulty and struggle and rarity. Karter Reed's story is one of redemption, of beating the odds, of rehabilitating himself despite prison, not because of it. It's one of the better stories from among the thousands of stories that we know so little of and that should not have to exist. Reprinted from Consortium News If there were any doubts that Hillary Clinton favors a neoconservative foreign policy, her performance at Thursday's debate should have laid them to rest. In every meaningful sense, she is a neocon and -- if she becomes President -- Americans should expect more global tensions and conflicts in pursuit of the neocons' signature goal of "regime change" in countries that get in their way. Beyond sharing this neocon "regime change" obsession, former Secretary of State Clinton also talks like a neocon. One of their trademark skills is to use propaganda or "perception management" to demonize their targets and to romanticize their allies, what is called "gluing white hats" on their side and "gluing black hats" on the other. So, in defending her role in the Libyan "regime change," Clinton called the slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi "genocidal" though that is a gross exaggeration of Gaddafi's efforts to beat back Islamic militants in 2011. But her approach fits with what the neocons do. They realize that almost no one will dare challenge such a characterization because to do so opens you to accusations of being a "Gaddafi apologist." Similarly, before the Iraq War, the neocons knew that they could level pretty much any charge against Saddam Hussein no matter how false or absurd, knowing that it would go uncontested in mainstream political and media circles. No one wanted to be a "Saddam apologist." Clinton, like the neocons, also shows selective humanitarian outrage. For instance, she laments the suffering of Israelis under crude (almost never lethal) rocket fire from Gaza but shows next to no sympathy for Palestinians being slaughtered by sophisticated (highly lethal) Israeli missiles and bombs. She talks about the need for "safe zones" or "no-fly zones" for Syrians opposed to another demonized enemy, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, but not for the people of Gaza who face the wrath of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Yes, I do still support a no-fly zone [in Syria] because I think we need to put in safe havens for those poor Syrians who are fleeing both Assad and ISIS and have some place that they can be safe," Clinton said . But she showed no such empathy for Palestinians defenseless against Israel's "mowing the grass" operations against men, women and children trapped in Gaza. In Clinton's (and the neocons') worldview, the Israelis are the aggrieved victims and the Palestinians the heartless aggressors. Referring to the Gaza rocket fire, she said: "I can tell you right now I have been there with Israeli officials going back more than 25 years that they do not seek this kind of attacks. They do not invite the rockets raining down on their towns and villages. They do not believe that there should be a constant incitement by Hamas aided and abetted by Iran against Israel. ... "So, I don't know how you run a country when you are under constant threat, terrorist attack, rockets coming at you. You have a right to defend yourself." Ignoring History Clinton ignored the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which dates back to the 1940s when Israeli terrorist organizations engaged in massacres to drive Palestinians from their ancestral lands and murdered British officials who were responsible for governing the territory. Israeli encroachment on Palestinian lands has continued to the present day. But Clinton framed the conflict entirely along the propaganda lines of the Israeli government: "Remember, Israel left Gaza. They took out all the Israelis. They turned the keys over to the Palestinian people. And what happened? Hamas took over Gaza. So instead of having a thriving economy with the kind of opportunities that the children of the Palestinians deserve, we have a terrorist haven that is getting more and more rockets shipped in from Iran and elsewhere." So, Clinton made clear -- both at the debate and in her recent AIPAC speech -- that she is fully in line with the neocon reverence for Israel and eager to take out any government or group that Israel puts on its enemies list. While waxing rhapsodic about the U.S.-Israeli relationship -- promising to take it "to the next level" -- Clinton vows to challenge Syria, Iran, Russia and other countries that have resisted or obstructed the neocon/Israeli "wish list" for "regime change." In response to Clinton's Israel-pandering, Sen. Bernie Sanders, who once worked on an Israeli kibbutz as a young man, did the unthinkable in American politics. He called out Clinton for her double standards on Israel-Palestine and suggested that Netanyahu may not be the greatest man on earth. Promote Oregon Partisan Trial Lawyers PAC Has Contributed $60K Since End Of February Session Salem, OR Incumbent House Democrats and Democrats seeking election to the Oregon House have received $60,000 in campaign contributions from the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association PAC since the end of the 2016 legislative session. House Democrats and candidates receiving the most money include: Janeen Sollman, candidate, House District 30 ($10,000) Janelle Bynum, candidate, House District 51 ($9,000) Mark Meek, candidate, House District 40 ($5,000) Speaker Tina Kotek ($5,000) Representative Dan Rayfield ($4,500) Representative Paul Holvey ($3,500) Paul Carlos Southwick, candidate, House District 37 ($2,500) Mark Reynolds, candidate, House District 52 ($2,500) The contributions come after the House Democrats, on a 31-29 vote that saw several Democrats join Republicans in voting no, passed legislation tripling the amount of money trial lawyers could bill for their work on civil injury lawsuits. The bill, a top priority for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, eventually died in the Senate. Not a single Senate Democrat has received money from the Oregon Trial Lawyers PAC since the conclusion of the February session, nor has any House Democrat that voted no on bill. Several other House Democrats and candidates also received sizable contributions prior to the start of the February Session, including: Teresa Alonso Leon, candidate, House District 22 ($10,000) Sheri Malstrom, candidate, House District 27 ($5,000) Representative Paul Evans ($4,000) Trial Lawyers have found the Oregon House to be friendly territory in recent years, as Democrats ushered through several controversial bills including HB 4136, tripling the cap on civil injury lawsuits; HB 2700, which made retroactive adjustments to class action lawsuit rules; and SB 411, which altered insurance coverage caps, likely resulting in increased premiums for Oregonians. The partisan political organization is expected to spend heavily on legislative races in 2016. In 2014, the Oregon Trial Lawyers PAC donated more than $350,000 in direct and in-kind contributions to Democratic candidates. Please click here to visit the Promote Oregon web site 7.8 earthquake hit Ecuador QUITO: The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along the country's coast, killing at least 41 people and causing damage hundreds of kilometers away from the epicentre in the capital and other major cities. The death toll was expected to rise on Sunday as rescuers reached the sparsely populated area of fishing ports and tourist beaches where the magnitude-7.8 quake was centred. "We're trying to do the most we can but there's almost nothing we can do," said Gabriel Alcivar, mayor of Pedernales, a town of 40,000 near the epicentre. He pleaded for authorities to send earth-moving machines and rescuers as dozens of buildings in the town were flattened, trapping residents among the rubble. He said looting broke out amid the chaos but that authorities were too busy trying to save lives to assert order. "This wasn't just a house that collapsed, it was an entire town," he said. Vice President Jorge Glas said in a televised address late Saturday that there were initial reports of 41 dead in the cities of Manta, Portoviejo and Guayaquil all several hundred kilometres from where the quake struck shortly after nightfall. The quake was the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979, Glas said. On social media photos circulated of homes reduced to rubble, the roof of a shopping centre torn apart and supermarket shelves shaking violently. In Manta, the airport was closed after the control tower collapsed, injuring an air traffic control worker and a security guard. In the capital Quito, hundreds of kilometres away, people fled to the streets in fear as the quake shook their buildings. The quake knocked out electricity in several neighbourhoods and six homes collapsed but after a few hours the situation appeared under control and power was being restored, Quito's Mayor Mauricio Rodas said. "I'm in a state of panic," said Zoila Villena, one of many Quito residents who congregated in the streets. "My building moved a lot and things fell to the floor. Lots of neighbours were screaming and kids crying." More than 10,000 members of the security forces were being mobilised to provide assistance but Glas said accessing what he described as the "disaster" centre was difficult due to landslides. Among those killed was the driver of a car crushed by an overpass that buckled in Guayaquil, the country's most populous city. The city's international airport was also briefly closed. Hydroelectric dams and oil pipelines in the OPEC-member nation were shut down as a precautionary measure but so far hadn't reported any damaged. President Rafael Correa, who is in Rome after attending a Vatican conference Friday, called on Ecuadoreans to stay strong while authorities monitor events. He said on Twitter he had signed a decree declaring a national emergency but that the earliest he could get back to Ecuador is Sunday afternoon. He said that there were "dozens of dead" from the earthquake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves are possible for some coasts. While the government hadn't issued a tsunami alert, towns near the epicentre were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Glas later said it was safe for coastal residents to return to their homes. An emergency had been declared in six of Ecuador's 24 provinces, while sporting events and concerts were cancelled until further notice nationwide. "It's very important that Ecuadoreans remain calm during this emergency," Glas said from Ecuador's national crisis room. The United States Geological Survey originally put the quake at a magnitude of 7.4 then raised it to 7.8. It had a depth of 19 kilometres. At least 36 aftershocks followed, one as strong as 6 on the Richter scale, and authorities urged residents to brace for even stronger ones in the coming hours and days. The quake comes on the heels of two deadly earthquakes across the Pacific, in the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck Thursday near Kumamoto, followed by a magnitude-7.3 earthquake just 28 hours later. Ishaq Dar finalised ToRs investigation for Panama Papers leaks ISLAMABAD: A government team, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, on Saturday finalised the terms of reference (ToRs) for the proposed inquiry commission being formed to investigate the Panama Papers leaks. Apart from finalising the ToRs, the government also decided to include banking and investigative experts in the commission, which will be headed by a retired judge as announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address to the nation on April 5. The meeting, presided over by Mr Dar, was attended by Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Law Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad. The meeting discussed and finalised ToRs of the inquiry commission being set up in pursuance of the announcement made by the prime minister to this effect. The meeting also short-listed names of professionals for inclusion in the inquiry commission, said a brief official announcement after a meeting of what it referred to as the Laws Review Committee. Later, talking to reporters, Mr Dar explained that professionals could be chartered accountants and officials from the Federal Investigating Agency, who would be made part of the commission to assist it in investigating the allegations contained in the Panama leaks. Refusing to divulge details of the ToRs, or disclose the names of the short-listed professionals, Mr Dar said it would not be appropriate for him to provide such information at a time when things were still being decided and expressed the hope that the commission would be formally announced in the next few days. In the meeting, participants resolved to defend the Sharif family in the wake of allegations of money laundering and tax evasion to set up offshore companies, as revealed by the Panama Papers. It was officially announced that ruling party members had decided to forcefully defend the prime minister and his family at all forums against the ridiculous accusations by those who wanted to achieve their ulterior motives through propaganda. They had also decided to reach out to all political parties to present the governments viewpoint on the Panama Papers. According to the ToRs, sources said, the commission would be empowered to look into allegations not only against Sharif family members, but all other Pakistanis mentioned in the Panama Papers. They said the commission would also have the power to seek assistance from experts in the banking sector, or any firm dealing with international trade and banking. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Barrister Zafarullah Khan told reporter ToRs had enabling provisions and powers for the commission, so that it could hold investigations in a transparent manner and without any pressure. He said that since the government had nothing to hide, therefore, it was not scared of empowering the commission. The commission can seek assistance from any national or foreign firms, if required. But even Barrister Khan refused to confirm or deny media reports that the government had decided to appoint retired Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany as head of the commission. Opposition parties have already rejected the commission announced by the prime minister. However, the opposition seems divided over the issue. The PPP wants investigations through a parliamentary committee, whereas the PTI wanted the chief justice of Pakistan to head the judicial commission. Talking to media men, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said that he considered Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani the most suitable person to head the parliamentary commission. He said the PPP had reservations over Justice Osmany since his wife is affiliated with the PML-N. Mr Shah said that Chairman Rabbani was a man of integrity and was respected by all parties. I think all parties in the government and the opposition will have no objection to Mr Rabbanis name, he said. When contacted, senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi alleged that the government was only paying lip service on the issue and was not serious about carrying out investigations. On one hand, the government was announcing that it had finalised the ToRs of a three-member commission while, on the other, there were reports in the media that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given the go-ahead for the constitution of a parliamentary commission. Mamnoon Hussain had meetings with Turkish, Belarus, and Nigerian leader ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain, who is in Istanbul to attend the 13th Organisation of Islamic Countries Summit (OIC), held meetings with Turkish, Belarus, and Nigerian leadership on the sidelines of the summit. President Mamnoon Hussain had a range of bilateral meetings and interactions with the world leaders, said a press release issued on Saturday. A range of regional and international issues bilateral cooperation and matters of mutual interest came under discussion during the meeting with the leadership Extending a warm welcome, Turkish President Erdogan thanked the president for participating in the OIC summit, taking place at time of serious challenges facing the Muslim world. The president felicitated Turkishs Erdogan on hosting the OIC summit and extended best wishes for its successful conclusion as well as for Turkeys leadership at this crucial juncture. The two leaders reiterated the strong mutual support and solidarity in the face of recent terrorist attacks in Turkey and Pakistan. They reaffirmed the resolve to defeat the scourge of terrorism through resolute action. The centrality of deeper Pakistan-Turkey economic cooperation was underlined, with both sides emphasising the need for the earliest conclusion of the Free-Trade Agreement (FTA), for which the Framework Agreement was signed in Islamabad on 22 March. Ways to deepen the participation of Turkish companies in diverse sectors in Pakistan from energy and infrastructure to aviation and low-cost housing were also underlined. Mamnoon also thanked Turkey for its consistent support for the Kashmir cause and reiterated Pakistans support to Turkey on the Northern Cyprus issue. Both leaders also exchanged views on regional issues, including Afghanistan and the Middle East. During his meeting with Turking Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the abiding strength and closeness of Pakistan-Turkey relations was again emphasised and the determination to transform these cordial ties into a robust, multi-dimensional partnership was reaffirmed. Both sides noted the highly damaging effect of extremism and terrorism on Muslim countries and stressed the importance of concerted endeavours to combat the menace, while simultaneously fighting phenomena like Islamophobia. In the meeting between President Mamnoon Hussain and Afghanistan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah, both leaders reaffirmed the mutual commitment to work together to address common challenges. The president underlined the importance Pakistan attached to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and highlighted the efforts being made for the promotion of the Afghan reconciliation. The two sides also discussed high-level exchanges, including the upcoming visit of Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to Pakistan, as a means to intensify and reinforce efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. In his meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, President Mamnoon Hussain shared Pakistans desire for closer economic ties between the two countries. The ongoing visit of the minister of Industries of Pakistan to Belarus was also highlighted. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the rapid growth of bilateral cooperation in recent years with frequent high-level exchanges and conclusion of agreements for enhanced collaboration in different fields. Pakistan-Niger cooperation in political and economic domains was focused during the meeting of President Mamnoon and Prime Minister Brigi Rafini. Both sides affirmed the desire to intensify mutual collaboration. Nisar Ali Khan allowed PTI to hold rally at F-9 Park ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has given a green signal to the district administration for conditionally allowing Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to hold a public gathering in Fatima Jinnah (F-9) Park on April 24. The interior ministry announced on Saturday that Chaudhry Nisar directed the capital administration to sit with the local leadership of the PTI to amicably resolve the matter. The minister also said no hindrances should be created for the PTI in connection with its founding day rally. He, however, said it should be guaranteed by the organisers that the participants would peacefully disperse after the stipulated time. It should also be ensured that the routine life of the citizens of Islamabad was least affected. The directions from the minister came a day after confusion cropped up over the fate of the rally. In the absence of the interior minister, the district administration had sent a letter to the PTI declining its request to hold the gathering in F-9 Park saying there was a ban under Section 144 on holding rallies in the capital. However, Naeemul Haq, the PTI spokesman, while confirming the receipt of the letter from the district administration on Friday, had termed the decision unacceptable. Various other leaders of the PTI also insisted that the rally would take place as per plan, claiming no permission was required for observing the founding day of the party. When the plan to hold an event to mark the partys founding day was announced by the PTI without announcing the venue, the interior minister had ruled out the possibility of allowing the gathering in the federal capital. He had announced his decision to dismantle D-Chowk in the red zone, saying the place would no longer be available for political activities. He had also talked about a ban on public rallies in the capital and suggested that some other city could be used for the purpose. When the PTI announced to hold the event in F-9 Park, the minister ruled out the possibility of allowing it to use the public park for the political activity. However, later he hinted at giving a conditional permission to the PTI for the event in the park. All he wanted was a guarantee that the participants would not move to another place after the function was over and a declaration that the organisers would be responsible for any casualty as a result of an administrative action in case of the violation of the condition. The minister had also expressed his readiness to meet or talk to PTI chief Imran Khan to resolve the matter. The green signal came days after the interior minister traveled to London on his way to Germany in a plane with a seat close to the PTI chief Imran Khan who was also going to the United Kingdom. Pak Army taken over operation against Chotoo gang LAHORE: Personnel of Pakistan Army have taken over the operation against members of the Chotoo gang in the riverine area of Rajanpur, the military's media wing said on Saturday. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa announced on Twitter that army troops have been deployed in the Kacha areas and have taken charge of Operation Zarb-i-Aahan. A cordon is being reinforced, and police and Rangers already deployed will continue to participate under the command of the army, Bajwa said. He added that whatever resources are required will be employed to accomplish the mission. Relatives of the policemen taken hostage held a demonstration Saturday in Jampur to demand their safe recovery from the Chotoo gangs captivity. Scores of protesters gathered at Traffic Chowk in Jampur and chanted slogans against the ineptitude and ill-planning of police authorities which paved the way for casualties and abductions. On the other hand, members of the Chotoo gang demanded safe passage to leave the area and the halting of the operation in exchange for the hostages. Sources said the gang is allegedly using the hostages as human shields against shelling and firing by law enforcement agencies. Rajanpur's District Coordination Officer (DCO) Chaudhry Zahoor Hussain imposed section 144 and a dusk-to-dawn curfew in 20 subdistricts of Rajanpur during the ongoing security operation. According to DCO Hussain, the curfew will be relaxed from 6am to 8am, 1pm to 2pm, and 5pm to 6pm. Section 144 and curfew has been imposed in the following areas: Chak Haider, Chak Soori, Shah Wali Khas, Chak Chargh Shah, Chak Bahote, Kacha Bahote, Kacha Razi, Soonmiani, Chak Dhanwari, Kacha Yaru Shah, Baily Shah, Chak Kupra , Chak Umrani, Jangothadi, Gad Nar, Bumbly Khairpur, Kin Khas, Rakh Shah Wali, Gari Soori and Daingri Soori. Formally launching a grand operation against hardened criminals on Friday, military forces resorted to shelling at their hideouts in the troubled riverine area of Rajanpur district. Helicopter gunships were used to hit suspected positions and bunkers set up by criminals affiliated with the Chotoo gang, a senior security official told reporters. The initial air strikes lasted about 20 minutes. Moreover, security forces taking part in the operation, codenamed Zarb-i-Aahan, also had the backup support of mortars fired by Rangers. When the first few sycamores began dying in Aldrich Park at the at the University of California, Irvine, in late 2014, the victims numbered in the dozens. But over the next several months, hundreds of cottonwood, native willow, golden rain and coral trees met the same fate. "We've seen infestations of pests, but nothing to this extent," said Richard Demerjian, director of the university's Office of Environmental Planning and Sustainability. "It came as quite a shock." It was the work of the polyphagous shot hole borer, an invasive beetle that's been attacking and killing an astonishing range of trees throughout Southern California. Plant pathologists are overmatched. The beetle isn't native to the area and has no natural predators here. When it strikes, the only thing to do is to try to contain it before it spreads. As the beetle has spread farther into five counties, even that has seemed like a losing strategy. But the UC Irvine outbreak presented scientists with an opportunity to change that - by turning the leafy grounds into a giant outdoor research lab. The university is home to researchers who design malaria-fighting mosquitoes and hunt for dark matter in distant galaxies. Why not apply the scientific process to the campus itself? Dozens of trees around the campus now bear white tags that read: "This tree is part of a joint UC research project. Please do not touch or climb on the tree." One of the scientists running the giant experiment is Akif Eskalen, the plant pathologist who first identified the beetle in a South Gate avocado tree in 2012. He's been studying infested plants about 45 miles away at the University of California, Riverside. At UC Irvine, with so much devastation concentrated in one place, the conditions are practically tailor-made for a controlled study to test different chemical and biological treatments using the same kind of trees growing under the same environmental conditions. With any luck, the results will help Eskalen hone his response to the pest. The beetles burrow tunnels into trees, ejecting a sawdust-like frass behind them. They use the empty space to farm several species of fungus, which they eat and feed to their young. But the fungus also spreads through the tree's system, ultimately killing it. A quick inspection is enough to make the scientists feel like underdogs. Eskalen pulled out a pocketknife and scraped the bark off several trees, revealing bore holes beneath. The university has identified 2,000 infested trees, many of which will have to be cut down. Many now resemble amputees, their main branches or entire tops lopped off. About 400 hardwoods on campus were so badly injured that officials have already removed them. Nearly every sycamore in sight bears some kind of wound, and the damage is more than cosmetic. Heavy branches, structurally weakened by the beetles' relentless drilling, pose a threat to public safety if they fall. After trees die, their wood can become a hazard as it's hauled away, giving the beetles a free ride to new territory. There's also an economic risk, since the beetles have a taste for avocado trees. It's also not clear what will happen if - or when - the beetle moves into the Central Valley, California's agricultural heartland. At UC Irvine, Eskalen selected 130 sycamores for his experiment and divided them into 13 groups of 10. Four of the groups were treated with different insecticides; three were treated with different fungicides; four others got one of each. Another group was given a beneficial bacterium found in some California trees that's thought to kill the fungus. The final group served as a control and received no treatment. To keep track of how well each intervention works, researchers are counting the holes the beetles leave in each tree. Each dot is a data point. These pinpoint wounds are marked with a different color of paint every month, to help the scientists see how many holes are freshly drilled. Any unmarked holes are a sign that the beetles are still drilling. The scientists are allowed to cut down and section the trees, sample them - and even leave some infested ones alone. Having this flexibility is essential to understanding the success - or failure - of a given pesticide, said John Kabashima, an environmental horticulture adviser and entomologist with the UC Cooperative Extension. As with a lot of high-level research, there's quite a bit of grunt work. On a recent sunny day, Eskalen checked in on Joey Mayorquin and Beth Peacock as they painted blue dots on the paper-thin bark of a sycamore in Aldrich Park. Nearby trees are speckled with orange, white and green - so many colors that they bear a vague resemblance to a Georges Seurat painting. Mayorquin, a UC Riverside graduate student, knelt at the tree's base while Peacock, a UCR research assistant, used a stepladder to reach higher. Both daubed blue dots next to each new hole and used clickers to keep count of them. "It is very time-consuming," Mayorquin said. "We actually made good time last week when we were here; we were able to get through 40 trees in about a full day." Soon after he started the experiment, Eskalen began to worry that his dot-painting procedure wouldn't tell him which holes were empty and which ones were occupied. After a sleepless night, he came up with an additional strategy. To see which holes were in active use by beetles, the researchers painted white rectangles on the bark. Some paints were too thick; others seemed to darken. After several tests, he settled on a water-based latex paint that would not interfere with the beetles' drilling and would wear off without hurting the tree. Eskalen knew that the mother beetles guarding their young inside couldn't stand to have their only means of entry and exit clogged up. And indeed, they burrowed out of the holes that had been covered with paint - revealing those holes that were still in use. "That's why it's very important for us to study the biology of the enemy," he said. Eskalen checked one of the painted white patches. He points to numbers scribbled on the bark from early in the experiment. On Oct. 23, he'd counted 25 new holes. On Oct. 27, only 20 were active. The researchers also used 3D-printed traps designed by UC Riverside entomologist Richard Stouthamer and colleagues to catch beetles that come out of their holes. The researchers don't even need beetles to fall into the traps; if they catch any frass, the team will know the hole is active. The team has been monitoring these trees since June. This June they will gather all the data, analyze their results and continue monitoring for a few more years. Eskalen hopes they will lead him to a chemical or microbial weapon that could help beat back the infestation. The scientists expect that any ammunition they find here will also help them fight the Kuroshio shot hole borer, a closely related beetle species with its own fungi that has invaded San Diego County and established a foothold in Orange County. On the highly monitored and manicured campus, UC Irvine's trees are relatively lucky; in wilder areas the beetle has gone unchecked, ravaging natural habitats. A four-mile-wide willow forest in the Tijuana River Valley now has 140,000 severely damaged trees, according to John Boland, an ecologist who has been studying the area for more than 14 years. In spite of all this effort, Eskalen doesn't believe pesticides are a long-term solution - they're expensive and require repeated applications, and they may not be allowed on crops or in many of the wild, thickly wooded areas under attack. Ultimately, he said, the only way to defeat the polyphagous shot hole borer is to identify and deploy another creature that naturally preys on the beetle or its fungi. Although the beetle infests trees in many parts of Southeast Asia, it does not run rampant there the way it has in Southern California. Eskalen and Stouthamer suspect it has predators there that keep it in check naturally, and they've traveled to Vietnam and Taiwan to search for them. Finding them would just be the first step. Before they could bring them to California, they'd have to study them there to ensure they don't attack the state's beneficial native insects. In the short term, the best-case scenario for UCI is to manage the pest without allowing it to spread. With some 30,000 trees remaining on campus, Demerjian is prepared for a lengthy fight. "This is going to be a pest that we're going to have to deal with for many years," he said. Explore further 3D printing could help save avocado and landscape trees 2016 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Last fall, 30-year-old Luo Rong quit his $30,000-a-year engineering job in Shanghai, moved back to his mountaintop village of Jade Peak with his wife and newborn baby and opened a shop with a big orange and green sign out front. The store is thinly stocked. There are a few packages of seeds, Skittles candy, some sweaters, sneakers and laundry soap - but no lack of customers. The main draw is Luo's computer and the big-screen display perched above him on the wall - both provided by the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. From 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., breaking only for meals at his parents' house, Luo pecks away at his keyboard, helping his technology-challenged neighbors buy fertilizer, TVs and even electric cars on an Alibaba shopping site called Rural Taobao. Luo arranges the payments, as well as delivery to Jade Peak, and earns a commission from the sellers. "This is going to change the whole village," said Luo Laibing, a 56-year-old farmer who stopped by to purchase more than 1,000 pounds of fertilizer. "It's saving us money and time, and is making life much more convenient." Rural Taobao is an ambitious effort by Alibaba to turn China's 600 million rural residents into online shoppers - and sellers - at a time when the company's growth in transactions is slowing and China's economic growth has ebbed to a 25-year low. In the last year and a half, the company has enlisted more than 15,000 village "partners" like Luo Rong and hopes to have at least 40,000 by this time next year. Alibaba says it plans to invest $1.6 billion in the effort through 2019, with the ultimate goal of opening 100,000 Rural Taobao centers. But the company is hardly going it alone. It's getting a big helping hand from the government, which is footing the bill to renovate storefronts like Luo's, sending officials out to talk up e-commerce to skeptical farmers, providing gratis space for new logistics centers and deploying propaganda workers to promote Rural Taobao. The ministries of commerce and finance have allocated $300 million to 200 rural counties to spend on warehouses, training and anything else that might push the project forward. While it's inconceivable that Uncle Sam would offer such assistance to, say, eBay or Amazon, China's Communist Party leaders see no problem working hand-in-glove with a company like Alibaba when it suits national aims. Government officials and Alibaba executives say Rural Taobao jibes neatly with national goals such as boosting consumer spending to fuel economic growth, narrowing the income gap between urban and rural citizens, promoting entrepreneurship and harnessing the power of the Internet to invigorate backward regions. And while China is still expecting an additional 200 million or so people to move from the countryside to its burgeoning cities, the government is aware that it can't urbanize everyone. "The success of rural e-commerce throughout China is due to the top-to-bottom concern from the government ... starting from the president and the premier down to lower-level officials and departments," Sun Lijun, general manager of Rural Taobao, said in an interview at one of Alibaba's modern campuses in the city of Hangzhou. "We have 300 counties participating so far, and when we send in one Alibaba employee, the government deploys 10 people." - As the crow flies, Jade Peak is just 165 miles southwest of Hangzhou, which has a population of 8.8 million, but the big city and its modern conveniences have long been a world away for the hamlet's 800 residents. The village is so insular, many inhabitants share the same surname, Luo, and some are illiterate. They get by raising potatoes, lotus, medicinal herbs and chickens in the fog-shrouded fields up in the mountains of Jiangxi province. Until last year, a trip to buy something as basic as a faucet meant an all-day expedition to the nearest township, given that bus service over a steep dirt track ran just twice day. A voyage to the more distant county seat required three hours each way. Given Jade Peak's small population and remote location, no package delivery company would serve the village. Many of Jade Peak's youth, like Luo Rong, decamp for urban centers, in search of opportunity and modernity. But the completion of a new highway, a 1.6-mile tunnel and a winding asphalt road up the mountain last year are starting to change life in Jade Peak. Travel times to the nearest township have been halved, and more sightseers eager for a day trip to the countryside are finding their way to the village. Package delivery firms - enticed by subsidies from Alibaba - are now making the trek up on a near-daily basis. Alibaba's logistics arm makes sure the deliveries are optimized for maximum efficiency. Luo Bishui, 60, used to just grow potatoes, but now he's opening an eight-room guesthouse for tourists. He recently popped into the Rural Taobao center to order two more flat-screen TVs for his rooms. Such transactions generate about $770 per month in commissions for Luo Rong, though he made double that in November, his first month on the job, and gets performance bonuses from Alibaba as well. Although he earned more in Shanghai, his money goes much further in Jade Peak. Already, Luo Rong has plans to move his storefront into a bigger space, which the government will pay to renovate. Rent will be about $500 a year. He envisions adding more services, including printing, copying and video-conferencing, so elderly parents in Jade Peak can chat with their sons and daughters who have moved to big cities. "Next I want to help sell our local products like potatoes and smoked meat online," said Luo Rong. "It's long been my dream to contribute to the development of my village." He's got neighbor Luo Laizhang, 45, selling eggs online; now, the two are trying to figure out how they can market the farmer's special breed of black chickens. "We have to figure out the slaughtering, packaging and transport," says Yuan Chunjiang, Rural Taobao regional manager for the eastern part of Jiangxi province. "It's a bit complicated." But local Commerce Bureau official Zheng Zeyang believes there's a huge untapped customer base for such products. "There is lots of demand from cities for organic produce, and Rural Taobao can get sellers good prices," he said, touring Jade Peak with a photographer from the propaganda department in tow. "Online sales offer more opportunity to sell outside of the hometown market." - About an hour's drive away in a village called Baiguo, or 100 Fruits, Qiu Chuan, 28, dons a beekeeper's hat and helps his dad lift some honeycomb frames from the family's hives. His mother cuts away some of the comb, then places the frame in a spinning contraption that extracts the honey from each little crevice. Two years ago, Qiu started selling his family's honey online. Although he has only a middle school education, his e-commerce savvy made him ideal for the Rural Taobao program, said Yuan, and last year Qiu opened a Rural Taobao storefront in Baiguo. In addition to helping villagers buy things online, Qiu has started selling his neighbors' produce over the Internet. He drives around in his tan van, plastered with Rural Taobao logos, collecting ginger and sweet potatoes. If the villagers sell their ginger in the township, Qiu said, they can get about 27 cents for 18 ounces. He pays about 42 cents for that amount, and sells the same quantity online for 64 cents. While Rural Taobao is helping farmers sell their produce at higher prices and buy things more cheaply, the introduction of the platform has not been without its effects on local brick-and-mortar stores, Yuan acknowledges. When Jade Peak's farmers found they could buy fertilizer online for about two-thirds of the price they were paying in the nearby township, the local supplier cut his price and renegotiated with his supplier. It is part of Yuan's job to travel around the county and try to manage the frictions that arise. In the case of the local fertilizer dealer, he helped that business start selling online so it could expand its customer base. Luo Rong says he keeps the peace with the small convenience stores in Jade Peak by focusing his sales on products they don't offer. As for Qiu, he says he's won over local shopkeepers by helping them order products online to resell in their stores. There is great room to grow e-commerce in rural areas, Alibaba believes. Of the 600 million rural Chinese, only 77 million shopped online in 2014, according to data from the China Internet Network Information Center. In the first quarter of 2015, less than 10 percent of online purchases made through Alibaba platforms were shipped to rural areas. Once consumers become Rural Taobao customers, Alibaba will have the opportunity to offer them a wide variety of services, including loans through its affiliate Ant Financial and financial services including interest-bearing accounts. At headquarters, Alibaba has 600 full-time employees devoted to the program now, and will increase that to 1,000 this year. Sun would not say whether Rural Taobao was making money yet. "We are not considering profits now; we are not doing those calculations," he said. "Right now we are just investing a lot in logistics, in hardware." Sun, who grew up in a small village near Hangzhou called White Ox, says the ultimate aim is to eliminate the urban-rural gap in opportunities, incomes and conveniences. "Many people will return home to be part of this," he predicts. "I see this as a revolution." Explore further China's Alibaba makes first investment in Israeli firm 2016 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Scientists say they have only a vague idea of how many oysters cover the reefs in the Chesapeake Bay, and can't say how many can be harvested safely each year without threatening the future of an already decimated population. Over the next year and a half, they hope to figure it out. In the waning hours of its 2016 session, the Maryland General Assembly this week authorized a study that advocates say will not only provide a more precise count of the bivalves, but assess how quickly they are reproducing, how fast they are growing and how they are faring against disease. Such research is already conducted on other key creatures of the Chesapeake, including blue crabs and rockfish. The oyster study stoked controversy in an hours-long hearing earlier this month. Many watermen said it would lead inevitably to restrictions on their harvests, and the state Department of Natural Resources initially opposed it because the legislation left the DNR out of the research. But in a compromise, lawmakers gave the department responsibility for the study, to be conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. A final report is due in December 2018. "It's not going to be quick and it's not going to be easy, but it means (oysters are) going to be treated like every other fishery in the Chesapeake Bay," said Delegate Kumar Barve, a Montgomery County Democrat who helped negotiate revisions to the bill. "Our objective is to have a sustainable oyster harvest and a successful oyster-producing industry." Mark Belton, secretary of the state's Natural Resources Department, called the legislation "a reasonable compromise for conservationists, environmentalists, the public and watermen." The department already conducts surveys each fall to determine how often oyster larvae are attaching successfully onto reefs and to estimate a rough size and weight of the oyster population. But Belton said officials welcome the more intensive stock survey. "We believe this new study will assist the department's ongoing efforts to effectively manage the species, and complement our previously planned oyster reports, surveys and studies," he said in a statement. The Chesapeake's oyster population, devastated by disease, pollution and overfishing, is believed to have fallen to about 1 percent of historical levels. The state's most recent study, from fall 2014, showed oyster larvae, known as spat, were attaching to beds at their lowest rate since 2005 (but an index of oyster biomass in the bay was close to the previous year's record high.) The new study will gather information on oyster reproduction, growth and mortality rates to predict how many oysters might be in the bay in coming years, said Donald Boesch, president of the University of Maryland center. Similar assessments were used to develop policy on crab harvests, and have been credited with helping the crustaceans' numbers to grow in recent years. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation sees the study as "a significant step forward in how we manage the oyster fisheries," said Alison Prost, executive director of the group's Maryland office. Watermen are fearful of changes the study might bring. Bunky Chance, president of the Talbot County Watermen's Association, said there are enough oyster surveys being conducted, and it's unclear what the new study will add. Robert T. Brown, president of the Maryland Watermen's Association, said watermen fear the University of Maryland researchers want eventually to impose an outright moratorium on oyster harvesting. That would be one more hardship for a beleaguered industry, Brown said. "If our oyster industry gets hampered a whole lot in the wintertime, there is nothing else for our watermen to do," he said. Boesch said researchers aim to gather facts to inform discussions about oyster harvesting. The study is the latest point of controversy over the state's oyster population. In December, state officials asked the Army Corps of Engineers to pause an oyster restoration project in the Tred Avon River. They said they wanted to evaluate how well it was working before spending more money. Watermen had protested that project, saying it wasn't effective. When the Army Corps said in January it was diverting $1 million from Maryland to projects in Virginia, conservation groups criticized the decision. Barve said that conflict wasn't a factor in the compromise. "This is about a sustainable oyster harvest," he said. "There's a lot of angst there, but that certainly wasn't our motivation." Explore further Virginia continues to lead in clam and oyster aquaculture 2016 The Baltimore Sun Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is pictured just prior to being released by the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm on May 31 to allow it to head toward a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA A symposium on space this past week was abuzz with talk of a new golden age of space travel. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, who also heads private space firm Blue Origin, compared the advent of reusable rockets to the Internet and the national highway system, opening the door to an explosion of commercial space activity. Underlying the optimism is a new space race: to cut launch costs. Reusable rockets are just one part of it. Hawthorne-based SpaceX already offers launch vehicles at half the price of its competitors' rockets. Adding reusable rockets to the mix would step the challenge from SpaceX and other companies to longtime launch provider United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of aerospace giants Boeing. and Lockheed Martin. "I think they do indeed feel threatened," John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, said of United Launch Alliance. "They have been used to a noncompetitive situation, and that is not a recipe for innovation. So all of a sudden, they have these shiny, new companies threatening what they're used to doing, and it's hard for old organizations to respond." United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said his company welcomes more competition and said an increased launch market from sectors other than national security is important. "It's always healthy to have competition," he said in an interview. "By SpaceX entering the field as a certified and competitive provider, it allows all of us now to go and be competitive in that larger market." Driving much of the innovation is a competition to replace the Russian RD-180 rocket engines that have been used to launch U.S. government and commercial satellites since 2000. After the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, Congress mandated that a U.S.-made alternative be built by 2019. Two technologies could be key to disrupting the launch business: -Flying on methane: The leading candidate to replace the Russian engine will be powered by a new type of fuel: liquefied natural gas. The BE-4 engine is the brainchild of Blue Origin. When fully developed, it will be powered by staged combustion of liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas to produce 550,000 pounds of thrust. Blue Origin says the engine will be flight-qualified by next year and could fly as early as 2019. Experts say liquefied natural gas, which is a commercially available form of methane, could have several advantages as a rocket fuel. Blue Origin has said its wide availability and low cost would enable an "extended engine development test program." Methane is also clean, meaning it's less likely to clog fuel lines inside the engine. That would reduce the type of rigorous cleaning needed to clear those particulates and make it easier for reusability, said Ann Karagozian, UCLA professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. The gas also self-pressurizes, which could eliminate the need for tank-pressurization systems. "If this combination for the BE-4 gives them a simple, reliable design that is easy to manufacture, then it could be a game changer," said G. Scott Hubbard, professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University and former director of NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Federal Airfield in Silicon Valley. Blue Origin is competing against legacy Sacramento manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne to develop an engine for United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket. Aerojet is developing a liquid-oxygen-and-kerosene-powered engine called the AR1, which is slated for completion and flight qualification in 2019. "We are very confident that we're going to qualify this engine in 2019, certify it, as well as have a factory to build it," said Julie Van Kleeck, vice president of Aerojet's advanced space and launch business unit. Analysts have said the competition could come down to cost versus reliability. Aerojet's traditional technology is less risky than Blue Origin's, but could end up being more expensive. "I think Aerojet is going to have a really hard time competing with Jeff Bezos and his company on cutting-edge technology that could dramatically increase the power of the engine versus the weight, and thus have a much lower cost," said Marco Caceres, senior space analyst at the Teal Group, an aerospace and defense research firm. "The onus is really on Blue Origin to do what they supposedly say they can do. And if they do, there's nothing that Aerojet can do than say, 'We tried.'" SpaceX is also developing a liquid-oxygen-and-methane staged combustion engine called Raptor, which company President Gwynne Shotwell has said could be flown on "orbital trajectories and beyond Earth missions," according to her statement last year to the House Armed Services Committee. This could be a factor in the company's plans for Mars, as SpaceX has said methane could be synthesized in the Martian atmosphere. "Methane has those advantages for reusability," UCLA's Karagozian said. "But it is not standard. It's not a sure thing by any means." -3-D printing: Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3-D printing, can substantially reduce the time and cost of producing rocket parts. Take the main oxidizer valve body in one of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket engines, for example. The part, which controls the flow of oxygen into the engine, was produced through 3-D printing in less than two days and launched on a Falcon 9 in 2014. That marked the first time that SpaceX flew a 3-D printed part. Normally, that process would have taken months, the company said in a blog post at the time. SpaceX said that compared with a traditionally cast part, the printed valve body had "superior strength, ductility and fracture resistance." After undergoing a rigorous test program, the 3-D printed part was qualified to fly interchangeably with cast parts on all Falcon 9 missions, the company said. Additive manufacturing has been used for individual parts and components up to SpaceX's SuperDraco engine chamber for the Dragon Version 2 spacecraft and Aerojet's demonstration rocket engine. The SuperDraco engine chamber was printed in Inconel, a superalloy. The engines will power a launch escape system. "I could see that a lot of the cost of very specialized parts could come down substantially," Stanford's Hubbard said. "And that can contribute to a lower-cost overall vehicle." Parts made through additive manufacturing can also be much lighter than their traditional counterparts, though reinforced to maintain strength, said John Parsey, professor of practice at Arizona State University. Lighter parts can increase a rocket's payload. These parts and their manufacturing process will be especially important for missions deeper into space, Hubbard said. The 32nd Space Symposium was held in Colorado Springs, Colo. Explore further Blue Origin rocket makes third successful vertical landing 2016 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser It can often be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to kickstarting a healthier lifestyle, so we are here to help you SCHUYLERVILLE The ongoing saga of the Department of Public Works garage has taken a turn for the worse. The Village Board finally received the bid specifications for the new roof that the garage needs, but the specs are unacceptable, board members said. They had been waiting for the specs since December. They cant ask for bids on repairs to the badly leaking roof until they have the specs, and theyd been hoping to go out to bid over the winter. After months with no response from the engineer theyd hired to write the specs, they began to push harder for action in early March. Thats when they had to move the DPW crew out of the building altogether due to rampant mold growth from the roof leaks. Now, finally, they have the specs but they rejected them at a meeting this week. The guy came up with a Taj Mahal roof, which isnt necessary, said board member Whitney Colvin. The bids are going to be way over. Theyre going to come in way over and were going to have to reject them all. Board member Jim Miers agreed. Its way out of line. In all my years as a general contractor, Ive never seen 5/8th-inch plywood under steel, he said. The roof is currently metal with wooden rafters, some of which must be replaced due to heavy water damage. Board members said they would prefer bid specs for a new metal roof and some rafters. The decision to reject the specs means the roof work will be delayed at least another month. The mold inside the building cannot be addressed until the roof is fixed. But the board has already begun receiving bids for that work. Its expected to cost up to $40,000. The board also took up the issue of the temporary trailer that the DPW crew is using now. Two local businesses offered to pay for the first months bill after Mayor John Sherman canceled the order for the trailer earlier this month. The board had voted to rent the trailer, and board members told Sherman that it was not legal for him to cancel the order. He relented a day later, but the businesses had already stepped in so that the crew had an indoor location in which to do paperwork, take breaks and hold meetings. A resident urged the board to pay for the trailer instead of accepting the first months rent from the owners of Clarks Steakhouse and A-Plus Storage Containers. Thank (them) for the generous offer. But I think you should decline, said resident Leona Colvin. This village is not a charity and it should pay its own bills. Miers agreed, saying the village should have paid for the trailer from the start. I think Leona is dead right, he said. If we were down on our luck but we do have the money. We should say, Thank you, but we really dont need it. All four members present, including Sherman, voted to thank the business owners but decline the offer. Board member Robert Petralia was absent. FORT EDWARD Washington County supervisors accepted a somewhat mysterious $225,000 Friday, after a lively debate over the source of the funds. The county regularly receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in forfeiture money from the U.S. Marshalls, because the Sheriffs Department participates in the regional drug task force. Generally, funds are seized during drug arrests, and are later forfeited by the owner during court proceedings. But the funds could include money from civil forfeiture, in which someone is stopped by law enforcement but not charged with a crime. Often, people are stopped for minor traffic violations, and law enforcement officers discover a large amount of cash but no evidence of drugs or other criminal possessions. The cash can be seized on the theory that it is the proceeds of illegal activity. Those who want the money back must hire an attorney at their own cost and prove in civil court that their money was earned legally. Civil forfeiture is becoming more and more controversial, and Hartford Supervisor Dana Haff said those seizures are so wrong that the county should not accept any forfeiture funds. Over the course of the last month, he peppered his fellow supervisors with emails in an attempt to persuade them not to accept the money at Fridays vote. He gave them links to news stories, pointed out that both the conservative group Cato Institute and the liberal ACLU were against forfeiture, and questioned the source of each dollar coming to the county. He didnt quite win over his colleagues, but they said they were assuming the funds they were accepting were from criminal forfeiture. Later, the county treasurer provided the case numbers he had received for each payment from the U.S. Marshalls. But the numbers did not link to any court cases, criminal or civil. With the exception of one local case, the others were all sent with Consolidated Asset Tracking System numbers. The U.S. Department of Justice runs that system to track every dollar seized, from the point of seizure through the entire court process. But the agency doesnt let the public or even the county supervisors see any part of that database. Law enforcement can look at it, but officials from the Sheriffs Department did not return calls regarding the system. That left the supervisors in the dark. Haff said they should assume the worst. We have no idea the source of this money, he said. I cant say yes for this. I think this money is tainted. He argued that seizing cash during a routine traffic stop in which no charges were filed violated the Constitution. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that you have to have warrants to seize property I think this is unreasonable seizure, he said. It really helps our budget to take this money. But I think its against the Constitution. Other supervisors said they were certain the county wouldnt be given civil forfeiture funds. Its a criminal forfeiture, not a civil forfeiture, said Fort Edward Supervisor Mitch Suprenant. Fort Ann Supervisor Richard Moore added that in criminal cases, the defendants choose to forfeit their money. I believe the monies confiscated is forfeited by the individual, he said. Haff noted that civil forfeiture funds are placed in the same pool of money as criminal funds, and are divvied up under a federal equitable sharing arrangement to all local law enforcement partners. That would suggest that some of the funds going to Washington County come from civil forfeiture. Some supervisors took a more pragmatic approach. Would it change anything if we did not take the money? said Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell. I bet its not going back to the person they took it from. Kingsbury Supervisor Dana Hogan agreed, saying that rejecting the money would only be symbolic. But it would have very real consequences on the sheriffs ability to fight the growing drug problem, he said. Haff voted no. White Creek Supervisor Robert Shay was absent; everyone else voted yes. The economy saw an increased foreign exchange reserves for the first time in five months. Property investment was up 6.2 percent, which is its fastest pace in a year, while Fixed-asset investment grew 10.7 percent year-on-year to March. This fresh batch of macroeconomic data paints a picture of an economy that has lost some growth momentum but lives to fight another day, said Eswar Prasad, economics professor at Cornell University and former China head of the IMF. But not all experts believe the Chinese economy is improving. The uptick is not sustainable in the longer-term, but it could last one or two quarters, Commerzbank economist Zhou Hao told the Wall Street Journal. Recent data appears to repudiate the excessively pessimistic views about Chinas economy that were rampant in financial markets earlier this year, although there is still plenty of ammunition for pessimists to maintain their negative outlook, said Eswar Prasad. 'She knows the region well and has been part of our efforts in bringing about change at a time when East Asia Pacific has been rapidly developing and playing a pivotal global role,' a statement posted on the bank's website. Kwakwa, would lead the Bank's advisory and lending operations in the region and oversee strategic engagement with the region's 23 member countries. The Bank's lending in East Asia Pacific is expected to be more than $7 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30. 'I am honored to lead our engagement in a region that is key to the future relevance of the World Bank Group,' the statement quoted Kwakwa. 'In the last decade, East Asia and Pacific's share in the world economy has tripled, to about 19 per cent,' she said. 'That number is projected to rise to more than 30 per cent by 2030, I look forward to working with our client countries to maintain their competitiveness and economic dynamism while tackling challenges including urbanisation, vulnerability to climate change, rapid ageing and rising inequality.' Profile of Victoria Kwakwa Kwakwa was previously the World Bank's Country Director of Vietnam, overseeing a multibillion-dollar lending portfolio and an innovative knowledge programme. During her tenure, the Bank's partnership with Vietnam deepened, responding to the increasingly complex challenges of an emerging middle-income country, the statement said. Recently, Kwakwa led a joint team with the government to produce the Vietnam 2035 report, which presents options for Vietnam to achieve its ambitious goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country in a generation. Before moving to Hanoi, Kwakwa was the Country Manager for Rwanda, where she worked with the government to design and pilot programmes in social protection, health financing and agriculture productivity. From 2000 to 2006, she was a senior economist and lead economist in Abuja, Nigeria, where she set up a programme of state-level analytical work and provided policy advice on how to efficiently and transparently manage oil revenues. Kwakwa joined the Bank as a Young Professional in 1989 and worked on the 2000-2001 World Development Report on poverty. They have been also asked to enforce the relevant bye-laws for food vendors to comply with proper and hygienic handling of food. The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the AMA, Numo Blafo Omeatu III, gave the directive in a statement. He said the assembly has intensified its education on sanitation to help eliminate cholera and the education also focuses on factors that militate against the development of the metropolis. Numo Blafo said the observation of basic personal hygiene such as boiling of water before drinking, eating of cooked food while hot, avoiding food being sold along gutters and thorough washing of fresh fruits and vegetables are all in the best interest of the people. He revealed that the AMA has requested the Ghana Education Service to ensure that all children are taught to wash their hands thoroughly before eating and after visiting the toilet. Numo Blafo appealed to the communities to be proactive to the current unhealthy practices associated with indiscriminate defecating and dumping of refuse into drains. The AMA will ensure that all refuse contractors collect refuse regularly from every community whilst residents are advised to register with the accredited waste contractors in their sub-metro for the collection of their solid waste to avoid arrest and prosecution, he said. The PRO said even though the rains have not set in and there is no reported case of cholera, we cannot be complacent about it as it could happen and spread faster, hence the need for effective sustainable awareness as well as the promotion of hygiene among the people to take proper food preservation seriously in homes and other places. Numo Blafo said the AMA has a strong commitment, effective and sustained hygiene education to change the behaviours of the people to enable each of them become a little more sensitive and conscious about his or her environment to avoid frequent visit to hospitals. True to her words, she wasnt a fad. She had the attitude, the voice, the ear for production, the right team behind her, and most importantly the looks. She was just perfect and everybody wanted a piece of her. It didnt matter what she was saying because most people were too hypnotized by how beautiful and sexy she was to even pay attention to the music. Then she followed it up with a slew of absolute bangers to solidify her spot as the 'Boss Chick'. It was settled. The rap game finally had its queen and all was right with the world. Then, just as suddenly as she had appeared two years earlier, she disappeared. In her absence, the female rap void returned to the state of emptiness it had been in before her coming. Many tried to claim it but fell short. It seemed nobody had the right combination of attributes that could solidify their claim to the throne. Some had the bars but lacked the attitude. Some had the attitude but lacked the bars. Almost nobody had the looks and after being treated to the gracious being that is Lousika, the fans didnt want to settle for anything less. Three years after her hiatus, Lousika is back for the first time (and hopefully she does not leave again). She has returned to a game that has changed immensely since she last played it. The sound has changed, the marketing strategy has changed, the radio formats have changed and yet one thing remains the same; nobody has been able to fill the space she left behind. Taking it back to the basics, she has realigned herself with the team she started with CUE Music and talented producer Peewezel is once again at the helm of the boards on her new release. The single which she has tentatively titled "Sei Nkoaa" also features fellow CUE affiliate and BBnZ Live rapper Ko-Jo Cue. The song which will be accompanied by an official video is scheduled to drop soon. Prosecuting Detective Inspector Kofi Atimbire told the court that the complainant is a mechanic who resides at Kokompe with the daughter. who was the victim. According to Inspector Atimbire, the convict resides in the same house with the complainant and on March 25, last year, at about 0800 hours, while the victim's mother was about to wash her panties she saw blood stains in it. The victims mother became suspicious and showed it to the complainant. Prosecution said on the same day, when the victim returned from school, her mother also detected changes in the way she walked and quizzed her over the blood stains. The victim disclosed that on March 24, last year at about 3:30 pm when she returned from school, Asante lured her into his room and had sex with her in the vagina and anus. The victim stated that Asante threatened her not to mention his name to any one. The victim further disclosed that the accused had had sex with her on three occasions. A report was made at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and a medical form was issued to the victim to enable her undergo medical examination and treatment. On April 1, last year, Asante was arrested at his hide out and charged with the offence Kenneth Gilbert Adjei said if if any security threat pn the country can be eliminated or minimized all the security agencies must share information.. Minister Adjei made the request a durbar to climax activities marking the golden jubilee celebration of 66 Artillery Regiment (Volta Barracks) in Ho. He says this has become necessary in view of the terrorist attack on Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. Some Ghanaians may be living in fear after news of possible terror attack on the country broke. A leaked document also revealed the confession of a Malian who is linked to the Ivory Coast Attack to the effect that Ghana is next of the list of countries to be attacked Some changes have been made in major such the airport, hotels and shopping malls to avert any attack. Screening has been intensified at the various boarders as well. Adjei urged the security services to maintain good relationship with the civilian population and be extra vigilant in their operations. The President gave the assurance when he inaugurated the district assembly block and an Information Communication Technology centre at Akim Ofoase as part of his Accounting to the People tour, in the Eastern Region. He commended Mr Tom Budu, the District Chief Executive for the numerous projects he had completed so far. The projects are classroom blocks, rice mill factory, markets, oil palm processing factory, extension of electricity and an office for Ghana National Fire Service. President Mahama urged the staff of the assemblies to be patriotic, optimistic and confident in the way they handle affairs in their offices for the citizens to have trust in the assembly concept. Oberempon Boakye Akoto, the Chief of Kotokuom expressed gratitude to the President for the visit to the area and appealed to him for the provision of a health facility and equipment for the people. He argued that prophecies about terrorist attacks on Ghana has the capability of causing fear and panic and will disarm citizens. We dont forge the appropriate level of community security consciousness that could help security services to deal with this menace because we bring in distractions, we pollute the actual concept and this whole prophetic thing and the attempt to link it to the terror alert, to try and give vindication are part of the distraction, Kwaku Baako said during a panel discussion on Joy FM. Popular Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua prophesied that Ghana was going to be attacked by terrorists in a few days. A day after his televised prophecy, a security intel memo meant for heads of security agencies in Ghana which indicated a terrorist threat was in the offing, was leaked and widely circulated and discussed on social media and in mainstream media. Kwaku Baako believes that such prophetic scare mongering of all these Pastors must be stopped. The National Security directive was dated April 9 so it pre-dated the prophetic scare mongering that was issued on the 10. Now because there had been this prophetic scaremongering; I dont have the evidence, but there were discussions on social media after the leakage that this had vindicated what the prophet had said, he said. The abductors then reportedly disappeared after the demanded ransom was paid to them. They were eventually tracked down by men of the DSS. A brother of the deceased hostage, Charles Worlu says all the family want now is for justice to be done. He said the kidnappers made the family pay them ransom twice, the first being one million naira and the second time, five hundred thousand naira and still murdered the hostage. The girl was shot in the face at a house in Upper Kensington, Philadelphia, and was declared dead by paramedics at the scene at 2.30pm. Crystal Dougherty, godmother of the boy who pulled the trigger said: "[The family] are outgoing, they are supportive of others. Theyre there for me when I was going through rough times, theyre there for everybody." Police confirm that a weapon was recovered, and also that no arrests have been made just yet. According to Chelsea, the man reached out for her breasts twice when her mum got up on a flight between LA and Sydney in July 2014. The teenager's family tried to press charges against the air travel company but found it difficult to do so because of lack of evidence. Daily Telegraph, Australia reports that the girl's family wrote a letter and in response the airline wrote: "The flight attendants and passengers also stated that you and your daughter were allowed to move to other seats several times, that Chelsea repeatedly moved in and out of her seat, crawling over the other customer who was attempting to sleep, and that your daughter wore extremely short shorts. "You have provided no evidence of any negligence on the part of United regarding this matter." 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! Devin Masters, 29, has been cast in jail for a duration of between 50 and 200 years iafter it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that he raped the child at a motel in southern Kent County, Michigan. "This incident is one of the most egregious things that Ive ever had to deal with in dealing with criminal cases for 31 years," said Judge Mark Trusock of the Kent County Circuit Court during Thursdays hearing. "You are truly an evil individual and we need to make sure that you are never allowed in society." "You took an 18-month-old little girl, an innocent little girl, to a motel with the specific intent, with a camera, with straps," Trusock said. "You stripped this little girl down, you tied her arms and legs to the bedposts. You proceeded to rape this child... "I want to send a clear message to the Parole Board that when you are first considered for parole, and that wont be until youre 79 years old, that I dont want you out," "Were done. Take him to prison." the judge said. The felon was remorseful for what he agrees are really terrible crimes. Reading from a prepared statement, he said: "Something horrible was done to me and numbed my emotions to others, and then I committed the same horrible thing to others. With Gods help we can both be healed." As reported by ThisDay, the Minister of Labour and Employment says until all grey areas and mistakes are sorted out and corrected by the National Assembly, the President will not give assent to the 2016 national budget. Ngige said there could be mistakes in the budget, and that the National Assembly should summon the courage to correct them where they are detected. This was revealed at a programme to resettle graduates of vocational skills development in Anambra State this wekend. While giving reasons for the new development, he said the Buhari administration sort of started afresh on all parameters; having come on board when the price of crude oil that sold for above $100 per barrel suddenly nose-dived to about $40 per barrel and almost every other sector of per barrel and almost every other sector of the economy remained comatose. Hurd told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that fighting corruption was critical to transforming Nigerias future. ``We have been very active in supporting President Muhammadu Buhari`s campaign against corruption in Nigeria and we think it is fundamental to transform the future of the country. ``We fully support priorities that the President has given to tackling corruption in Nigeria. ``We feel that corruption is absolutely the right priority and we want to support him in that, `` he said. He pointed out that there was so much workers in the public sector could do to reduce corruption through effective accounting systems. Hurd told NAN that his country was working with the Federal Government and the Civil Society Organisations on attitudinal change in the Nigerian society. ``We think corruption holds Nigeria back and for every pound that is taken out of the public system through corruption, is a pound that could be spent educating children. ``It is a pound that could be spent educating girls and developing the health system that the country can be proud of. ``That is the kind of attitude that we would like to encourage and, therefore, we support the President in that, `` he said. Hurd said that the UK Prime Minister David Cameron, like President Buhari, is also passionate to rid his country of corruption. ``Which is why next month, he (Cameron) is holding an anti-corruption summit in London and we very much hope that Nigeria will be well represented in that conference. The residents made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Olugboboro on Sunday. NAN recalls that an explosion occurred at an oil field operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in the area on March 26, killing three workers. Dr Peter Irabor, Director-General, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), who confirmed the loss of lives in the March 26 explosion, attributed it to poor safety procedures at the oil field. Mr Ebidimie Ugbe, spokesperson of Olugboboro Community Development Committee, said he was worried about the frequency of explosions in the area and the number of lives being lost. He said that the explosions that took 17 lives within eight months in the area cast doubts on the safety measures taken by the oil firm. ``After the incident, the Oil and Gas Task Force came into our community with some men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and urged us to show them where the oil spillage occurred. ``We led them to the site. But some people are now insinuating that the community is culpable; I stand to say that our people are not part of the cause of the oil spill. ``We did not know what caused the spill and we do not know about plans to sabotage the oil facility. What I am saying is that they should investigate it, he said. Another resident, Mr Iboro Biekiri, urged the government to investigate the cause of frequent explosions at Agips oil fields in the area. ``The actual cause of the frequent blasts should be properly investigated rather than some people insinuating that the fire was caused by explosives, Biekiri said. Meanwhile officials of NAOC and its parent company, Eni had declined comments on the incidents. The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that if more lawyers undertook to provide probono (free) services for inmates, it would help reduce overcrowding in the prisons. A lawyer and civil rights activist, Mr Justice Chimezie said that some accused persons in prison custody desired free legal representation. He said that a handful of such accused persons could not afford to pay for the services of a lawyer, and so, were forced to remain in custody unrepresented. Chimezie pointed out that if every lawyer undertook to represent an accused, it would go a long way to facilitate dispensation of justice and help to reduce the number of inmates in the prisons. Speaking along the same vein, another lawyer and social critic, Mr Anthony Makolo, also urged his colleagues to assist in bringing hope to indigent inmates, who could not afford to pay for their legal services. He said that most lawyers were reluctant to undertake probono cases, either due to the existence of the Legal Aid Council, or the Office of the Public Defender. He said that although these units had a duty of securing free representation for accused persons, there was still room for the provision of more legal services for inmates. He insisted that the task of providing probono services for accused persons could not be left entirely to the units, adding that every lawyer was a stakeholder. ``I think every lawyer should be able to take up at least one case free of charge each year; this will assist in reducing the number of inmates lingering in custody," he said Also speaking, Mr Peter Ohazuruike, a lawyer, commended his colleagues who strive to undertake the defence of accused persons who could not afford their legal fees. He declared that the desire to undertake free legal representation of accused persons should be of paramount concern to lawyers. The attack took place on Friday in the Jakaya area that straddles the border, in a region that hosts alongside a neighbouring province more than 284,000 South Sudanese refugees who fled conflict in the world's youngest nation. "140 civilians died in the attack carried out by bandits that crossed from South Sudan," a statement from the government communications office said. "Ethiopian troops are pursuing the bandits inside South Sudan. 60 of the assailants have been killed so far," it added. South Sudanese officials were not immediately available for comment. Under pressure from the region, the United States, the United Nations and other powers, South Sudan's feuding sides signed an initial peace deal in August and agreed to share out ministerial positions in January. Fighting broke out in December 2013 months after President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar as vice president, exacerbating a political dispute that reopened ethnic rifts between Kiir's Dinka ethnic group and Machar's Nuer. Machar said last week he would return to the capital Juba on April 18 to form a transitional government with Kiir. Police stormed the home of Ousainu Darboe, leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), rounding up supporters and party officials who had gathered there, witnesses told Reuters by telephone from the capital Banjul. Darboe was among those arrested, family members said. He had earlier held a news conference where he demanded answers from the authorities amid reports that Solo Sandeng, the party's National Organising Secretary, had been tortured to death while in detention. "I'm ready to die. I'm not going to ask for police permission (to demonstrate). I want to see the body of Solo, dead or alive," Darboe said, according to a witness who was present. The government of the tiny West African nation had acknowledged making arrests following Thurday's demonstration. Police sources confirmed Sandeng had been among those detained. The small protest, which called for election reforms and free speech protection, was a rare act of defiance and occurred while President Yahya Jammeh was in Turkey attending a summit of Islamic countries. Government and security officials were not available to comment on Saturday, but Amnesty International said that, according to information it had received, Sandeng had died. "The tragic death in detention of Solo Sandeng must leave no space for impunity. The authorities must conduct an immediate, thorough and independent investigation," said Sabrina Mahtani, Amnesty International West Africa researcher. Amnesty said that another detained UDP member, Fatoumata Jawara, was also believed to be suffering from serious injuries. Jammeh, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994, has made headlines for eccentric proclamations, including a claim to have invented a cure for HIV/AIDS and his recent surprise decision to make Gambia an Islamic republic. But he is also regularly denounced by rights groups and foreign governments for ruthlessly stamping out political dissent in the nation of 2 million people, which is a popular beach destination for budget-minded European tourists. On Friday, two Islamic State suicide bombers staged attacks near a cement factory in the west of the city where fighters are holding out, though only one of the bombs caused casualties, army spokesman Milad al-Zawie said. Libya has been in crisis since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with violence escalating in 2014. Islamic State posted a message on social media saying dozens of soldiers had been killed by the bombers, but Zawie said just six soldiers were killed and 25 were wounded on Friday. A Reuters reporter saw the bodies of at least five militants, including two suicide bombers, killed in the clashes. Eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar launched his Operation Dignity campaign against Islamist militants and other opponents in Benghazi in May 2014 and that fighting has caused major damage to the city. Nevertheless, the military has been unable to achieve its stated aim of securing control of Benghazi. Haftar is allied to a government that moved to eastern Libya after a rival administration was installed by its armed supporters in Tripoli in 2014. Ban, in a statement on Sunday in New York, said he learnt with dismay, of the death in detention, of political activist and opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) member, Solo Sandeng and two fellow party members. The secretary-general expressed his ``heartfelt'' condolences to the families of the deceased. In the statement, Ban said that the three died following their arrest on Friday for participating in a peaceful protest in Banjul. He, therefore, called on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all persons arrested, including UDP leader, Ousainou Darboe. Ban also called on the Gambian authorities to uphold the rights of the Gambian people to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. NAN reports that Gambian security forces on Friday rounded up dozens of political activists calling for the resignation of strongman President, Yahya Jammeh, ahead of his re-election attempt scheduled for December. If youve been wanting to experience one of the areas national parks and have been waiting for the right time, that time is now. If youve been wanting to experience one of the areas national parks and have been waiting for the right time, that time is now. Death Valley National Park and all other national parks in the area are celebrating National Park Week, saving visitors money by waiving the entrance fees to their natural wonders. From Saturday until April 24, entrance fees like Death Valleys normal $20 per car fee will be waived, in addition to other parks fees in the area. I hope the entrance fee waivers will provide an extra motivation to encourage people to come visit this spectacular national park,said Mike Reynolds, Death Valley National Park superintendent. If you cant make it out this week, there are three other times that entry fees will be waived before the end of the year. From August 25th through the 28th for the National Park Services 100th Birthday Weekend, September 24th for National Public Lands Day and November 11 to celebrate Veterans Day. Entry fees into other national parks will be waived as well. Those fees go toward funding projects like improving the picnic area at Furnace Creek, improving the visitor use area at Dantes View, repaving the Sunset Campground, and repairs to flood-damaged buildings and infrastructure at Scottys Castle. The remaining 20 percent of entrance fee revenue goes to support projects primarily at parks that do not charge an entrance fee. This year is a special time to visit a national park because the National Park Service is celebrating its 100th anniversary. There are 410 units of the National Park System, including national recreation areas such as Lake Mead in Clark County and national historic sites such as Manzanar in California. Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter. An extensive investigation dubbed Operation Methed Up into the manufacture of methamphetamine in Scott County may be at an end, but Scott County Sheriffs Office investigators say they are still seeing the shake-and-bake conspiracies. I cant say its surprising, Scott County Sheriffs Lt. Tim Lane said. Its an addictive drug, and people are not readily willing to give up their addiction until they are more in a corner. They need to either realize that theyve got a problem and go into treatment or they get caught by us. But its not just the homemade meth that investigators on both sides of the river are seeing. Police have made several busts of suspected dealers and middlemen of the higher-quality crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice. Its not really that rare that we would see (crystal meth), Lane said. I think more than anything, because recently a lot of our investigations have pointed toward the manufacture of it, it seems like its maybe a little bit newer than what it was. Switching focus James Rieck, director of the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, said agents have seen more crystal ice coming up from Mexico over the past year and a half. One reason for that, he said, is that Mexican drug cartels that once grew marijuana turned more toward crystal meth and heroin once marijuana became legal in Colorado, Rieck said. Theyre shifting their focus as far as where theyre making their money at, he said. Theres more money in this now. Dealing in crystal meth can be a lucrative business. The drug on average can cost $100 to $150 a gram on the street, while meth made using the one-pot method can fetch $80 to $100 per gram, Rieck said. On April 7, agents in Moline arrested Cesar Angeles Ballesteros in connection with an international methamphetamine operation that has ties to Mexico, Iowa, Illinois and Arizona, among other places, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court, Davenport. The investigation also resulted in the arrests of five other people, including Theresa Morales of Bettendorf, who told investigators that she had transported meth for Ballesteros about 12 times, with the largest amount being 15 pounds, according to court documents. Once the drug crosses state lines, investigators are more apt to seek federal prosecution, Rieck said. It just makes prosecution a lot more effective, he said. On April 6, Scott County Sheriffs investigators arrested Gage A. Wenthe, 25, at the home of Davenport 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Boom. According to court records, investigators seized crystal meth, marijuana, suspected marijuana wax, an unknown white powder, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, packaging materials and two rifles. Wenthes cellphone had several text message conversations conspiring with others in the sales, purchase and use of illegal controlled substances in the Quad-City area, authorities said. Boom, who was out of town at a conference at the time of the search, is not facing charges in connection with the case. Later that day, investigators arrested Joseph A. Terry, 39, after he was found in possession of approximately 63 grams of ice methamphetamine, a digital scale, $1,375 cash, 37 hydrocodone pills, packaging materials and drug paraphernalia, according to court documents. The sheriff's department has declined to say whether there are ties between Terry, Wenthe and a third man, Bradley J. St. Clair, 35, who was arrested April 13 after investigators say he had a small amount of crystal methamphetamine hidden in his shoe during a search of his home. Lane said he did not know exactly why the department is seeing crystal meth lately, but theorized that some users involved in other meth conspiracies have found it to be less risky than making it on their own. Shake and bake Operation Methed Up began after investigators received a tip in August about a possible methamphetamine lab in Lakeside Manor Park in west Davenport. Although no lab was found, the investigation led the department to search multiple houses and vehicles. Forty-six people were arrested on various charges, such conspiracy and possession of pseudoephedrine, by February. Since then, two more people have been arrested. With the shake-and-bake, or one-pot method, cooks combine pseudoephedrine tablets, lithium commonly found in batteries, Coleman fuel, water and ammonia nitrate found in cold packs in a container, such as a 20-ounce plastic soda bottle. The chemical reaction caused by mixing the ingredients leaves behind a crystalline power that users can smoke, snort or ingest. Ten years ago, both Iowa and Illinois passed laws that placed pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant used to make methamphetamine, behind the counter in pharmacies and set a limit to how much buyers could get a month. The laws also required buyers to be at least 18 and show an ID when purchasing pseudoephedrine. Pharmacists also must maintain a log of those purchases. Investigators have said the shake-and-bake methods of making methamphetamine began to emerge once the state put a restriction on the purchase of pseudoephedrine. Cooks often will lean on others to go to drug stores to buy pseudoephedrine. Although Operation Methed Up has essentially closed, investigators have continued to make more meth-manufacturing conspiracy arrests in Davenport, Bettendorf and Milan. What investigators have found in these investigations is that meth users are interconnected, Lane said. Its one of those things where the number of individuals that are involved are changing every day because every day, theres more and more information that is uncovered about who is involved and what their involvement is, he said. Rieck said the conspiracy related to making meth can be much bigger than those involved in the sale of crystal meth. If youre making large amounts of methamphetamine and youre doing it with the pseudoephedrine, you just have to involve more people in your organization because you need more people to run out and get it, he said. It takes more of an organization as opposed to someone just running out and grabbing a pound if theyve got a dealer that they can get it from, bring it back and sell it. Rieck said he thinks meth in the Quad-Cites has stayed at a constant level. I dont think were at a high point or a low point, I think its been constant at least over the last couple of years, he said. What were seeing here is consistent with whats going on nationwide. DES MOINES When Bettendorf brothers Mike and Matt Blaum decided in 2013 to open a whiskey distillery, they chose Galena, Ill., in part because they found Illinois state regulations more favorable than Iowas. Three years later, small Iowa distilleries continue to fight for what they say would be more equitable state laws. Really, its a fairness issue, said Garrett Burchett, owner of Mississippi River Distilling Co. in LeClaire. Iowas alcohol laws are grounded in a so-called three-tier system in which an independent distributor must operate between the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The system goes back to the 1930s and the repeal of Prohibition. The state has carved out some exceptions along the way, allowing small wineries and craft breweries to sell their product on-site. Distilleries that produce hard liquor seek a similar exception but have failed over the past four years to convince state lawmakers. Weve seen tremendous growth in the Iowa wine and beer industry, and what were asking for is the same thing, the same privileges youve extended to the beer and wine producers in the state, extend those to the distillers, Burchett said. The Blaums, who grew up in Bettendorf, decided to open their distillery in Illinois instead of Iowa in part because of that disparity in Iowas regulations. Illinois, like all six states that border Iowa and 36 total, allows distilleries to sell spirits by the glass, according to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. Yeah, it was definitely a consideration, Matt Blaum said. We were looking at Iowa and Illinois at the time, and the Illinois laws seemed to be a bit better. That was one of the reasons we ended up in Galena. There is legislation in the Iowa House that would allow distilleries to sell spirits in glasses currently, they can provide only free samples and raise to nine liters the amount of spirits a distillery may sell to visitors. The bill passed a subcommittee in early March but has not received any legislative action since. Distillery owners say the legislation has been thwarted by big beer companies and wholesalers, and they point to political donations made by the groups. The only groups registered in opposition to the current legislation are Anheuser-Busch and the Iowa Wholesale Beer Distributors Association. The wholesale distributors association donated $181,000 to state legislators from both political parties between 2013 and 2015, according to state campaign finance records. Its real straightforward: Its big beer, said Jeff Quint, owner of Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery in Swisher. Its just big beer thats fighting it, and this bill doesnt have the word beer in it once. Distillers said they think large beer companies and wholesale distributors view the legislation as an avenue to increased competition. Its my opinion, of course, that distributors and the major (companies) are looking at what happened to the microbrewery industry and how it blossomed and became around (12 percent) of total beer sales, and how they just ignored it too long, said Gregory Brunelle, owner of Werner Distilling in Holstein. I think they saw that, and they dont want that to happen (again). When asked whether his group is responsible for legislative leaders not moving the bill, Iowa Wholesale Beer Distributors Association executive director Nathan Cooper said state lawmakers have always supported the three-tier system and the proposed legislation would weaken that system. Cooper said beer distributors support current state regulations. This bill weakens the legitimacy of the system that Iowa has chosen to regulate alcohol, Cooper said. The three-tier system has helped provide a safe environment for consumers, and many Iowans are successfully employed because of it. It works for Iowa. Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said the bill has not moved because support among lawmakers is divided. There are people all over the map. Its one of those things where there are many different opinions about how this should be done, Upmeyer said. Were trying to work across the rotunda as well (with Senate Democrats) to make sure were all moving forward together. If were going to be able to get something done, we need to work on it together. But Rep. Guy Vander Linden, R-Oskaloosa, who chairs the Houses state government committee that introduced the bill, thinks there is enough support to pass the bill. Im convinced it would pass the House if it came to the floor, Vander Linden said. Vander Linden said he supports the bill and thinks it would provide an economic boon to the state. Burchett agrees, saying he thinks he could double his workforce, and he and Quint said the growth of distilleries would benefit Iowas agricultural economy. This is an industry we think, in terms of Iowa and agriculture, that really lends itself to the industry, Burchett said. Whiskey is made primarily from corn, and certainly, we have a lot of that sitting around. It all comes down to fairness, distillers said, which is why Quint said he is frustrated and saddened that it appears once again lawmakers will not act on the issue. Every state around us has figured out how to do this. Wineries and breweries have figured out how to do this. Yet here in Iowa, we cant figure out a way to do this, Quint said. I think thats an excuse for inaction, and thats looking like what were going to get. My commitment to hold a constituent meeting in every Iowa county every year is based on the firm belief that to make the process of representative government work, there must be dialogue between those of us elected and the people we represent. Im in the middle of my 36th year of holding those meetings, and Iowans have kept their end of the bargain, too, by asking questions at open town meetings, businesses, factories, service organizations, hospitals and schools. Ive already held meetings in 52 Iowa counties this year. I spent the two weeks of the latest congressional recess with Iowans, holding 19 constituent meetings including three open town meetings and 16 question and answer sessions at schools, businesses, factories, service clubs and hospitalssimilar to my schedule last March. These 99 county meetings each year are official business meetings. Any political event or activity is handled separately. I make a point to have different types of official meetings so that Iowans who are unable to leave work to attend an open town meeting have an opportunity to ask me questions. When meetings are at factories and other workplaces they typically include a brief tour, but the vast majority of the time is spent in Q and A with a gathering of employees, which is sometimes hundreds of Iowans. For instance, during the last recess I had the opportunity to have a Q&A with 145 employees at Scranton Manufacturing, where management shut down the assembly line so workers could participate if they wanted to. Just two years ago I had a town meeting with 55 people, and last year had a Q&A with students at Greene County High School. This variety gives me an opportunity to have dialogue with Greene County residents from all walks of life and all ages. And while some political activist groups have tried to convince Iowans that my town meeting schedule is different than in previous years, the Cedar Rapids Gazette Fact Checker gave these bogus claims an F. The Gazette article said, Grassley has held more public town halls than he did in comparable congressional recesses in 2014 and 2015, and more events overall this period than in the two previous ones. I appreciate that the Quad-City Times is concerned about the Supreme Court as the editorial board has expressed. Iowans are too. Local residents and out-of-staters alike have attended my meetings. Iowans are concerned about the Supreme Court making politically-based decisions about constitutional rights that have a real impact on their families, their ability to practice their faith, and their freedom to bear arms. And most agreed that the best use of the Senates time is to continue working on a bipartisan legislative agenda like criminal justice reform, appropriations and national security and the other topics brought up at my meetings. I spoke to Chief Judge Garland the same day he was nominated and have met with him for breakfast. This opportunity for Iowans to have a voice in the role of the court in our federal government and the direction it will take over the next generation is one of the most important well make. Theres a lot at stake, and its exactly why we shouldnt throw any nominee into the political cauldron of an election year. Sagarmatha Network Pvt. Ltd. is the organization dedicated in the field of printing, publishing service since 2001. As part of media, we've been publishing Review Nepal, an English medium weekly registered at District Administration Office (DAO) Kathmandu with registration number 130-162-163 and reviewnepal.com as an online digital newspaper, with registration number 849-075-076 at Department of Informational and Broadcasting (DIB) from Kathmandu, Nepal since 2003. 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 Here's what the new Docking State Office Building could look like "2,500 cons could get 'spring' break" | Main | Another court exressly embraces 1-to-1 sentencing ratio for all crack sentencings April 2, 2010 Should sexting lead to sex offender registration? NYU law professor Amy Adler says "sexting" -- teens sending and receiving pictures of themselves in sexually suggestive poses -- wasn't even on the Supreme Court's radar when justices made their pornography ruling 28 years ago. "Technically, it is child pornography," said Adler. "But I don't think it's the kind of case where child pornography law is the right legal framework to use to judge it."... "One thing is I think we may be sending mixed messages to teens right now, because mainstream culture is showing teens in all sorts of sexual scenarios," said Adler. "Mainstream television with "Gossip Girl," showing teens hooking up, Miley Cyrus engaging in what many people thought was pole dancing at the "Teen Choice Awards." So on the one hand we have mainstream sexual depiction of teens, and on the other hand we're telling teens that if they do that themselves, they can go to jail." Plenty of teens are finding that out. In Iowa, Jorge Canal had to register as a sex offender, like Alpert, for sending a nude picture of himself to a 15-year-old girl. He was 18 at the time. In separate cases in Pennsylvania and Ohio, kids who've sent or received and distributed sexy photos have agreed to curfew, community service, or no cell phone or Internet usage for a few months. "Child pornography law was crafted to protect children from pedophiles, that's the idea behind it," said Adler. "But now what we have is the law applying to situations where the child himself or herself is making the pornography. So it's this odd situation where suddenly the pornographer and the victim are one in the same person. And in my view that's not the kind of scenario that child pornography law should cover." Three states -- Nebraska, Utah and Vermont -- have already changed their laws. Fourteen other states ... are considering changes. The question in the title of this post is inspired by this long ABC News piece from a segment on Nightline, which is headlined "'Sexting': Should Child Pornography Laws Apply?; Legal Debate Springs Up After Man Put on Sex Offender List for Forwarding Risque Images." Here is a snippet: April 2, 2010 at 09:37 AM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20133ec67d0c7970b Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Should sexting lead to sex offender registration?: Comments Sexting should not lead to sex offender registration. It should not be addressed by law enforcement. Posted by: beth | Apr 2, 2010 9:57:59 AM OT, but something nice for Good Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oVVitkT35w Posted by: federalist | Apr 2, 2010 10:31:51 AM "But now what we have is the law applying to situations where the child himself or herself is making the pornography. So it's this odd situation where suddenly the pornographer and the victim are one in the same person. And in my view that's not the kind of scenario that child pornography law should cover." But the problem with that position is that it's based upon a fundamental misunderstanding of how child pornography is actually made. It's factually wrong. A significant portion of child porn is not made by the adult; it's made by the child. The child takes the picture, the child films the scene. Sometimes it's done POV style, sometimes it's a child taking pictures of another child, sometimes it's children doing it all with no adults involved. The situation where there is a single adult taking pictures or filming a movie as they abuse a child is only a small sub-portion of child porn. That situation be what the public thinks of as the "the classic case" but that's just the point, it's classic; it's not how child porn is actually made anymore. The problem with excepting sexting from child porn laws is that most child porn today is a simply sexting in some form or another. It is a seriously a dumb position (and mean it when I say dumb) to attempt to delineate child porn based up either the medium in which it is transmitted or who the producer is. A a mentioned in a post some time ago. Children produce child porn. That's the essence of what it means to groom a child. Posted by: Daniel | Apr 2, 2010 11:26:11 AM Daniel, I don't know what the actual quantity is, but I imagine that the child pornography traded over the internet, which almost certainly accounts for the vast majority of convictions today, is not produced at the initiative of the victim. I really think the major point of divergence is the age range. While visual depictions of all minors (defined as under age 18 regardless of the age of consent) constitutes child pornography for purposes of federal and (most or all) state laws, the bulk of the child pornography prosecutions involve depictions of preteens, and the bulk of "sexting" cases involve teenagers creating nude photographs of themselves, on their own initiative. Which is to say that the "sexting" cases rarely if ever involve the production of contraband by another adult; in most cases the adults simply stumble upon the images after they have been created by the teenagers. As far as "sexting" goes, the case of Jorge Canal is different. As an adult (age 18), he is free to take nude photographs of himself and to share them with other adults. He is not free to share them with minors, and that's the relevant registry offense, not child pornography. That case does not involve any contraband, just a prohibited activity/transaction. Of course, this is a Romeo & Juliet style prosecution, as the age difference (three years) is certainly not the conduct contemplated by the Iowa legislature when it prohibited the activity. As for real "sexting," I don't know the best way to address it. Maybe by providing an affirmative defense of some sort. Posted by: Alec | Apr 2, 2010 1:06:04 PM how true alec! MOST of it is put there by the U.S Govt Law Enforcement. i've seen numbers that suggest upward of 80% of it is infact placed by the FBI as bait! Posted by: rodsmith | Apr 2, 2010 2:30:54 PM Alec. Thanks for trying to engage this in a sensible way. The difficulty is that "initiative" is as foggy as "consent" in these cases. The most fundamental technique of child pornographers is to make the child a willing albeit unwitting victim in their own abuse. The idea that all children "rat" on their abusers is unfounded. Look to the Elizabeth Smart case for an object lesson. Even when confronted by police officers she initially denied her own identity. Of course teens are going to say that they were only engaged in sexting; that's exactly and precisely what their abusers have taught them to say. Furthermore, while it is true that child abuse can occur to a child of any age it's unfounded to think that many of these cases involve preteens. Regrettably, due to our harsh penal code, it's impossible to get a realistic handle on how the explosion of child porn on the internet has changed the face of pedophilia. But if we look at both historical (pre 1980) data and data from other countries we don't see any disproportional bias towards preteens. In fact, one of the more controversial aspect of the new DSM 5 is precisely the argument that there is no objective basis for a distinction between pedophiles who abuse preteens and those who abuse teens. The media would like you to think that "baby rape" is what pedophilia is all about but if you have the impression that most sexual offenders who are filling up our jails are engaged in that behavior you are simply misinformed. The real problem here isn't age. The real problem is that there is no objective basis for determining what is "innocent" pranking and what is abuse. You ether have to ban all of it or ban none of it; otherwise you are making shit as you go along and mocking the concept of equality before the law. Posted by: Daniel | Apr 2, 2010 2:41:49 PM Sexting prosecutions confabulate viewing with pedophilia. Ask yourself whether we are scared of sexters or merely made at them. If we are merely mad at them then why do they need to register? Registration should be reserved for those we are scared of not those we are mad at. Posted by: K | Apr 2, 2010 8:08:23 PM The answer is obvious. No. I have a far more useful idea. Any lawyer engaging in "pretexting" should get listed in a lex offender registry. Such an individual should have a review of all licenses, including that to drive. He should be denied housing, services, products, the vote, and surely get banned from serving in elected office. Should we be afraid of the registered lex offender? You bet, very afraid. He is an abuser of the law for base, rent seeking purposes. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 3, 2010 12:14:43 AM These pictures document the time of life when the person looks their best. No one will ever look better than during their teens. They have esthetic, artistic and personal nostalgia value. They also document a period of time in life when one is a total knucklehead. They may be shown to one's children when the latter try this argument, "You just don't understand." Case closed. They may end up on name badges during high school reunions at certain intervals, with their value increasing as time passes. So they may be annoying and embarrassing at the 10th year reunion, but precious at the 50th year one. Their purposes are sometimes admitted by their makers. They want to make a boyfriend jealous or regret dumping them. The prosecution has the burden of proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, to show the interest is in prurience. When has that ever taken place, or even been demanded by weak defense lawyers? Because of the ubiquity of these crimes, in the absence of substantial harm or damage, one suspects lawyer job generation is the aim of these prosecutions. They are also easy prosecutions, with objective evidence. The wrongful intent is not being proven. Because of the corrupt and improper motive, these prosecutions should result in money sanctions and legal costs to the personal assets of the prosecutors, not to those of the taxpayers. Make these prosecutorial dunderheads start doing their jobs stopping strangers from picking up little kids from streets, by force, raping them and dumping their bodies. Those folks have nearly total immunity, right now, thanks to the pro-criminal, dumbass lawyer running the criminal law. After the first conviction, waterboarding, a harmless enhancement of interrogation, should be permitted as a tool to clear many remaining unsolved case of child disappearance. The chance of any kind of hassle for kidnapping, assault, making recordings of such, is now about 1 in 100. That includes lawyer customers supervised by probation. One wants to just beat, with a stick, the incompetent, worthless, dumbass, self-dealing, lazy, government slacker lawyer. Go after kids. Immunize serial child killers. That is the cuckoo current, dumbass lawyer policy in effect. All biased, pro-criminal judges must also be impeached. The judges should be held personally accountable in torts for the damage done by the criminals they released if they deviated from judge standards of professional care. These biased pro-criminal activist judges ignore professional assessments of great dangerousness. Why? To protect the lawyer customer, and to generate more government sinecures. On the appellate bench, they invent law and legislate. These inventions and personal preferences almost always go in one direction, toward more legal procedure, for lawyer jobs. For that, they should be arrested for insurrection against the applicable constitution with a corrupt aim, rent seeking. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 3, 2010 8:16:10 AM I find it a delicious irony that the great Claus, who has on numerous occasions criticized the judge and the jury for engaging in mind reading and mental voodoo, now all of a sudden insists that the judge and the jury do just that when it comes to matters of sex. Oh what a tangled web we sow, when first we have too much fun being an internet troll. Posted by: Daniel | Apr 3, 2010 11:00:26 AM Daniel: Personal remarks show frustration in the traverse. You can do better. Sometimes I address the law as it is today. Intent is unlawful, awful, and supernatural, borrowed from a church. This church attributed this power to God, in their faith. Not even the Medieval church believed man could read minds. Only the dumbass lawyer has been indoctrinated to believe that. I favor making all crime strict liability. But that is not the way the law is today. The intent was to make a boyfriend jealous. The prosecution must prove otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt, not jealousy but prurience. How would you go about doing that? If you say, the images were sold to others for prurience, then arrest the others, not the maker of the images. If they circulated to 10% of a 1000 student high school, you got 100 cases. Go ahead. Try to charge 100 kids with federal child porn charges. Meanwhile, your real customer is trolling for kids walking to school, grabbing them, using them, killing them, and you are doing nothing about it. As to trolling, who is a bigger troll than the lawyer? I have not generated $millions in defense costs. I have not imprisoned millions of innocent people. I am not destroying our economy, as the lawyer is doing. I am not allowing 17,000 murders and advocating loosing a million violent offenders. I am not causing every medical error (correct, the cause of every medical error is the lawyer). I am not suppressing our growth rate from 9% to 3%. I am not generating a $million in losses to our nation every year I breathe and work as a lawyer. No bigger troll than the lawyer land pirate. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 3, 2010 11:47:39 AM I agree with Daniel that Alec shows a sensible and fact-oriented approach. Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 4, 2010 10:33:24 AM (1) Daniel writes that we should register those of whom we are "scared," and not those at whom we are simply "mad." However, this begs the definition of being "scared" (or fear) and the definition of "mad" (which we will accept as "anger" rather than the hysterical irrationality we could construe the term in this case to reflect). (2) Fear (or the state of being scared) comes from either a natural aversion to perceived risks of harm or injury. When afraid, human beings make a flight or fight determination. However, one interesting quirk among human beings is the tendency to fear the unknown or unquantifiable. Thus, that about which we have insufficient data, often leads to fear. Thus, in this case we are quick to register while also being slow to study the situation to determine if either the initial response will work or if the initial response was appropriate--often this slowness comes from a fear of determining we are (or were) incorrect in the initial response. (3) Anger comes from fear. Face it. When we are angry it is because we feel threatened in some way (and thus have a fear of certain loss). We respond to protect our percieved or real interest through aggression or other anger-based action. But ultimately, our anger comes from our fear. (4) I tend to believe that if the American people were to stop and see actual data on sex crimes, recidivism and the effectiveness of treatment programs, the fear would subside and a more rational approach to the issue of preventing abuse would emerge. However, this would cost many politicians who have built their careers on perpetuating this fear. Most have relied on either old data, insufficient data, or purely fictional 'data' rather than conducting any reasonable amount of due diligence before approaching the election-time stump. We are enforcing sex offender registration because we are in fact 'mad,' and not simply afraid or angry. As a result we will ultimately lose our democracy to our own irrationality. Anyone interested in the collection of studies I have been reading to form this opinion should visit http://prevent-abuse.com or the public repository I have created at http://samcaldwell.net Posted by: Sam Caldwell | Apr 4, 2010 2:58:27 PM Sam. You attributed the quote to the wrong person. I most definitely do NOT think that and in fact I avoided commenting on K's remark because I thought it was just silly. Posted by: Daniel | Apr 5, 2010 1:42:00 PM while neither of the cases discussed in the article are the classic icky perv type of case, both defendants have little room to complain. the florida defendant in particular has no room at all to complain about being branded a "sex offender." had he merely received photos as a teenager from his teenaged girlfriend, he'd be a sympathetic defendant - however, he intentionally and maliciously fowarded photos of her with the intention of hurting her. while being branded an "icky perv" may be unfair, its not unfair to see him as a total jerk. while harsh and not at all what the law and registration is intended, i have little issue at all with harsh consequences attaching to people who maliciously forward photos with the purpose of hurting their ex-girlfriend. there really isn't much different practically speaking between forwarding private naughty pictures or a violent physical or sexual assault - both have the same purpose of "punishing" the girl - surely the sex offender registry is not an inappropriate place for a person who intentionally seeks to sexually degrade another, even if it was only "virtual." really, even if the "victim" was an adult, there could perhaps be harassment charges brought as well as civil liability - in fact, i think that its now specifically listed as a sex offense in many states to intentionally forward private photos without consent. he may not be an icky perv, but he is a icky jerk and being an icky jerk is sufficient in my mind to qualify as a sex offender. the iowa case is more problematic - he should still be convicted, but of lesser charges, maybe with no registration aspects as is done with consent laws in many states. branding him an "icky perv" is totally unfair - it wouldn't be unfair to charge him with a lesser crime which doesn't require sex offender registration, but that is up to the legislature to decide. ginny :) Posted by: virginia | Apr 6, 2010 10:18:47 AM As a criminal defense attorney, I cannot see the rationale between life time registration for a "young" 21 year old male who received messages from a 15 year old and responded twice. The law must be changed. Posted by: Adam Weiner | Apr 8, 2010 1:20:07 PM Post a comment Detroit City Council to make a victim impact statement in sentencing of former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick | Main | Lots of good reading around the blogsphere May 21, 2010 "Student's Privacy Rights Violated in Pa. 'Sexting' Case, ACLU Suit Says" The hot-button issue of "sexting" is coming back to court and this time the ACLU is setting out to establish that high school students have a right to privacy that includes the contents of their cell phones. A team of lawyers from Cozen O'Connor has partnered with the ACLU of Pennsylvania to sue on behalf of a student who claims her constitutional rights were violated when the principal confiscated her cell phone, found nude images she had taken of herself and turned it over to prosecutors. ACLU legal director Witold Walczak said the issue is an important one because many school officials incorrectly believe they have the right to search through cell phones whenever a student is misusing one. "We try to explain to them that they have the right to confiscate it, but they don't have the right to look through it," Walczak said in an interview. Once again, the case stems from the wave of sexting discovered among students at Tunkhannock junior and senior high schools in Wyoming County, Pa., and the reactions it sparked in school officials and prosecutors. In a previous lawsuit that was aimed only at the Wyoming County prosecutors, three students won an injunction that barred any prosecutions of students on child pornography charges for the nude and semi-nude images found on their phones. According to that suit, school officials turned over the students' phones to former Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick Jr., who responded by targeting 13 girls and three boys with threats of criminal charges if they did not agree to take a class he had designed on the dangers of sexting. Most agreed to take the class to avoid prosecution, but three of the girls and their parents instead enlisted the help of the ACLU to challenge the threatened prosecutions. Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania won an injunction from U.S. District Judge James Munley that was later upheld by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The title of this post is the headline of this interesting piece by Shannon Duffy in the The Legal Intelligencer. Here is how it starts: Some related "sexting" posts: May 21, 2010 at 11:23 AM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20133ee270701970b Listed below are links to weblogs that reference "Student's Privacy Rights Violated in Pa. 'Sexting' Case, ACLU Suit Says": Comments Sad as it is, I think the precedents are on the side of the school administrators, at least when it comes to searching phones brought to the school. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | May 21, 2010 12:43:26 PM I don't know the legal term for this. However, if I burn down my house, and make no insurance claim, if I homicide myself, if I crash my car into a tree, intentionally, No one has a right to prosecute me. Crime must involve the harming of another. How is sexting different from all those self-inflicted acts? It can not be crime, by definition. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | May 21, 2010 1:54:36 PM One wonders why the ACLU dumbasses did not pick up on this simplest of issues. One wonders why they went for a complicated, difficult, Ninth Amendment beef against the school. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | May 21, 2010 7:14:14 PM article: "a student who claims her constitutional rights were violated when the principal confiscated her cell phone, found nude images she had taken of herself and turned it over to prosecutors." me: i graduated from high school recently enough to remember that my school prohibited students from using cell phones during the day and i had to keep my cell phone in my locker during the day. i'd be very surprised if there wasn't a similar policy which could be sufficient to create reasonable suspicion of illegal activities, for example, sexting :P to justify a search to see if other rules were being violated. ginny :) Posted by: virginia | May 22, 2010 1:31:01 PM Post a comment Appears to be a rescue operation in progress at Ocean Beach. 2 teens stuck past the break. SFFD & USCG on scene. pic.twitter.com/T8rIyBS8Jf Eddie Codel (@ekai) April 17, 2016 Yesterday in the midst of our heatwave at Ocean Beach, a group of five teenage friends went running hand-in-hand into the surf in swim trunks, and only three made it back to shore. As ABC 7 and the Chronicle are reporting, two boys, both 17, were swept out by a strong rip current and separated from their friends, and as of 9 p.m. the search for the missing pair was called off. They were both described by their friends as the weakest swimmers in the group, and they are presumed drowned. This all happened around 4:20 p.m. when the Coast Guard received the first report of the missing boys just south of the southernmost windmill on the beach. A rescue effort that included air, land, and sea teams, including jet skis, lasted five hours, until sunset, but Fire Department spokesman Jonathan Baxter said that the Coast Guard estimates that the current could have potentially dragged the boys' bodies 15 miles offshore in that time. He added, "Ocean Beach conditions on a good day are generally enough to pull a grown man into the water." What's especially scary in the ABC 7 account is that the group was standing in waist-deep water when the boys were pulled out by the current. No rescue effort will continue Sunday. National Park Service rescue staff are warning beachgoers today about the rip current, and according to a tweet, telling people to continue to keep an eye out for the missing boys. The three surviving boys, two aged 17 and one 18, were taken to UCSF Hospital in stable condition. BARTLETT, Tenn. | Jackie Hughes longs to grieve over her sister's death in simple ways: visit her grave, lay out flowers, and pour a can of Bud Light her sister's favorite on the spot. But three years after Tawana Hillard's death, Hughes hasn't been able to spill a drop. Hillard is missing. Since her graveside service at Galilee Memorial Gardens near Memphis in 2012, her body has been lost, along with hundreds of others whose remains were entrusted to the cemetery. "I want to be able to walk in, to put flowers down, to just kneel and talk with her, whatever," Hughes says. Instead she leafs through photo albums at home, smiling as she remembers Saturday mornings spent talking with her sister about their love of blues music. Two years ago, state officials closed Galilee. Owner Jemar Lambert was accused of misplacing hundreds of bodies, burying multiple cadavers in the same grave, and crushing caskets to fit them into single plots. Lambert received 10 years' probation in a plea deal. He left behind disorganized records, an investigation that continues today, and families who don't know where their loved ones are buried. Hughes says Lambert told her family that several burials were scheduled the day of her sister's ceremony, so he would put Hillard in her grave later. Other families say Lambert told them the same story. Hughes is among hundreds now suing Galilee and the funeral homes that sent bodies there. She says she would use any damages awarded to find her sister and relocate her body to another cemetery. "How much longer do we have to wait?" Hughes says. "I'm still in limbo." REGULATION UP TO STATES What happened at Galilee is not all that rare. From Washington, D.C., to Chicago and elsewhere, lawsuits have been filed and charges pursued over mismanaged cemeteries, with accusations of unmarked graves, burial urns unearthed and dumped, plots resold, and vaults broken to make room for more remains. Critics and families want more rigorous oversight nationwide, from small, family-run operations like Galilee to well-known national sites such as Arlington National Cemetery. The federal government leaves cemetery regulation largely to states, which vary dramatically in approach, according to an Associated Press analysis of statutes, enforcement and lawsuits. Most states regulate cemeteries that are run as businesses, such as Galilee, but not religious, municipal or family cemeteries. State laws, however, are largely limited to licensing, establishing funeral director boards, developing a complaint process and providing financial protections for consumers who buy plots. Many laws say officials reserve the right to inspect cemeteries, but that occurs only when regulators act on complaints. Few states California is one, Florida another require annual on-site inspections. "Cemetery regulation is almost uniformly awful, where it exists at all," says Joshua Slocum, director of the nonprofit Funeral Consumers Alliance, which has pushed for more federal regulation. A lack of oversight appears to have led to the malfeasance at Galilee, families and attorneys suing the cemetery say. Tennessee law requires records inspections every two years at cemeteries, but not annual inspections of grounds. Aside from revoking or suspending a license, performing random or quarterly inspections, and issuing fines up to about $1,000, Tennessee has little power to punish cemetery owners. In 2010, Jemar Lambert took over the tree-lined Galilee cemetery from his father, whose grave sits unperturbed near the entrance. It catered to working- and middle-class families, most of whom are black. But record-keeping became a problem, according to investigators' reports. BODIES AREN'T FOUND Galilee's registration certificate expired in December 2010. The state didn't renew it after auditors discovered Lambert's disorganized records. The state started investigating, but Lambert kept burying bodies at Galilee for three years as he appealed for a license renewal. By 2013, investigators had accused Lambert of burying up to 200 bodies in land adjacent to Galilee that he didn't own. In 2014, he faced more charges. Relatives of three people buried at Galilee complained to him that they couldn't find the graves. Lambert and two funeral directors searched records, and disinterred and opened caskets finding some that were crushed and stacked in single gravesites. They never found the bodies. The funeral directors informed the state. Investigators charged Lambert with abuse of a corpse and theft, and took over management of the cemetery. In March 2015, Lambert accepted a plea deal. To Hughes, his punishment isn't enough. "Ten years' probation?" she says. "Well, hell. Go on fixin' to do what you was doin', because you're not going to get no time behind it." Investigators have reviewed Galilee's slipshod paper records against the plots and inspected the adjacent land. Experts jabbed a 10-foot pole into the ground in front of grave markers if it didn't go down as far as it should, they'd probably find another set of stacked coffins. Burial areas have been tightened to fit more bodies, some graves are marked occupied but appear empty, and many are too shallow, according to court records. Through his lawyer, Lambert declined an interview. Attorney William J. Haynes III says in a statement that problems at Galilee existed before Lambert was born. "Many of the allegations surrounding Jemar's tenure at Galilee do not take these facts into account. That is highly unfair to Jemar and his family, who have cooperated with the Galilee receivership to the best of their ability," the statement says. WHAT CAN BE DONE? State Sen. Mark Norris, who represents the Memphis suburb Bartlett, home to Galilee, says the state needs to look further into what happened and says officials could consider reviewing cemetery records more frequently. "Perhaps at the beginning of the next General Assembly we'll be able to make some changes that will give people comfort," he says. "It may be cold comfort and it's not going to be enough to really address the suffering of these particular families, but maybe ... because of this terrible experience they've had, others may not experience the same fate." The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance declined to provide an interview with Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak about Galilee and cemetery oversight. Instead, in an email, spokesman Kevin Walters placed blame on Lambert, accusing him of falsifying records to deceive auditors and customers. "We empathize with the people who have been grievously affected by Mr. Lambert's reckless and criminal behavior," Walters wrote. "Today, it is easy for anyone to second guess." Changes in oversight would be unfair to cemeteries "attempting to operate their businesses honorably," Walters wrote. Many of those affected by Galilee think the state hasn't done enough. Wanda Chambers, whose mother and other relatives are buried there, filed a complaint in 2013 with the state, more than two years after Galilee's license expired. She says Lambert was still burying people and Galilee was poorly maintained. She's not satisfied with the state's response. "They should have been able to move a little faster and do a better job to open the cemetery back up to let us go back in," Chambers says. The state says no decision regarding Galilee's future will be made until investigators determine how many grave spaces are occupied. Today at Galilee, friends and family can rarely visit loved ones. Last Memorial Day, the state reopened Galilee for a few hours the only time the gates have opened to the public since February 2014. Visitors navigated uneven grounds, broken headstones and trash. They tiptoed among ragged plots, searching for those they had lost once, and then again. A pastor stood on top of old graves and prayed. A man played "Amazing Grace" on his saxophone. One woman stepped in a hole and fell. Hughes again searched for her sister's gravesite. She cried, holding flowers and balloons. "I can't find my sister," she screamed. Minutes later, she gave up, releasing the balloons toward the heavens. Ray Cole, longtime president and COO of Citadel Communications Company, will be recognized with the Ward L. Quaal Award by the Broadcasters Foundation of America. The award will be presented at the Foundation's annual breakfast on April 20, during the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas. Cole's industry and community leadership positions include: emeritus member and past chairman, ABC Television Board of Governors; board member, Broadcasters Foundation of America; board member, Security National Bank - Sioux City; past board member, National Association of Broadcasters; past board member, Iowa Broadcasters Association; past member, Briar Cliff University Board of Trustees; past board chairman, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; and past board member, United Way of Siouxland. Cole is a native of Kingsley, Iowa. He atteded Briar Cliff College University, during which time he started his broadcasting career as an intern at KCAU-TV (ABC) in Sioux City. In his current role with Citadel, Cole is responsible for the oversight of KLKN-TV (ABC) in Lincoln, Nebraska; WLNE-TV (ABC) in Providence, Rhode Island; and WSNN-LD (Independent News) in Sarasota, Florida. He was previously responsible for WOI-TV (ABC) in Des Moines; KCAU-TV (ABC) in Sioux City; and WHBF-TV (CBS) in Rock Island, Illinois, prior to their sale in March 2014. The Quaal Leadership Awards are given annually in recognition of career contributions to the broadcast industry and the community at large, and are named in honor of iconic broadcaster Ward L. Quaal. Nebraskas zero tolerance policy toward race horses testing positive for certain drugs looks to be coming to an end. As part of an overhaul of state racing rules, Nebraska is on course to adopt a schedule dictating thresholds at which horses will be allowed to test positive for traces of some therapeutic drugs. The Nebraska State Racing Commission held a public hearing Wednesday in Lincoln on 31 proposed rule changes, including the new drug test rules. Having a zero-tolerance policy is a rarity among horse racing states. Its common practice for horses to be given medication for such ailments as ulcers a few days before they race. Under the proposed change, traces of those drugs could show up in urine or blood samples taken at the event without triggering penalties. Now, any trace of certain drugs would result in a positive test, said commission Director Tom Sage. The schedule the racing commission has proposed adopting was created by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium, a collection of 23 organizations including horsemens groups, breed registries, racetracks, racing regulators, industry associations and veterinarians. The schedule already has been adopted entirely or partially by 19 other state regulatory horse racing organizations that make up 90 percent of the racing handle in the United States, Sage said. But some in the industry feel the proposed thresholds remain too stringent, including Nebraska Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association President Barry Lake and Equine Veterinarian Stacy Van Horn. Van Horn also criticized the science behind the proposed rules. Racing officials have been working on the 31 rule changes for two years. It will be the first update since 2007 and will bring Nebraska regulations in line with other states, Sage said. The proposed rules still have to be reviewed by the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, the Governors Policy Research Office, approved by Gov. Pete Ricketts and filed with the Secretary of States Office. Most of the other rules changes dealt with cleaning up state regulations and addressing noncontroversial therapeutic drug issues. Ho-Chunk Inc. has applied to the state commission for a license to open a new short track at the site of the former Atokad Downs in South Sioux City. Ho-Chunk, the economic development corporation for the Winnebago Tribe, has told the commission it plans construct the track this summer and run a race sometime in September. Specific dates haven't been determined. SIOUX CITY | Hallie Salmen has been named the new executive director of Sunrise Retirement Community. Salmen has been the CFO of Sunrise for the past 14 years. She is tasked with providing strategic direction for the retirement community, overseeing all areas of operation, including independent living, assisted living, nursing and memory care. Salmen received her BS in accounting from the University of South Dakota. She is a native of Cherokee, Iowa, and lives in Jackson, Nebraska, with her husband, Jeff, and their three children. Julie Klein, a CPA, has been appointed the new CFO of Sunrise. She brings over 28 years of financial experience to her new position. Klein received her BA in accounting from Briar Cliff University and her MBA from the University of South Dakota. A native of Sheldon, Iowa, Klein resides in Sioux City with her four children. Editor's note: Every other Sunday through the conclusion of this year's session of the Iowa Legislature, our local lawmakers will share their Statehouse views. State Sen. Bill Anderson, R-Pierson I am told we are in the final stretch of the 2016 session. While we have a few policy bills remaining, the major focus from here on out will be the state budget. House and Senate leadership have agreed on the overall size of the budget, spending $7.349 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, FY 2017. This is an increase of about $175 million above the current FY 2016 budget, or a 2.4 percent increase. The large majority of this new increase will go to providing our schools an increase of about 2.25 percent in supplemental state aid. Over the next week, 10 different budget bills will work their way through the legislative process before being sent to Gov. Terry Branstad. Each year about half of the bills originate in one chamber and half of the bills originate in the other chamber. Each year we flip-flop where the bills start. This year, the Administration & Regulations, Education, Transportation and Infrastructure bills start in the Senate. While the increase in this years budget compared to last years seems reasonable, over the last four years government spending has grown by over $1.2 billion. And the rate at which government spending has increased over the last several years far exceeds the growth in Iowa family budgets. In addition, our surplus which reached a high of $927 million in FY 2013, is estimated to be under $80 million at the end of the current budget year, FY 2016. Continuing down this road is unsustainable. State Rep. David Dawson, D-Sioux City According to the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project, a single-parent family with two children has an annual basic budget of about $45,000 per year, requiring an hourly wage of $26, even though most jobs in Iowa pay much less. Even when factoring in health insurance coverage, these families need far more than the median wage in the state just above $16 per hour for a basic needs budget. Despite these needs, it seems unlikely this session that Iowa House Republicans will take up a Senate bill to raise the minimum wage to $8.75/hour. That is why I urge the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors to consider raising the minimum wage for Woodbury County. Other counties, like Johnson and Linn, have already taken initiative in assisting their workforce. Johnson County was the first county in Iowa to implement incremental increases: on 11/1/15, the minimum wage rose to $8.20/hour; on 5/1/16, it will rise to $9.15/hour; and on 1/1/17, it will rise to $10.10/hour. Linn County is considering a similar plan. Woodbury County should do more to maintain and attract our local workforce. Not only is Woodbury County competing with other Iowa counties, but we are competing with other states to keep workers in the state and provide livable wages. South Dakotas lowest wage is now $8.55 and adjusts every year by cost-of-living increases. The minimum wage in Nebraska is now $9. The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors should consider a minimum wage increase to support its working families. State Rep. Chris Hall, D-Sioux City Conservation of our state's natural resources is a critical issue. We must preserve them for future generations, but also address a water quality issue that exists today. On Tuesday, in an attempt to address the issue of water quality before adjournment, the Iowa House advanced a measure that would dedicate $5 million from state gaming fees and divert to water quality initiatives. It would also convert an existing water fee to address water needs. Both are creative in their approach, but fall significantly short, and could be cut by future legislatures. According to the state's Nutrient Reduction Plan, the total cost of cleaning currently impaired waterways would be around $5 billion. Bold thinking is necessary when you consider the pricetag. In recent years, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have considered addressing water quality through the Natural Resources Trust Fund. It would create constitutionally-protected revenues that aim at preserving and enhancing Iowas natural resources, and have the added bonus of supporting quality-of-life issues. It was also put into place after 63 percent of Iowans voted for it as a constitutional amendment in 2010. A victory for the privacy of Iowans was achieved on Wednesday when the governor signed a bill into law that makes it easier to prosecute peeping toms." I was honored to attend this bill signing and grateful for the bipartisan group of legislators who worked on its advancement. After agreement was reached on the framework for the state budget last week, were starting to advance details that will soon lead to adjournment. State Rep. Ron Jorgensen, R-Sioux City With budget targets now agreed to, we should be able to end the session within the next week or two. Both chambers are now debating their respective budget bills and, unlike in previous years, it looks like most budgets are agreed to between both chambers. As a result, much time will be saved in not having to go to a conference committee. With K-12 education funding taking up 87 percent of all available revenues there is only $23 million to spread among the remaining state budgets. This ends up making the process go quicker because there is not much additional money to fight over. Last week the House passed its version of the water quality initiative and now the Senate will pass its version. With the end of session being only a week or two away it is very possible this issue will be put on hold and discussed again next year. Unfortunately this may also be the case with a number of other bills being debated. I have been advocating for an extension of the sunset date on the school infrastructure statewide penny sales tax, but I would not be surprised to see that delayed until next year also. Due to lack of funding this may also be the case with the summer reading program and statewide assessments. As someone who likes to get things done, this ends up being very frustrating. I do expect an agreement dealing with the much-needed oversight of the Medicaid managed care program. 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 YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS. The Higher Judicial Committee for Parliamentary Elections of Syria has published the names of the newly elected 250 MPs. Armenpress reports, citing Aleppo-based Gandzasar weekly, Zhirair Reisian and Nora Arisian will represent Armenians in the Syrian parliament. YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS. In addition to the April 16 statement of NKRs Ministry of Defense we inform that the unidentified object discovered by Defense Army servicemen resembled the corpse, which can only be confirmed through search operations of the missing persons. "Armenpress" was informed by the Press service of NKR Ministry of Defense. By the mediation of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and field assistants of the personal representative of the Co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group the Armenian side has today permitted the Azerbaijani side to continue the search operations of the missing persons at the northern line of contact which started on April 8. He then undertook a four-month program at the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA) before arriving in Port Moresby in May 1954. My Sydney sojourn came after Oodnadatta, he told me, so was mostly a time for savouring the offerings of the city - not neglecting ASOPA luminaries such as James McAuley and Camilla Wedgewood. After attending Adelaide and Queensland universities and teaching in remote South Australia for two years, Ken decided to pursue a career in PNG. IN A week's time, on Anzac Day to be precise, Dr Ken McKinnon AO, a distinguished Australian and alumnus of Papua New Guinea, will make what he is calling his last sentimental visit to a country to which he made such a great contribution. Ken was posted first to Daru and then, at the beginning of 1955, to Samarai as Area Education Officer, the beginning of a stellar career in educational administration. After completing a doctorate at Harvard University, he was appointed Director of Education in 1966, occupying the position until 1973. These were the years of great reform and rapid expansion of education in the then Territory as it prepared for Independence in 1975. Ken left PNG to become the first Chairman of the Australian Schools Commission (1973-81), which had been set up by the Whitlam Government. In 1981 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Wollongong University, a position he held until 1995. He was credited with transforming the university into one of Australias leading campuses. During this period (1984-88), I served with him on the Australian National Commission for UNESCO when he was Chairman. He went on to become a highly regarded educational consultant and Chairman of the Australian Press Council. Ken will arrive in Port Moresby next Monday, fly to Daru four days later, spend another four days in Moresby and a couple of days in Lae before returning to Sydney. Ive been working with some friends in Port Moresby to organise some meetings where people in politics, the media, education and literature will be able sit down and talk with Ken, who has lots of stories to share of his time in PNG including refusing to let Vincent Eri return to duty at the Education Department until he had finished the final chapter of his pioneering novel, The Crocodile. In 1966, Ken made the terrible error of transferring me from my school in the bush to edit the Papua New Guinea School Papers. We all know where that ended up. I hope many of you will see fit to honour this great Australian and significant contributor to PNG by taking some time to be with him during his visit. Dame Carol Kidu and Jean Kekedo are already organising a small function but there are still opportunities for others to do likewise. If you can, let me know through the Comments link below. Dr Momis responded to claims by Sam Kauona, former leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, that he was controlling the process for the sole benefit of Bougainville Copper (BCL) and its majority shareholder, Rio Tinto, in order to prevent Bougainvilleans benefiting from mining. Extracts from Dr Momis's statement were published in PNG Attitude on Thursday. BOUGAINVILLE President John Momis has described as nonsense and lies an attack on his statement to parliament about lifting the moratorium on mining exploration. The claims were made in a full page advertisement in The National newspaper late last week, headed Cruel victory by Rio Tinto/BCL over Bougainville. The moratorium on exploration was imposed in 1971 at the request of Bougainville leaders and it aimed to protect landowners from the unlimited expansion of mines throughout Bougainville. I have no power to lift the moratorium, Dr Momis said. Cabinet has not even developed a position on the issue. So far the only thing we have done is open public debate on whether the moratorium should be maintained or lifted. In the parliamentary debate on 5 April, I recommended lifting the moratorium partially. That gives the new Bougainville Mining Department time to build capacity to manage the new system for exploration licence applications. The Mining Department has not yet developed administrative arrangements needed for an international tender of licences and for a new system of community mining licences for small-scale miners. My recommendation did not decide the matter, said Dr Momis. The debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the parliament and members can now consult their constituents. The debate will continue when the parliament meets again in May or June. This encourages wider public debate in Bougainville on this sensitive and important issue. Dr Momis challenged Mr Kauona to explain why he is afraid of public debate about lifting the moratorium. I will continue to recommend partial lifting, he said. I want to see exploration licences limited to just one or two areas initially. That limit could be reviewed after international tender and community mining licence arrangements are in place. Mr Kauonas claim that my recommendation is intended to look after BCL and Rio is nonsense. Like any other exploration licence holder, BCL has no guarantee of getting a mining licence, because landowners have a right to say no to grant of all such licences. The mining giant Rio Tinto certainly dont see the Mining Act as looking after them. In fact, the loss of their previous licences saw Rio Tinto launch its ongoing review of its investment in BCL. It now looks very likely that Rio Tinto will withdraw from BCL and that there is little likelihood of BCL reopening the Panguna mine. Dr Momis said he had made this clear in his statement to the Bougainville parliament, including issuing a strong call for Rio Tinto to undertake a full clean-up of the mining area should it decide to withdraw from BCL. Is Mr Kauona deaf? he asked. How on earth can he say I am only concerned to protect BCL and Rio Tinto? What nonsense and lies! There is no conspiracy between the ABG, Rio Tinto, BCL and Australia. Mr Kauona and his few supporters, like Mathias Salas, must stop signing the nonsense and lies his Australian-Canadian partner Mr Lindsay Semple writes for them. Whenever Semple and Kauona dont get the access to minerals that they want, they make false claims about a conspiracy - nonsense and lies! Their statements are nothing more than desperate attempts to build support for their own economic interests by creating fears about BCL. Its shameful. This Week at NASA: SpaceX Dragon Arrives Safely at ISS and More. NASAS The SpaceX Dragon U.S. commercial cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station April 10 two days after being launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Dragon was captured with the space stations robotic Canadarm2 by Tim Peake of ESA (European Space Agency), with assistance from NASAs Jeff Williams, as the two spacecraft were traveling over the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii. The cargo craft was loaded with about 7,000 pounds of science and research investigations, including the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. BEAM will be attached to the stations Harmony module for a two-year testing period. Dragons arrival is the first time two U.S. commercial cargo craft have been docked to the space station at the same time. Orbital ATKs Cygnus spacecraft arrived to the station on March 26. Also, NASA @32nd Space Symposium, White House Science Fair, USA Science and Engineering Festival, Student Launch Week Activities, and Antarctic Meteorites Arrive at JSC. Highlights from Globsec 2016: Day 2 Font size: A - | A + As someone with a personal history of being a refugee, Secretary Madeleine Albright reiterated the importance of paying due attention to the refugee crisis as it is one the greatest challenges of our times. Madame Albright reiterated that she was strongly convinced the US should play a more active role in assisting the refugees as it was clear that the international community lacked a more resolute American approach. In this regards, political leaders in the US and in the broader West should invest their political capital in persuading their constituencies. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement On the broader Middle East, Madame Albright believes that the US should continue the strategic dialogue with Iran beyond the nuclear deal, provided Iran ceases its support to terrorism. While the rise in the geopolitical importance of China will continue to shape global affairs, the transatlantic bond remains relevant. However, Europe should play a more proactive role within it. The cooperation is crucial especially in the light of Russian actions in Syria, Ukraine and in the broader Eastern Europe. While America is not the most vocal advocate of multilateralism, it is proud of its numerous partnerships and should continue its support to normative global legal regimes, like the R2P (Responsibility to Protect) to ensure that the universality of fundamental human rights will be preserved. Secretary Albright on the refugee crisis: We need to stop using words like crisis and emergency because that assumes that the situations will soon pass. It will not. Secretary Albright on Russia: There are those who say: Dont provoke the Russians. I say, it is the Russians that are the provokers. Secretary Albright on Transatlanticism (historically) Europe was part of the problem, now it is part of the solution. video //www.youtube.com/embed/J2KclxipiRA Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Judeh, has drawn a daunting picture of the nature of the challenges that the Middle East has gone through during the course of past years. The rise of regional instability, the civil war in Syria and the re-emergence of extremism have brought the region once again to the frontline of war and global terrorism. Minister Judeh defined the magnitude of the challenges by calling the current fight on terrorism and extremism as the Third World War by other means. Within this world, Islam is being used to advocate indefensible violence. In essence, there is an ongoing civil war within Islam, pushing the majority of Muslims into the corner. In order to match the scale of the challenge and to produce enduring solutions a comprehensive and holistic approach to the stabilisation process must be taken. Minister Judeh has stated that despite the obvious problems, there are signs of hope represented by the modest improvement of the security situation in Libya and by the aversion of further regress in Syria and Yemen. While Jordan will continue to live up to its defining values and provide refuge to people in need, the Minister stated that given the truly global scope of the challenge a genuine global solution should constitute the path toward regional stability. Refugees are no longer our problem; it is everyones problem. I would describe terrorism and extremism as the Third World War by other means. Read also: Read also: Security will not exist without stability Read more Since 2011, Syria has been experiencing a period of historical crisis. With the end of the civil war clearly out of sight, the expert panel concluded that while the territorial presence of Daesh in Syria has considerably reduced, the organisation remains the key destructive factor on the ground. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow stated that the Alliance may have a role to play in solving the Syrian crisis by assisting its members and partners in the region in policy making. With the Russian intervention preventing the fall of the Assad regime, the West has been struggling to match the level of involvement in the crisis. Given the bitter geopolitical outcome of previous interventions in Iraq and Libya, the US are reluctant to commit to complex expeditionary operations. With Western powers lowering their footprint in the region, Russia reasserted its interests in the Middle East via its muscular involvement in the Syrian crisis. While 2016 may be an important year in defeating Daesh, there are severe obstacles to be addressed. Admittedly, defeating Daesh will require considerably more effort than what the West has been providing to date, however, as NATO Deputy Secretary-General Vershbow stated, the ultimate solution of the crisis must originate in the region itself. However, before the conditions for stability materialise, turbulence is to remain the key defining feature of the Middle East. Alexander Vershbow on ending the crisis in Syria: It doesn't have to be the West who saves the Middle East, the Middle East should be able to save itself. Yasar Yakis on the dire prospects of a swift victory against Daesh: The entire eradication of Daesh does not seem to be realistic. For now. George Friedman on American interventions: We must face the limits of politics and military power. Iraq and Libya make US have no appetite for another intervention. David Lidington, the United Kingdoms Minister for Europe, highlighted some of the numerous threats Europe is facing and that are in turn shaping the British public perception of the possible Brexit. For example, the escalation of the migrant and refugee crisis in summer 2015 shifted support towards Brexit. Lidington argued that a Brexit would be a destabilising factor for both the UK and for the remainder of the EU. For the UK, the possibility of erecting a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland would undermine the post-conflict reconciliation, while for the rest of the EU it would be a significant blow at a time when Europe is facing serious economic and security challenges. Britain can be happy inside the European Union (EU) on the basis of mutual respect and, therefore a focus on differentiated integration rather than a single destination of an ever closer union, Lindington concluded. "There is no alternative to EU membership - no credible answer given by the Leave campaigners. "Europe's foreign policy and security capacity would be weakened because you'd be taking out one of its biggest diplomatic and military players. Read also: Read also: We cannot act as if the history has ended Read more Europe has been going through a period of numerous crises: the economic crisis, the refugee crisis and a certain form of political crisis. All three crises have a common defining feature: a fundamental lack of solidarity among member states. In addition, European unity is being tested by the upcoming referendum on the UK membership in the Union potentially leading to Brexit. Without an effective common foreign policy, Europe cannot even manage its own internal challenges. In tackling the crisis circle Europe has been enclosed in, political and societal leaders must win the souls of European citizens and reenergize the public trust in its own values. European unity is tested by the existence of different levels of integration within the Union. Without a sustained trend reversal, the EU could be challenged by an increasingly assertive Russia and by the unpredictability of developments in the Middle East. At the societal level, political leaders should disprove the populist notion that Europe has been run by cosmopolitan elite which no longer is able to lead and willing to listen its constituencies. Danuta Hubner on the future of European reform: From institutional perspective, the major issue remains to win the souls of citizens. Carl Bildt on leadership: We are left with Berlin; not by choice but by the default of others. The text was originally published as part of the daily summaries from the GLOBSEC Bratislava Global Security Forum. Worse yet, Parry says, is that Clinton may not have the "wisdom to resist these siren songs of confrontation and war, even if she were inclined to." After all, "President Barack Obama, who for all his faults has a much deeper and subtler intellect than Hillary Clinton, found himself so battered by these pressures from the militaristic Washington 'playbook' that he whined about his predicament to The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, himself a neocon war hawk." "Given this neocon domination of US foreign policy especially in the State Department bureaucracy, the major media and the big think tanks Clinton will be buffeted by hawkish demands and plans both from outside of her administration and from within." "Already," the journalist writes, "key neocons such as the Brookings Institution's Robert Kagan, are signaling that they expect to have substantial influence over Clinton's foreign policy. Kagan, who has repackaged himself as a 'liberal interventionist', threw his support to Clinton, who put him on a State Department advisory board." "There is also talk in Washington that Kagan's neocon wife, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Victoria Nuland, another Clinton favorite and the architect of the 'regime change' in Ukraine, would be in line for a top foreign policy job in a Clinton-45 administration." "If one day they manage to fragment us, that would be the beginning of the end of the revolution, of socialism and independence in our homeland," Castro told the delegates gathered for the congress. "We are not naive, and we are aware of powerful external forces that aspire to, as they say, 'empower' non-state actors to generate agents of change and finish off the revolution by other means," said Castro, implying the US is trying to turn Cuba's growing number of self-employed people into an opposition. As yet another example of "new methods", Castro mentioned US migration policies that encourage Cubans to defect were "a weapon against the revolution." Migration has surged since the 2014 detente as Cubans take advantage of a US policy that grants them citizenship as soon as they arrive. Castro reiterated the party's commitment to the reforms which he said should be implemented faster. But he said Cuba was not moving towards capitalism, citing China and Vietnam as models, while emphasizing that social ownership and cooperatives were mostly preferable to private property. Lieberman's words would be echoed by retired Israel Defense Forces general Ephraim Sneh, who emphasized in a Friday op-ed for Al-Monitor that Azerbaijan is Israel's "strategic ally," and that at the moment, Baku "needs all the diplomatic help [Israel] can muster." Sneh slammed Tel Aviv for "staying silent" in Baku's hour of need, explaining that Azerbaijan is one of Israel's only friends in the Islamic world, and adding that Israel needs Azerbaijan to ensure its energy security, with Baku providing the Jewish State with some 40% of its oil. Russia's mediation of the conflict, Sneh suggested, has been disastrous for Baku, with the "status quo" that emerged in 1994 following the six-year war which began in the late 1980s "convenient for everyone, except for Azerbaijan." Blaming Armenia for violations of the ceasefire (and absolving the Azeris of their own violations), Sneh candidly admitted that Baku started the latest bloodshed, and suggested that Azerbaijan's challenging of the status quo may actually work in its favor. Saying that the current Moscow-brokered ceasefire, is "tenuous at best and not expected to last long," the general says that he is hopeful that "now that Azerbaijan has proved its military superiority, there is a chance for real diplomatic negotiations that could lead to an agreement between the two countries," i.e. for the ethnically Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to give its territory. In this sense, Sneh says, the Azeris could take a lesson from Tel Aviv and negotiate according to a formula of "land for peace," which Israel used in the late 1970s in negotiations with Egypt to return the Sinai Peninsula. A British private military company Aegis Defense Services, contracted by US Department of Defense to provide security to Project and Contracting Office (PCO), a division of the Department of Defense in Iraq . A documentary by Danish director Mads Ellese reveals that approximately 2,500 Sierra Leonean personnel who were recruited by Aegis and other private security companies to work in Iraq included former child soldiers. "When war gets outsourced, then the companies try to find the cheapest soldiers globally," Ellese said. "Turns out that that is former child soldiers from Sierra Leone. I think it is important that we in the west are aware of the consequences of the privatization of war." James Ellery, who was a director of Aegis Defense Services between 2005 and 2015, acknowledged that Aegis recruited personnel from Sierra Leone because they were cheaper than Europeans. The firm, however, never checked if they were former child soldiers, he said. According to Ellery, it would be "quite wrong" to ask whether people had ever been child soldiers, as it would penalize people for things they had often been forced into doing. He pointed out that under UN rules, child soldiers are not liable for war crimes. Toby Ricketts and Marianna Young of New Zealand got married this weekend, and they owe eternal happiness to a divine mass of noodles in the sky. At least thats what they claim to believe. Both are devotees of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which is legally recognized as a religion in New Zealand. The couple boarded a charter vessel decorated as a pirate ship on Saturday. An FSM ministeroni gave them her blessing. The newlyweds also welcomed aboard friends, family, and fellow pastafaris as the church calls its followers. "I wouldn't have got married any other way, Young told Radio New Zealand. A conventional marriage just didn't appeal." "It was at this time [that] George Soros began funding academia down to the grade school level. Then in 1994 Soros initiatives engaged students at Latvian universities with enticements like study abroad, and later the grant system of 'encouragements' for students." Other initiatives included the publication of philosophical works and textbooks, and even funding for the arts, via the Soros Center for Contemporary Arts. "In 1995, Soros' money was injected to influence Latvia's judicial system, through the creation of the Latvian Judicial Training Center. This was a crucial bit of strategy, [with] Soros linking the American Bar Association with a fledgling nation's academic progress toward the rule of law. At the same time Soros funding helped established an NGO Center, where government employees could receive language training for free." In 1998, Soros stood behind the creation of the Riga Graduate School of Law. Ultimately, Butler argues, the implications of Soros' injection of cash to influence thought, language and law of the young country and its fledgling elites would prove staggering, even if it was (and is) coolly written off as "philanthropy." "From 1990 to 2002, Soros [would endeavor] to engage in every sphere of Latvian society, form law and ethics, to the disabled and the arts. Then, in 2003, the Soros Foundation co-create[d] the Center for Public Policy PROVIDUS." "This initiative," the political scientist explained, like "many others undertaken by Soros, is now supported by the European Commission, Latvia's Ministry of Education and Science, and corporate altruism such as that we see from the Robert Bosch Stiftung foundation." The importance of the PROVIDUS effort," Butler notes, lies in its creation of "a transformative path, one where hundreds of NGOs, corporate and government agencies now tread" to influence the affected country's educational, legal, and social institutions. "We speak out against sanctions against Syria and Russia," the website says, calling those sanctions "morally wrong and counter-productive". Stefan Jacobsson, AFP General Secretary and Dan Eriksson, President of Europa Terra Nostra, commented: "Our business is completely legal and follows all corresponding rules. Our respective requests for financial support from the European Parliament have been examined very carefully, and since we are a democratic organization, an organization that follows the rules, [the EU] has not been able to deny us to work on the same terms as everyone else." "Alliance for Peace and Freedom represents, through our member parties, over a million voters in the EU and also has four elected members in the European Parliament. Not to let us function in the same way that other parties do would mean that these people's voices are not as valuable as other voices, which stands in sharp contrast to the idea of democracy that Europe claims to represent." The grant awarded for Europa Terra Nostra is the smallest among other grants awarded for 2016. The largest grant of 5,191,840 has been awarded to Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, a foundation of European's People Party. AFP's far-right anti-globalist and anti-migrant views are being criticized, with some critics going so far as to accuse them of fascist tendencies. However, AFP is strongly opposed to "meddling and destabilisation in the Middle East" and see Western policies in the region as the main cause of crises in both Europe and islamic countries. "Without a shadow of a doubt, the informational and ideological 'weapon' will further be used. This is reflected in an increase in the US state budget expenditures on programs aimed at the so-called development of democratic institutions in countries neighboring Russia, as well as in Central Asian states. The true purpose of this funding can be perceived from the expenditure title, which goes as 'countering Russian aggression through public diplomacy and foreign assistance programs, and building the resilience of governments in Europe." He added that the 2017 US budget provides some $4.3 billion for this purpose, including about one billion allocated for programs aimed at tackling corruption and supporting a democratic society in countries neighboring Russia. "The money allocated earlier as part of this program has already been used by various public organizations under the pretext of facilitating education, developing a civil societyThis all resulted in incitement of anti-Russia sentiments in states neighboring our country, in the formation of so-called pro-American and pro-Western non-systemic opposition in Russia, the spread of inter-religious and political extremism in our country." Top Russian Investigator Proposes to Deem Denial of Crimea Referendum Results Extremism The denial of results of the referendum on Crimeas reunification with Russia should be regarded as extremism activities, Alexander Bastrykin said. "It seems necessary to supplement the definition of extremist activity (extremism) contained in the Federal Law on Countering Extremist Activity with such manifestation as a denial of the results of a nationwide referendum." He added that this measure was necessary also to stop any deliberate falsification of the Russian history. "Certain features of extremist activity are happening in the Crimean Federal District, where attempts are being made to form the anti-Russian sentiment, by falsifying information about historical facts and distorted interpretations of current events to call into question the results of the referendum on accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation." Mr Damaru's removal from his post follows the recent arrest of Attorney General and Justice Minister Ano Pala, Supreme Court judge Bernard Sakora and O'Neill lawyer and confidante Tiffany Twivey. Mr O'Neill had said his office should be respected and not demeaned or questioned with false allegations and it seems the Police Commissioner was listening. Yesterday afternoon, head of the Police Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Mathew Damaru, was suspended from duty by Police Commissioner Gary Baki. WHILE Papua New Guineans awaited the next move in the developing drama of whether the Police fraud squad would knock on the door of Peter ONeill, the prime minister's man acted. Mr Pala was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice last October. It is alleged he prevented police from arresting the prime minister. On Friday, having just returned from overseas, Mr ONeill said that, although nobody was above the law, concrete evidence to sustain charges must be provided in court. He said there was no evidence of financial benefit, or corruption that has given anybody any financial benefit, adding that to question a ministerial position was unacceptable unless the matter has been fully investigated. Mr O'Neill said PNG cannot have a vigilante style of police operation and that it is the responsibility of the Police Commissioner to take appropriate action. He is the only one tasked by the constitution and has the ultimate power of running the police force, Mr ONeill said. I dont want to be seen as interfering with police work, he said, they are simply doing their job as far as I am concerned and it is for the Police Commissioner to make comments. It seems that those words were enough to see another corruption busting law enforcer removed from office. It is now about two years since a warrant was issued for Mr O'Neill's arrest. A range of legal tactics, including stay orders, has been employed to enable him to avoid this outcome. Russians Enter Areas of High Terror Activity Through Turkey, Egypt Russian nationals reach areas of high terrorism activity mainly through Turkey and Egypt, Alexander Bastrykin said. "The main channels for Russian nationals to the areas of high terrorism activity pass through Turkey and Egypt, where they get to either directly or through third countries (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova) disguised as travellers or on the pretext of getting theological education" Over 1,000 Russians Joined Fighting in Syria in 2015, 135 Died More than 1,000 Russian nationals left for Syria in 2015 to take part in the armed conflict, 135 of them died, Bastrykin also said. "[In 2015], over 1,000 Russian citizens left for the Syrian Arab Republic to take part in the armed conflict. A total of 469 criminal proceedings have already been initiated. 135 of them died as a result of fighting with Syria's government forces." Number of Terrorism-Related Crimes in Russia Grew by 36% in 2015 The number of terrorism-related offenses reported in Russia has increased by 36.3 percent in 2015 in comparison with the previous year, while the number of extremist crimes grew by almost 30 percent, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee said. "A total of 1,329 extremist crimes were registered, which is by 28.5% more than in 2014 (1,034 crimes). The growth in the number of such crimes was noted in 56 constituent entities of the Russian Federation." The number of terrorism-related crimes committed on the territory of the Russian Federation saw a 36.3-percent increase last year, according to the official. "A total of 1,538 [terrorism-related] crimes were recorded (there were 1,128 crimes in 2014)." According to the Russian official, the majority, or over 75 percent of these crimes, were committed in the North Caucasian Federal District. The expert said that domestic politics in the US put US authorities under pressure to resist investment from China, as the presidential campaign demonstrates anti-globalization and isolationist moods. Investment from China also runs counter to some of Washington's geopolitical strategies like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, which is designed to isolate and encircle China in global trade. "It's an awkward moment in the US political cycle, and the US relationship with countries such as China has come under intense scrutiny from the Republican side of the ticket," Ingram said. Donald Trump in particular is advocating isolationist policies, while Democrat politicians are engaging in the rhetoric of anti-Wall Street and anti-capitalism. "There seems to be this general anti-globalization vibe to the presidential campaign." Having covered the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and whats happened around the volcano in the 36 years since then, I was skeptical that the title of Steve Olsons new book would live up to expectations. But Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens does indeed provide even volcano-savvy local readers with tidbits of volcano information they cant get from a single other book. The title is misleading because the story of the geology, politics, survival and death at Mount St. Helens have been exhaustively reported before, in newspaper articles and books. During a recent talk in Longview, Olson said his book was written for people in the rest of the country who dont know much about Mount St. Helens. Still, the history of Weyerhaeuser and the Forest Service he provides will appeal to local readers, and Untold Story is a good overview of what Olson calls a gigantic story. Olson, 59, grew up in Eastern Washington, went to Yale and then spent 30 years as a freelance science writer and editor based in Washington, D.C. He said when he moved back to Washington state in 2009, he decided to write a book about something here. What better topic than Mount St. Helens, which he described as the most dramatic thing thats ever happened in Washington state. Though Olson interviewed some of the people he writes about, he relies mostly on voluminous and thoroughly cited research (including numerous Daily News stories). Though local folks remember 1980 as the year Mount St. Helens erupted, it was also a pivotal year in the Northwest, Olson writes: the beginning of the era when Microsoft, Starbucks and Amazon began to overtake the historic natural resource economy. And the environmental movement was gaining strength, including efforts to preserve the forests around Mount St. Helens led locally by Susan Saul and Noel McRae. A great deal for Weyerhaeuser Olson traces through the history of the Weyerhaeuser family starting with the emigration of Frederick Weyerhaeuser from Germany to the Midwest in 1852. Weyerhaeuser had a reputation for both honesty and hard work, and by 1899 he was a wealthy man, having moved into a mansion in St. Paul, Minn. His next-door neighbor was railroad baron James J. Hill, who in exchange for building the Great Northern Railroad was granted 40 million acres of land by the government. In 1899, the neighbors made a deal and Weyerhaeuser bought 900,000 acres in Southwest Washington for $6 per acre. Olson calls it one of the best deals anyone has ever made anywhere, estimating the company eventually earned $250 for each $1 spent. It is difficult to overstate the significance of the Weyerhaeuser Company to the history of the Pacific Northwest, he writes. In 1980, Weyerhaeuser was the richest company in the state, bigger than Boeing. That had much to do with how many people died on May 18, 1980. By then, the company was headed by George Weyerhaeuser, who had been a boxer in high school and the Navy and was used to getting his way. In 1980, the timber industry was in contraction, and Weyerhaeuser didnt want to quit logging in some of the companys best stands which were to the west of Mount St. Helens. Olson writes that the Forest Service didnt think it could create an exclusion zone that extended onto Weyerhaeuser land (where most of the 57 victims were on May 18). And Cowlitz County deputies couldnt cite people who easily found their ways around a roadblock on Spirit Lake Highway (via Weyerhaeuser roads, of course). Olson writes that then-Cowlitz County Sheriff Les Nelson (the father of current sheriff Mark Nelson) was frustrated in his inability to keep people away from the volcano. Everybody was unhappy with him and his officers, Olson writes, including tourists, cabin owners and businesses. Meanwhile, the media kept glamorizing people most notably Harry Truman who were defying Nelson and his deputies. Nelson and other authorities kept trying to expand the exclusion zone, and by May 15, 1980, even Weyerhaeuser had agreed to move the boundary farther west, to near the former Camp Baker in the Toutle River Valley. The proposal got to Gov. Dixy Lee Rays desk on May 17 but she was out of town. Olson doubts Ray would have signed it in any case, given her previous disdain for keeping people away from the peak. Olson devotes several short chapters to volcano victims and survivors, including John and Christy Killian of Vader, Columbian photographer Reid Blackburn and people who were camping in the Green River valley. But their stories have been told in numerous other media (including The Daily News). Richard Waites 2015 book, In the Path of Destruction: Eyewitness Chronicles of Mount St. Helens, has much more information about the victims. Olson also traces through the political battles over how much land would be preserved around the volcano after the eruption. The Forest Service wanted to protect 55,000 acres, and scientists and conservationists wanted 216,000 acres (including the High Lakes area). Eventually Congress passed legislation establishing the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, which to this day governs how the area is managed. Though President Ronald Reagan wasnt known for supporting environment causes, Olson writes that Reagan had more to gain than lose politically by signing the legislation in 1982. Weycos power too great Olson also delves into the wrongful death suit filed by relatives of the victims against the state and Weyerhaeuser. After a four-week trial, jurors couldnt agree whether Weyerhaeuser was to blame, and the families finally settled for a few thousand dollars apiece. George Weyerhaeuser and Ray swore they had never made a deal about where the exclusion zone would be. But Olson said that misses the point. The companys money, influence, and prestige were too great; the forces of private property and capitalism too strong for the state to even think of shutting down Weyco logging before the eruption, he writes. The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens is a reminder to those of us who have lived here since 1980 that much more than the gradually greening landscape around the volcano has changed. Olson notes that George Weyerhaeuser was the last member of his family to lead the company, retiring from the board in 1999. Though Weyco had always been seen as a dowdy, family-oriented company run by men who cared about their employees, it has switched its focus to the bottom line and pleasing Wall Street, Olson writes, mentioning the restriction of public access to lands. So, too, has the Forest Service changed. Logging and road and trail maintenance have been greatly reduced and today, the national forests in the Pacific Northwest are wilder than they were at the time of the eruption, he writes. Olsons observations confirm what those of us who live here have watched evolve gradually. For his insights and retelling of the complex interaction of history, science and politics around the peak, Eruption is a worthy read. 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. Vacation. All I ever wanted. Vacation. Had to get away. The Go Gos Friends, in the coming weeks you may see a lot of kids and teens roaming the streets around the city during the working hours. But, fear not, they're not all taking a clue from last week's column about skipping class but instead they are just enjoying the best part of the school year in the form of spring break. For several days students will not have to get up early and load their backpacks but rather sleep in till late in the afternoon and relax from the daily grind of learning. For families who like to plan ahead, this is also the week they squish themselves as well as too much luggage into the car and head to parts South. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with taking a vacation. Who wouldn't want to get away from the hustle and bustle that is our daily lives? To get a moment to unwind and relax is one of the ultimate pleasures in life and spring vacation is one of the best times to indulge. The weather becomes more temperate, the clothing becomes less layered and we get the chance to wander away from the familiar for the reward of seeing new places and different faces. So why is it, I ask, is everyone going to Myrtle Beach? Hundreds of families in town are planning on spending their precious few allotted vacation days to escape the doldrums by going to a destination guaranteed to inevitably make you run into the same people you see on any other day of the year. Was there a meeting I wasn't aware of? Is there a volume discount at hotels if you get enough people on your block to convoy with you down to South Carolina? There's so many people going to the same place you'd think it would be easier if they just carpooled or rented a bus. In fact a few buses would be a great option because you could put all the kids onto one of them and the adults in another and no one would have to listen to, or make, idle threats of turning this trip around if people don't settle down. Seriously, has there ever been a dad in history to ever make good on this bolstering bluff? I thought not. Well, seeing as though the only change any of these folks are going to have this week is in the scenery, I propose this simple solution swap houses for a few days! You'll save a ton of money on gas and expenses, you'll get the chance to sleep in a different bed and, if you pick a house a few blocks away, the view outside your window will be unlike what your used to. Bonus, just like the planned vacation, you'll still see the same faces you'd have seen anyway without having to travel hundreds of miles to meet up. tech2 News Staff Do you remember that story of a man deleting his company's and his clients' data with a single command, rm -rf? Well, it turns out that the whole story was a hoax. Marco Marsala, the owner of the company, told an Italian paper that it "was just a joke." Marsala reportedly spread the rumour about the code wiping out the database and his backups as a viral marketing campaign, cites a post on StackExchange's forum. In an earlier report, we mentioned that Marsala's company, Genoa Hostings, host to over 1500 websites, had lost all its data owing to Marsala accidentally entering an incorrect rm -rf command. The command, in the right situation, can systematically wipe out all data on a system. When presented with the "facts," many users on tech forums were suspicious of the tale, especially when, apparently, UNIX and the updated tools currently available to administrators have built-in safeguards to prevent something like this from happening in the first place. As Marsala puts it, it was all in good fun. Any publicity is better than no publicity, right? tech2 News Staff Electronics giant Sony Corp on Sunday said production at its image sensor plant in Kumamoto, southern Japan, remained suspended as it assessed damage from a powerful earthquake. Operations at its image sensor plants in Nagasaki and Oita, also on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, fully resumed, the company said. The Kumamoto plant has been offline since Friday, while operations at the Nagasaki and Oita plants were partially suspended on Saturday. A 7.3 magnitude tremor struck early on Saturday morning, killing at least 32 people, injuring about 1,000 more and causing widespread damage. It was the second major quake to hit Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours, reports Reuters. The massive quake in Japan has affected a great number of Japanese companies and it's to be noted that Sony makes imaging sensors for just about every decent smartphone in the market today. This includes the likes of Samsung, Apple and Xiaomi, to name a few. The actual impact on production of smartphones is still unknown at the moment. With inputs from Reuters Ecuador earthquake of 7.8 magnitude kills dozens Two survivors are pulled from a collapsed building in the city of Manta BBC Online: A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Ecuador has killed at least 77 people and injured more than 500, Vice-President Jorge Glas says. The quake, Ecuador's largest since 1979, hit at 18:58 on Saturday (23:58 GMT) near the northern town of Muisne. Widespread severe damage is reported, with a bridge destroyed as far south as Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away. President Rafael Correa, who is flying back from a trip to Italy, has decreed a state of emergency. He said: "This is a very painful test. I ask the country to be calm and united... Let's be strong; we will overcome this." He added: "Roads and hospitals can be rebuilt; you cannot recover lost lives. That's what hurts the most." Mr Glas said that at least 77 people had died and 588 had been injured, adding that the figures could rise as a number of affected areas had not yet been reached. He called for calm, particularly in the city of Portoviejo, amid reports of a "lack of public order". Gabriel Alcivar, mayor of the town of Pedernale, which is close to the epicentre, said: "We're trying to do the most we can but there's almost nothing we can do." He said dozens of buildings had been flattened and looting had broken out. "This wasn't just a house that collapsed, it was an entire town," Mr Alcivar said. Carla Peralto, a resident of Boyaca, one of the worst-affected areas, told the BBC: "I never felt something like that in my life. It was so strong. I was feeling very, very scared... I was thinking 'God, please stop that because maybe I die today'." Serious damage was also reported in the city of Manta, with an airport tower among the buildings destroyed. Manta resident Ramon Solorzano told Reuters: "Most people are out in the streets with backpacks on, heading for higher ground. The streets are cracked. The power is out and phones are down." The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has now issued a message saying that the threat of a tsunami has now mostly passed and that any remaining risk should be evaluated by local authorities. However, it earlier said tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one metre above the tide level were possible for some coasts of Ecuador. Any damage that had occurred might not be visible until daylight. Quito resident Cristian Ibarra Santillan told the BBC he grabbed his dog and hid under a table, but when he realised the quake "wasn't going away and that I might be found here if the worst happened" he ran out into the street. "We could see the electricity lines shaking - in other parts of the city, they've collapsed." Reports say a big oil refinery has been temporarily shut as a precautionary measure. Neighbouring Peru had also issued a tsunami alert for its northern coastline. The quake was felt in Colombia, where patients in a clinic in the city of Cali were evacuated from the building as a precautionary measure. S Arabia warns US over censure move Dawn.com New York : Saudi Arabia has warned the Obama administration that it will sell off American assets worth $750 billion if the US Congress passes a bill declaring the Saudi government responsible for the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, The New York Times said on Saturday. "The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill's passage," the NYT quoted administration officials and congressional aides as saying. According to the newspaper, officials warned senators of "diplomatic and economic fallout" if the bill was adopted. The allegation about Saudi involvement exploded on US news channels after the CBS News aired a report last Sunday where former senator Bob Graham, chairman of the commission set up to investigate the 9/11 attacks, called upon President Barack Obama to take up the issue with the Saudi government during his visit this month. According to the NYT, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir brought King Salman's message during his visit to Washington last month. "Adel al Jubeir told American lawmakers that Saudi Arabia will be forced to sell off $750 billion in treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts," the report said. News In Brief 200 bottles of phensidyl recovered in Fakirhat Bagerhat Correspondent Some 200 bottles of phensidyl syrup contained in two gunny bags left abandoned were recovered by the police from the side of a CNG station on Dhaka-Khulna via Fakirhat Highway under Fakirhat Upazila in Bagerhat district on Thursday morning. It is reported that in the morning some local people noticed two gunny bags contained with some things near the feeling station and out of curiosity they opened the bags and found 200 bottles Phensidyl syrup and informed the police of the matter. Police rushed to the spot and recovered the Phensidyl syrup. In this connection police registered a case with Fakirhat PS against a number of unidentified persons under Narcotics Act. Motor cyclist killed in Fakirhat road mishap A motor cyclist was killed and 2 co-riders were injured when the motor cycle collided with a Mahendra, a 3 wheeled vehicle on Dhaka-Khulna via Fakirhat Highway at Konar Pukur in Fakirhat Upazila in Bagerhat district on Thursday night. The deceased was identified as one Sohag Morol (19), son of one Azam Morol of village Hogoldanga within Sadar Union under Fakirhat Upozila in Bagerhat district and a student of Class-XI of Fakirhat Kazi Azahar Ali Degree College. In the night of Bangla new year , some 9 young chaps were going from their localities to Fakirhat Upazila headquarters by 3 motor cycles through Dhaka-Khulna Highway in a relaxed mood and when they reached the place of occurrence one of their motor cycles collided with a Mahendra violently. Female health technologist commits suicide Barisal Correspondents Shamima Nasrin alias Ashamoni, 22, a female student of Advance Institute of Health and Technology of the city, committed suicide by jumping to river from bridge on Saturday evening. Assistant Sub Inspector Faruk of Barisal Kotwali police station said Ashamoni jumped from Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabad Bridge to Kirtankhola River at about 6:00pm Saturday. Crews of sand lifting vessel working on the river rushed to the spot rescuing her body brought to Barisal Sher E Bangla Medical College Hospital. Dr. Das Ranbir, emergency medical officer of SBMCH, examining the body, declared Ashamoni as dead. Police sources said Ashamoni was daughter of retired police Habildar Enamul Huq residing at Sohag Villa in Rupatali area of the city. She was married to Md. Mamun, an employee of Titas Gas Company at Dhaka and since long days she was debouched from her husband. No further arrest in Banshkhali clash case : DC Chittagong Bureau : The Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong has assured that there will be no further arrest in connection with the case filed over the recent clash centring the coal fired power plant in Banskhali during a protest against the power plant. Chittagong DC Mezbah Uddin gave the assurance in a meeting of views exchanging with the leaders of 'Movement to Save Gondamara Union' on Saturda at circuit house conference hall yesterday. He said he would take measures to settle the case and ensure bail for those already arrested.Meanwhile former legislator of Banskhali Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury demanded release of all detained in connection by 24 hours time in the meet. Four people were killed and over 50 injured in the Apr 4 clash between anti-power plant protesters and project supporters and police.A section of the local people is opposing the 1320-megawatt coal-fired thermal plant, being constructed by S Alam Group and a Chinese company. They alleged that the project sponsors were not rehabilitating those who had lost their land. At Saturday's meeting, the president of the movement, Bodi Ahmed, said his two siblings Mortuza Ali and Anwar Islam were killed in the clash but his son was arrested over it. He demanded a 'fair trial' of the murder. The experts on coal power plants opined in the meeting that this type of power plant never hamper environment now as modern technology is used . The experts also told that there are many coalfired power plant across the world where environment not affected as yet. A multimedia projection was displayed in the meeting on coal fired power plant .Director General of Power Cell of the GOB Md. Hossain presented the video projection Former chairman of Power Development Board and advisor of the S.Alam Group power Project Md. Alamgir Kabir said there is no alternatives to generate power with less price unless coal is used and we should keep the power price within the purchasing capacity. Director of Department of Environment Makbul Ahmed said there are different types of power plants in the country but we should aware the common people about the good sides of the coal plant and generally mass people has bad ideas on it. Former city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury said coal fired power plants are existing across the world, so govt wants to establish such plants in our country . He said this project will be constructed keeping smooth environment of the area as well as great opportunities will be created for employment and economic uplift of the country. Deputy Commissioner presided over the meeting. In his deliberations, Deputy Commissioner Mesbahuddin said govt won't desire to build power plant by killing people in Banskhali and disclosed to establish the biggest coal-fired power plant after with due satisfacation of the locality ascertaining the environment free from any health hazards , and climate disaster. He said in modern age, coal fired power plant wont hamper climate like earlier time and the flame from such power plant is not visible. Among others, former Mayor Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Forestry & Environment Science Institute Prof. Dr. Md. Jashimuddin, FF Shahabuddin, LGED Executive Engineer Md. Shah Alamgir, Panel Mayor of City Corporation Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Hasni, President of district Bar Association Advocate Kafiluddin spoke on the occasion. Mentionable that Deputy commissioner distributed compensation cheque of Tk.15lakh each of four victim's family and Tk.1 lakh each of 11 injured residents of Gandamara village on Friday last Europe can learn from its largest ethnic minority Ethel Brooks : Terrorism. Sprawling camps for displaced people. Concrete walls and barbed-wire fences. Today, Europeans confront a range of humanitarian and security crises; Roma people have long experience of facing these conditions. In past decades, Europe's 12 million Roma have been pursued by neo-Nazi mobs in the Czech Republic, murdered by right-wing terrorists in Hungary, and forcibly removed from homes in France, Bulgaria, and Italy by politicians who scapegoat them in pursuit of votes. Last month, a Slovak neo-Nazi party that organised marches against the Roma minority won 14 seats in the 150-strong parliament. Recently, large numbers of Syrian refugees have captivated the public's attention. Meanwhile, thousands of stateless Roma have been living in miserable camps in Italy for nearly four decades after fleeing post-Tito Yugoslavia in the 1980s and the Bosnian war in the 1990s. And yet, despite this reality, it is Europe that seems to be on the verge of disintegration, while Roma people from across the continent - and the world - are reclaiming their sense of history and belonging. In a new stage in their struggle for recognition and self-definition, Roma academics, public intellectuals, and civil society leaders are gathering together to build a community based on shared accomplishments rather than endured oppression. That effort is beginning to show tangible results: soon, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture will be established in a major European city yet to be revealed. This achievement is an extraordinary form of resilience, and, as Europeans collectively struggle against a range of trends that threaten their very existence - rising nationalism and xenophobia, failed migration policies and the closing of previously open borders - we Roma have valuable lessons to share. We have been organising across generations and borders. Without resorting to violence or reclaiming a nation, we came up with a simple claim: our place is in the centre of European societies. This work began in earnest 45 years ago this month, when Roma artists and activists from across Europe gathered near London for the first World Romani Congress to discuss their common identity. They would no longer be called "Gypsy", a term often used pejoratively, but "Roma", which means "people" in the Romani language. "Gelem, Gelem" was made the international Roma anthem, the blue and green flag with the red wheel was chosen as the official Roma flag, and 8 April became an international day of celebration for Europe's largest ethnic minority. The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture is a major culminating point of these efforts. Out of more than 10,000 works by Roma artists in public collections throughout Europe, only two are in permanent exhibitions. This Institute will allow us to shape our own voice and image and to reclaim our arts and culture. Europeans would do better to similarly embrace their commonality and successes instead of dwelling on divisions and grievances. Roma have been constantly labelled a 'problem'. Recently, Europe is more and more discussed as an 'issue'. We Roma are proving that we can be the answer, not the problem. It would be tragic if the European experiment failed just as we are finding our place within it. It's time to look to us for guidance, solutions, and inspiration. The prominent Romanian Roma activist Nicolae Gheorghe once said that "the relationship with Roma in each society should serve as a kind of 'barometer' measuring the state of democracy". In his view, the Roma people are a sort of mirror, reflecting the truth about how Europe deals with its past, its present, and its future. If that's the case, the prognosis has never been better. The Roma can be a beacon of hope - a shift in momentum away from fear and hatred and toward a more open and inclusive Europe. (Ethel Brooks is a professor of Women's and Gender studies and Sociology at Rutgers University and a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council of Roma origin. This opinion piece was first published on Open Democracy.net). Journo Shafik held on specific charges, says Anisul Staff Reporter :Ministers of the ruling government have said that renowned journalist and pro-BNP intellectual Shafik Rehman was arrested on 'specific allegations'. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Law Minister Anisul Haque on Sunday categorically said that Shafik Rehman was arrested 'on specific charges, not for his work as a journalist'.The announcement of ministers came a day after Rehman was arrested from his residence at Eskaton in Dhaka for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to 'kidnap and kill' Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the Prime Minister's son and ICT advisor, in the US.Not only that, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has also echoed the same and commented that journalist Shafik Rehman has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a plot to kidnap and kill him in the US."No one is above the law. Police produced him [Shafik] before the court because they were satisfied with findings from primary investigation which links him to specific crimes. He has the right to self-defence. He will walk free if he is innocent," said Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Sunday.Referring to other arrests, Inu said, "Shafik Rehman, Shawkat Mahmud and Mahmudur Rahman were not arrested for their journalism. Rather, they are behind bars on various charges. This has nothing to do with newspapers, media or the rule of law." Clarifying the government's stance, Law Minister Anisul Haque on Saturday said that Shafik Rehman was arrested in a specific case."The case is under investigation. He will be punished, once he is found guilty in investigation. Otherwise, he must be freed," the Law Minister said after attending opening ceremony of District Registrars at Judicial Administration Training Institute."But if the allegation against him [Rehman] is proved, the trial proceedings will run against him," he said.Meanwhile, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in a Facebook post, said there was evidence against the BNP-leaning journalist which links him to a plot to abduct and kill him in the US."Our Government arrested a senior 'journalist' and opposition BNP leader Shafik Rehman for his involvement in a plot to kidnap and kill me in the US," he wrote on his official Facebook page on Saturday night."A US BNP leader's son, a former FBI agent and another American friend of both are already serving time in US prison for involvement in this plot," Joy also said his post.In the beginning of his post, Joy wrote, "How often do you actually get someone trying to kill you? In my case, apparently more often than even I am aware of, it's not because I'm a criminal or even a bad guy. It just so happens that my mother is in politics in Bangladesh and I help her from time to time.""It is also because our opposition party is of a particularly violent criminal bent and is allied with the largest fundamentalist party in the country with direct ties to ISIS," he added.On Saturday, Detective Branch of Police arrested senior journalist from his Eskaton residence. Later, the court granted five-day remand for him. The case was filed by DB Inspector Fazlur Rahman with Paltan Police Station in August last year. The case statement said some top leaders of the BNP and its allies met in the UK, the US and the JASAS office in the city's Paltan and other parts of the country before September 2012 and conspired to abduct and kill Joy."Shafik Rehman was arrested as the investigators found his involvement in the plot to kill Joy," Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sardar said.BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has condemned the journalist's arrest saying the government was misusing its authority.Not only that, Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar also came out in protest saying Shafik Rehman's arrest meant to stifle opposition voices. Search continues for Japans quake survivors Al Jazeera News :Nearly 250,000 people have been evacuated amid fears of further earthquakes as rescue officials continue their desperate search for survivors in the remains of buildings destroyed in Japan.A 7.3-magnitude tremor struck early on Saturday morning, killing at least 32 people, injuring about a thousand more and causing widespread damage to houses, roads and bridges.It was the second major quake to hit Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours. The first, late on Thursday, killed nine people. Rescuers on Sunday searched for dozens of people feared trapped or buried alive, while survivors queued for scarce supplies of food and water. Factories for companies including Sony, Honda and Toyota halted production as they assessed damage in the region, an important manufacturing hub in Japan's south.In the village of Minamiaso, eight people remain "out of contact", said public broadcaster NHK.Rescuers pulled 10 students out of a collapsed university apartment in the town of Minamiaso on Saturday.Overnight, rescuers digging with their bare hands dragged some elderly survivors, still in their pyjamas, out of the rubble and onto makeshift stretchers made of tatami mats."The Self Defense Force, police and fire-fighters have been working to rescue people but there are still missing people," Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, said. "The government will further deploy all possible means by expanding the troop size to 25,000." He said had accepted a US offer of help with air transportation in the rescue efforts. Heavy rains prompted worries of more landslides and with hundreds of aftershocks and fears of more quakes, thousands spent the night in evacuation centres.The indiscriminate nature of the destruction saw some houses reduced to piles of splintered timber and smashed roof tiles while neighbouring homes were left standing.About 422,000 households were without water and 100,000 without electricity, the government said.NHK said around quarter of a million people had received evacuation orders across the affected region amid fears of landslides.On the other side of the Pacific, Ecuador was also struggling with the aftermath of a major 7.8 quake which hit on Saturday, killing at least 77 people.Both Japan and Ecuador are on the seismically active "ring of fire" around the Pacific Ocean. More students to get scholarships at higher rates M M Jasim : The government plans to introduce 67,878 new scholarships for the meritorious students of different levels. A total of 2,03,634 successful students would be awarded scholarships with increased amount of money. The number of scholarships was 1, 35,756 last year. The successful students of Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations, Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Dakhil examinations, Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Alim examinations, and Honours examination will be considered for scholarships, the Education Ministry sources said. The top officials of the Education Ministry and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) believe that the increase of scholarship would accelerate the spirit of the students and help many poor students continue studies. Director General of DSHE Professor Fahima Khatun told The New Nation on Sunday, "The Education Ministry is going to increase the number and amount of money of every scholarship to develop and ensure the standard of the education system in the country. It is for the first time that the government will increase the scholarship almost double. It will help the students continue study and stoppage of the dropout at all levels." The officials of the Education Ministry and the DSHE have already completed all the activities for giving the scholarship in junior levels. The Ministry has already made a policy in this regard. The Ministry would send the policy to all the Education Boards that they can prepare result following the policy. The Education Ministry gives the scholarship in two categories (Meritorious and Ordinary). The students are given scholarship on the basis of their results only. A total of 46,200 successful students in JSC level would be given scholarship which was 30,800 last year. Of them, 14,700 are of meritorious category and 31,500 are of ordinary category. A total of 9,000 successful students in JDC level will get scholarship this year which was 6,000 in previous years. Of them, 3,000 are of meritorious category and 6,000 are of ordinary category. The each student from both JSC and JDC will get Tk 450 per month in meritorious category and Tk 300 per month in ordinary category. A total of 9,000 successful students in SSC level will be selected every year for the scholarship which was 17,000 in the past. Of the students, 3,000 will be selected for the meritorious category and 22,500 for the ordinary category. A successful student from meritorious category will get Tk 600 each month which was 4,00 last year. A student from the ordinary category will be given Tk 300 per month which was Tk 200. A total of 10,500 successful students in HSC level will be awarded scholarship from this year which was 7,000. Of them, 1,125 students are from meritorious category and 9,375 students are from ordinary category. A student was given Tk 550 in meritorious category. Now he or she will get Tk 850 per month. The 750 successful students in Alim level will be selected for the scholarship which was 500 in the past. Of the students, 150 will be given scholarship from meritorious category and 600 from ordinary category. Each student will get Tk 750 in meritorious category which was Tk 500. A ordinary level student will get Tk 350 which was Tk 225. A total of 4650 successful students in Honours level will get scholarship. Of them, 150 students will be selected from meritorious category and 4,500 from ordinary. Now a student in meritorious category will get Tk 1,125 against was Tk 750 and Tk 450 in ordinary category against Tk 300. A total of nine students in Degree level will get scholarship with Tk 1050 in meritorious category and 300 successful students in ordinary category will be given scholarship with Tk 375 per month. In Fazil level, 375 students will get scholarship with Tk 1050 in meritorious category and Tk 450 in ordinary category. Have you had the experience of explaining a situation or event, or a particularly difficult experience to others who, for some reason, just do not understand? Well, even Jesus had that same difficulty with his own disciples. In Chapter 9 of St. Marks Gospel, we read that Jesus was teaching his disciples and telling them The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise. But they did not understand the saying (Mark 9:31-32). Jesus was instructing his disciples about his very own passion, death and resurrection, the extraordinary salvific event, but they did not understand. It must have been even more disconcerting for Jesus when, later, he saw his disciples arguing about who was the first and the greatest among them! (cf. Mark 9:33-35) The temptation to think of ourselves first and Jesus later has been a constant challenge to humanity. The church, founded by Christ but entrusted to the care of human beings, has had its moments of glory, moments of sadness, moments of great accomplishments and moments of defeat; in sum, the church has experienced Good Friday and Easter. What keeps the church forever vibrant is that despite human frailty, her cornerstone is Jesus Christ, and she breathes the life of the Holy Spirit. Difficulties occur when, like those first disciples, we do not comprehend the great salvific event and lose sight of Jesus! Yet, let us also remember that these first disciples did grow strong in the faith, even to the point of martyrdom. If Jesus ever passes from our gaze, may these courageous witnesses to Christianity inspire us to imitate that same strong faith! The Lenten season has prepared us for this great feast of Easter, the feast of Christs resurrection! Hopefully, we do understand and we do appreciate this great moment of salvation. At the same time, let us also be mindful that many of our sisters and brothers do not know the joy and peace of this Easter season as they suffer persecution and oppression in countries torn apart by war and violence. Many Christians have lost their lives for the profession of their faith in Jesus Christ. Innocent persons have lost everything, even life, as victims of violence, hatred and war. And in our own communities, our nation, violence erupts on a daily basis, and the message of Easter Peace be with you is no longer heard. Are we then to give in to hopelessness? I pray not; this is not the fabric of faith. Rather, as Pope Francis said at an interreligious meeting at the Ground Zero memorial in New York City Sept. 25: Let us implore from on high the gift of commitment to the cause of peace. Peace in our homes, our families, our schools, and our communities. Peace in all those places where war never seems to end. Peace for those faces that have known nothing but pain. Peace throughout this world that God has given us as a home of all for all. Simply peace." I was present at the Ground Zero memorial ceremony to hear these words of Pope Francis. While it was a very somber ceremony, there was also the profound sense that we can never give up in our quest to know God and to love him, and to love one another. This sentiment shared by peoples of all faiths filled this place with hope, where it could have been a place where all hope was destroyed. But once again, from ashes and death, new hope was born. This is the message of Easter: Amid pain and grief, we also have a palpable sense of the heroic goodness people are capable of, those hidden reserves of strength from which we can draw (Ibid.). If we fail to comprehend the intense desire of Jesus to be a part of our lives, to unite his heart with our heart, his Holy Spirit with our spirit, to embrace us in his love, we deny ourselves the possibility to live with the dignity of the sons and daughters of God. The power of Christ accompanies all our human activities and brings to fragile humanity the hope of the resurrection when we experience our daily crosses, fears and anxieties. For this, we cry out: Alleluia! 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. Integrated Health is set to welcome Tara Robbins, M.D., as its newest physician. Robbins is a Southern Illinois native who attended Southern Illinois University for both undergraduate and medical school. She completed her family practice and sports medicine fellowship at the University of California in San Diego. While in San Diego, Robbins served as team physician for the University of California San Diego sports teams, several local high school football teams, and an arena league soccer team. In 2011, returned to the region, as she has been team physician for the Marion High School football team and the Southern Illinois Miners. Robbins will be accepting new patients at the Carterville location, 1027 S. Division St. Her Office hours 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information about Integrated Health of Southern Illinois or to schedule an appointment with Robbins, call 618-985-4344 or go to www.integratedhealthofsi.com. The Southern Pinckneyville Community Hospital recently honored Connie Rucks for more than 38 years of employment in the business office. Rucks answered her last phone call on behalf of Pinckneyville Community Hospital on March 31. She was presented a plaque and enjoyed cake and punch with coworkers at the end of her shift. An Orangeburg native will receive a prestigious award at the Governors School for the Arts Foundations Artists in Bloom event in Greenville on April 27. Uchechi Kalu, daughter of Dr. Kalu Kalu and Mrs. Nwobiara Kalu of Orangeburg, will be presented the schools 2016 Presidents Alumni Award. Kalu is a 2010 graduate of the Governors School for the Arts and Humanities, where she received a degree in creative writing. Presented by TD Bank, Artists in Bloom celebrates the talents and successes of students and alumni from the SCGSAH. Kalu says its an honor to receive the award from the school that changed her life. I can point to moments in that experience and say, That is when I learned to think for myself. That is when I challenged myself. That was an experience of pure joy and when I learned to deal with failure, Kalu said. She said she was able to push her creative limits and accomplish things she didnt think she could. Scott Gould, Mamie Morgan and George Singleton were among the Governors School teachers she cites as having made a difference in her life. That school, as a whole, created the foundation for who I am today. I wish I could give them an award myself. I havent been back since I graduated so I feel honored that this is my first occasion, Kalu said. One day I hope to be able to pay them back for what they did for me. I hope that other kids in South Carolina will be able to enjoy this incredible experience at the SCGSAH. As a world traveler, Kalus globetrotting experiences have helped deepen her understanding of the human experience and form a foundation for her creative writing. She attended Princeton University after graduating from the Governors School. During that time, she traveled and studied in Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Israel and Palestine. Since graduation, Kalu has become a social activist for underserved populations in China and throughout the world. She currently lives in Beijing, China, where she is a member of an arts collective called TransMigrant Flow, or TMF, which works to create workshops and creative events for foreigners in the area. I work as a marketing assistant for a Chinese-language school called Culture Yard. We market to expats and have been awarded as one of the best Mandarin training schools in Beijing, Kalu said. That makes me feel so proud. Managing the schools online presence, creating new advertising promotions, organizing events and attending business meetings are all part of her busy schedule, but Kalu says she enjoys what she does. I absolutely love my job and I feel so lucky to be a part of a great team and product that I believe so wholeheartedly in, she said. I ended up studying at Culture Yard when I came to Beijing in late 2014 and loved the experience. So, it is a pleasure to work there. Working with TMF occupies most of her time outside of her job, Kalu said. Im a part of that art and social event collective with two other friends. Our events are popular among expats in China, she said. We focused more on art in the past creative writing readings, dance, music but weve recently moved into a more socially-oriented realm. Kalu currently runs Wander Women, an all-female TMF subgroup that was created to break down cultural and language barriers for women living in Beijing. Our first event was a charity walk called Meeting in Motion. All the proceeds went to a Chinese charity called Educating Girls in Rural China. The first event was a blast. To see such a diverse crowd the oldest person was in her 50s and the youngest was just an infant filled us with so much joy, Kalu said. Well continue them in Beijing throughout the summer and spring. Her life in Orangeburg now seems almost a dream, she said. I dont remember much of my experiences there. Overall, I remember it as being a pleasant experience but to be honest, I always felt different even though I had friends, or people who I considered to be good friends at the time, Kalu said. That was partly because my family is Nigerian, which definitely sets you apart in a state where people can hardly pronounce your name. But, I also remember having distinctly different interests from my friends. I actually had a lot of friends who were amazing visual artists and great singers, but not many were interested in writing like I was. That love of writing positioned Kalu for success at the Governors School. She said she considers every form of art dance, music, visual arts, film, theater and, of course, writing to be storytelling. Ive always been inspired by that. I feel like its one of the most authentic forms of expression. When done well, it shines a light on the human experience. It teaches us who we are the good, the bad, the ugly. It makes us smile, cry, laugh, love, hate and everything in between, she said. I dont know if Id call myself an artist, but Im definitely a creative person with creativity permeating the things I do. It dictates the way I think about the world, and Ive always been involved in the arts. At one time, Kalu thought shed become an opera singer. I grew up singing classical music and on choirs. For a long time, I thought Id become an opera singer on Broadway. I drew a lot, which I liked, but it was too solitary. I started acting at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School and then very vigorously. Ive always been writing so, for me, no one of those things is my true passion, she said. She said she enjoys all forms of art. They all come together in some way in my daily life, and I like it that way. It is too hard for me to decide on one route, Kalu said. Why not all of them? Why leave any of them aside? She added, As long as its honest, I can appreciate it, and thats really whats most important to me. Kalu is one of two Governors School students from Orangeburg to receive the Presidents Alumni Award. Actress Nicole Beharie, daughter of Colleen Kilgore of Orangeburg, received the honor in 2015 for her work in film and television. Beharie, a 2003 graduate of the Governors School, went on to graduate from the Julliard Schools Drama Division in 2007. Artists in Bloom will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the ONE Building in downtown Greenville. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased online at www.gsafoundation.net/artists-in-bloom or by phone at 864-282-1570. All proceeds from the event support the Governors School for the Arts and Humanities. Claflin University has announced that Cheryl Pearson-McNeil will deliver the 146th Commencement Convocation address at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7. The convocation will be held at the South Atlantic Seventh-day Adventist Convention Center, 514 Neeses Highway, Orangeburg. Pearson-McNeil is the senior vice president of U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement for the Nielsen Company, the leading global provider of information and insights that measures what consumers watch and buy in more than 100 countries around the world. She is responsible for increasing the companys brand awareness among African American, Asian American and Hispanic American non-profit organizations, leaders and consumers elevating their understanding of Nielsens measurement services to assist in improving the overall probability of their inclusion in Nielsens panels, studies and surveys. Pearson-McNeil oversees the companys philanthropic relationships and sponsorships with multicultural organizations across the U.S. She also oversees the companys multicultural advertising and communications strategies, including public relations, media relations and social media. She joined Nielsen in 2004 and previously served as senior vice president of public affairs and government relations and senior vice president of communications. Prior to Nielsen, Pearson-McNeil was director of station relations for the NBC affiliate in Chicago, and headed the marketing and communications departments for several multi-million-dollar non-profit organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and the Girl Scouts. She currently serves on two boards of directors: the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and the Better Government Association. She is co-chair of the Executives Club of Chicagos Civic Committee; the Network of the Womens Executive Leaders Forums Steering Committee and serves as a mentor for the University of Chicagos Harris School for Public Policy mentor program. She is a former board member for The Museum of Broadcast Communications and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Pearson-McNeil has been recognized with numerous national, regional and local honors and featured in many publications. In 2012, Purdue University named her a Distinguished Alumna and she was featured in Essence Magazine as a career advice expert. NBCs The Grio.com included her in its 2012 Class of 100 Americans Making History Today, and Target Market News named her Executive of the Year. The Chicago Tribune also profiled her in its weekly Remarkable Person feature of power players in the Chicago area. She is also a frequent contributor to Upscale Magazine and writes a guest column about consumer and career-related topics. Pearson-McNeil earned a bachelor of arts in public relations from Purdue University and a master of business administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Previous assignments held by Grimes include the 902nd Military Intelligence Group and 310th Military Intelligence Battalion, HHC as a company commander. He was later assigned to the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade where he served as the automation management officer. While serving in the 513th MI BDE, he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQ FREEDOM to support and sustain the brigades mission with 3rd Army. Grimes was then assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as the combat service support automation management officer for the division (CSSAMO). As the CSSAMO, he was responsible for the division's logistical automation equipment and connectivity. While serving in the 82nd, he was deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, he deployed to Tallil and Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Grimes' assignments in the National Capital Region have included the vice J6 in Joint Task Force Global Network Operations to the United States Strategic Command in defense of the Global Information Grid; served in the J6 of the United States Cyber Command as deputy chief of Architecture & Systems Engineering; and the Department of The Army G2 where he worked as the C4I automation systems officer. While in DA G2, he supported Host Based Security System fielding, Enterprise Email deployment and Systems Administration support. In his last assignment at ARCYBER & 2ND Army, he served as the deputy current operations chief, where he supervised and directed the operations of the Army's Network Operations Action Request Center. 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. The U.S. has released nine more prisoners from its base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and sent them to Saudi Arabia for resettlement, officials said Saturday. Now 80 prisoners at Guantanamo Congress wants to place new restrictions on future transfers All detainees released are from Yemen The move announced in a Pentagon statement is part of an effort by President Barack Obama's administration to release detainees considered low-risk while seeking to transfer the remainder to the U.S. "The United States is grateful to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," the Pentagon said. With this latest release, there are now 80 prisoners at Guantanamo, including 26 cleared men expected to be sent home or to another country by the end of the summer. Congress, however, has prohibited sending Guantanamo prisoners to the U.S. for any reason and some lawmakers want to place new restrictions on future releases and transfers. All of the men whose release was announced Saturday are Yemeni but could not be sent back to their homeland because U.S. officials fear that the instability there would enable them to resume the militant activities that landed them at Guantanamo in the first place. They are expected to take part in a Saudi rehabilitation program for an undisclosed length of time. The nine Yemenis include Tariq Ba Odah, a frequent hunger striker whose weight dropped to a dangerously low 74 pounds (34 kilograms) at one point as the military fed him with liquid nutrients to prevent him from starving to death. His lawyers at the Center for Constitutional Rights had sought a court order to force the U.S. to free him earlier due to his health. "Mr. Ba Odah's transfer today ends one of the most appalling chapters in Guantanamo's sordid history," said Omar Farah, an attorney for the prisoner. "Now that Mr. Ba Odah is finally free, we are hopeful that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will provide him the sophisticated medical care he desperately needs." Eight of the prisoners, including Ba Odah, had been cleared for released from Guantanamo since at least January 2009, when an Obama administration task force evaluated all of the prisoners held at that time. The ninth, Mashur Abdullah Muqbil Ahmed Al-Sabri, was cleared by a review board last year. The other prisoners in this release were identified as: Ahmed Umar Abdullah Al-Hikimi; Abdul Rahman Mohammed Saleh Nasir; Ali Yahya Mahdi Al-Raimi; Muhammed Abdullah Muhammed Al-Hamiri; Ahmed Yaslam Said Kuman; Abd al Rahman Al-Qyati; and Mansour Muhammed Ali Al-Qatta. The draft agreement of oil-producing countries, which is expected to be signed on April 17 in Doha, involves "freezing" of production until October at the level of January 2016, Natiq Aliyev, Azerbaijani energy minister, told TASS. "The draft agreement is small. It sounds as follows: the countries, gathered in Doha, came to the conclusion that with an eye to bring the price of oil in order, they agreed to keep production until October at the level of January 2016", the minister said. Aliyev also said, that Azerbaijan is set to sign an agreement to freeze oil output along with other participants in the meeting. He said, that an agreement in Doha to freeze oil output will be "gentlemen-like" as the draft stipulates no control mechanisms. "The agreement is gentlemen-like as the countries realize that the maintained norms of output will suit the joint interests. It does not envisage any control mechanisms and each country should observe its implementation," Aliyev said. "There is no need in a supervisory body," he said. "No proposals have come since it will have no influence on the countries". The minister also said, that the oil price will be climbing up slowly and consistently to $50 per barrel by the end of 2016 after big oil producer countries seal a deal in Doha. Armenians refuse to recover the dead bodies of their servicemen, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry told Trend Apr.17. Armenians, as always, violate the reached agreements, do not reckon with the initiative of the international mediators and being aware of their impunity, demonstrate their actions towards increasing the tension, said the ministry. Despite the agreement reached earlier to hand over the dead body of an Azerbaijani serviceman, Armenia's subsequent refusal in this issue shocked the mediators from both sides of the frontline, according to the Defense Ministry. Another matter of regret is that the mediators do not make haste to take tough measures against Armenia and to evaluate their actions, said the ministry, adding that this negatively affects the image of such international organizations as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the OSCE. Armenia also ignores the repeated warnings from the mediators about prohibition of taking photos and videos while recovering the dead bodies of the servicemen from both sides, according to Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry. "Armenians do it covertly and then share those materials in social networks," said the ministry. "Those materials were deleted only after Azerbaijan expressed protest to the international mediators." The Defense Ministry said Azerbaijan has created perfect conditions for Armenians for recovering the dead bodies of their servicemen. Nevertheless, Armenians are not active in searching the dead bodies of their soldiers and officers, thereby showing that they are not interested in handing over the dead bodies of the servicemen to their families, according to the ministry. Possibly, those dead bodies left by Armenians in the battlefield are the bodies of the terrorists conscripted as "volunteers", according to Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by chairman of the Supreme Court of Appeal of the Republic of Turkey Ismail Rustu Cirit. President Ilham Aliyev recalled with pleasure his participation in the 13th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently held in Istanbul. The head of state described the high-level representation of the Islamic countries in this event as a manifestation of their attitude towards Turkey. President Ilham Aliyev noted that his meetings with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu were fruitful. Chairman of the Supreme Court of Appeal of Turkey Ismail Rustu Cirit said the relations between the two friendly and fraternal countries were developing successfully in all areas, adding the people of Turkey appreciate this. He noted that national leader Heydar Aliyev`s "one nation, two states" saying, which reflects the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood, demonstrated the level of relations between the two countries and peoples. Ismail Rustu Cirit offered condolences to President Ilham Aliyev over the martyrdom of Azerbaijani servicemen in the latest developments on the line of contact of troops in the Nagorno-Karabakh, and wished those wounded the soonest possible recovery. He said Turkey had always stood by Azerbaijan in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Iran's Foreign Ministry re-affirmed during a joint press conference with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini that US should pave the path for cooperation of non-American banks with Tehran, adding that Washington should do more to remove obstacles to Iran's banking system. A day before, Valiollah Seif, the head of Iran's Central Bank, accused the US and the EU of failing to honor the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by keeping Iran locked out of the international financial system. "In general, we are not able to use our frozen funds abroad", Seif said Apr. 15 at the Council on Foreign Relations in the US. During last months, tens of deals were sealed between Iran and European companies, but about all of them were memorandum of understanding, yet to become the legal contracts. The major obstacle is the remained American financial bans on Iran which make difficult putting investment in this country. Washington says that providing the access of Iran to the American financial system has not been included in JCPOA. Recently, Mohammad Reza Sabzalipour, chairman of Iran World Trade Center, told Trend April 12 that Iran will not be able to resume fruitful economic ties with leading European countries if its trade relation with the US is not normalized. The 27 members of EU's exports to Iran has decreased from above $10 billion in 2011 to around $6 billion a year after imposing the western sanctions on Iran in 2013. The current figures show no meaningful change despite the lifting of sanctions in January 2016. Once, EU was consumer of 800,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil, but currently, only France's total intakes are about 160,000 per day of Iranian oil and negotiations with other companies from Italy to Greece haven't reached any result. The Asian market may absorb Iranian oil, like what has happened during last months, but the Western markets and oil based deals on USD are important for Iran. Iran has doubled oil exports to 2 million barrels per day in April year-to-year, but the country needs immediate investments and western technology to keep the production up. About 80 percent of Iran's oil fields are in their second half life and loses around 8-12 percent of their output. Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has given instructions regarding the development of hydrocarbon resources in the country's Caspian Sea shelf, read a message from Turkmenistan's government. This issue was discussed during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Yagshygeldi Kakaev was tasked to take measures for attracting foreign investments in this sphere. The resources of Turkmenistan's offshore fields are estimated at 12 billion tons of oil and 6.5 trillion cubic meters of gas excluding the contracted blocks. Currently, Petronas, Dragon Oil, Buried Hill, RWE Dea AG, Itera and Eni have been involved in developing the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea. Turkmenistan's Oil and Gas Ministry earlier said that Turkmenoil state concern will start to implement the plans for developing the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic have conferred in Tehran. During the meeting, the sides called for expansion of bilateral ties in various fields, IRNA news agency reported. "Tehran and Belgrade can use the existing conditions for the expansion of bilateral ties," IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying at the meeting April 17. President Rouhani also described terrorism as a major threat to the world and called for unity in fighting terrorism. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has arrived in Tehran on an unofficial visit to attend the opening of the 5th International Symposium of World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Saudi Arabia will announce on April 25 a comprehensive plan to prepare the kingdom for an era in which it does not rely heavily on oil, Bloomberg quoted deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying. The "Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" will include developmental, economic, social and other programmes, Prince Mohammed told Bloomberg. Part of the vision, a package of economic reforms known as the National Transformation Plan (NTP), will be launched a month or 45 days after this month's announcement, he was quoted as saying. The NTP includes asset sales, tax increases, spending cuts, changes to the way the state manages its financial reserves, an efficiency drive, and a much bigger role for the private sector. Reuters Boeing, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and Mubadala Development Company have partnered to bring the Curiosity Machine, an engineering focused design programme, to the UAE. The Curiosity Machine programmes teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning through hands-on engineering design challenges, each of which presents fundamental science or engineering concepts and asks students to use simple materials to come up with possible solutions. Through the coordinated development of interactive and educational programmes, with our partners ADEC and Boeing, we are bringing best-in-class training tools to our local schools. The programme promotes the collaborative process between teachers and parents, encouraging them to take a more active role in their childrens education, said Homaid Al Shimmari, chief executive officer, Aerospace & Engineering Services at Mubadala. The Curiosity Machine is an excellent programme that is in line with our broader efforts to encourage UAE youth to explore future studies and careers in aerospace and engineering fields, and facilitates the building of a knowledge based economy for the UAE. Working with Al Afaaq public school in Abu Dhabi, Boeing, ADEC and Mubadala recently launched an afterschool programme for students in grades three to five. The five-week programme will meet after school one day per week and will bring young children together with professional engineers, to solve a different engineering design challenges inspired by Boeing. Families and teachers will participate with the students to complete these hands-on science and engineering projects, which develop skills like curiosity, creative problem solving and persistence - important for future study or work in growing fields like aerospace. Boeing is in its 100th year of business and we know that a talented workforce is key to succeed for another century, said Bernard Dunn, president, Boeing Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. By investing in high-quality, engaging education, we want to empower a new generation of aerospace visionaries that have abilities, belief and interest in STEM. Iridescent, the US based non-profit that created the programme, trains professional engineers, scientists, and parents to deliver cutting-edge STEM education to children and their families and its engineering design challenges are inspired by real world applications of science and engineering. TradeArabia News Service UAE-based Al Gharbia Pipe Company, a unit of Senaat, has started work on its large-diameter pipe manufacturing plant in the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). Al Gharbia is a joint venture between Senaat, one of the largest industrial holding companies in the UAE, and two of Japans leading companies in the steel sector JFE Steel Corporation and Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc (MISI). Al Gharbia will be the UAEs first plant capable of manufacturing large-diameter, thick wall, sour service, longitudinally welded steel pipe to service the oil and gas transportation sector, with the infrastructure and construction sectors as secondary markets, said a statement from the company. The plant will be built on a 200,000-sq-m plot of land in Kizad in Abu Dhabi and is expected to formally launch operations in 2018. Once fully operational, production capacity is set to reach 240,000 tonnes annually, of which around 40 per cent will be exported to neighbouring markets in the GCC and greater Middle East, as well as North and East Africa through Khalifa Port and the excellent road network that the UAEs infrastructure provides, it added. Aqeel Madhi, chairman of Al Gharbia, said: This is a critical milestone in the development of our company, and I look forward to the plant becoming fully operational in the near future. The company is set to become a worldwide benchmark with regards to the manufacturing of welded pipes, both in terms of technology and quality, as well as production efficiency, he added. Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: Abu Dhabi Ports is proud to host Al Gharbias plant, which will be the first of its kind in the UAE. The manufacturing facility on Kizads Modular Path connected to Khalifa Port and Abu Dhabis highway network to enable the movement of large loads and structures will help demonstrate the efficiency of the industrial zones innovative and integrated transportation infrastructure, he said. The integrated multi-module transportation network offered by Khalifa Port and Kizad will support Al Gharbia in serving their existing and potential customers, he added. Al Gharbia is the first industrial venture between the UAE and Japan to take place in the country, and has been strongly supported by the Abu Dhabi-Japan Business Promotion Initiative of the Japan Cooperation Centre for the Middle East. The initiative supports Japanese companies that invest in projects to strengthen ties between Japan and the UAE. Senaat holds a 51 per cent stake in Al Gharbia, whilst JFE Steel Corporation and Marubeni-Itochu Steel hold 27 per cent and 22 per cent respectively, it added. TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Ma'aden), the Gulf's largest miner, posted a 35.3 per cent fall in first-quarter net profit on Sunday, but still beat analysts' forecasts. The firm made a net profit SR168.9 million ($45.04 million) in the three months to March 31, it said in a bourse statement. This compares with a profit of SR260.9 million ($69.5 million) in the corresponding period of 2015. The average estimate of three analysts polled by Reuters was for a quarterly profit of SR1.13 million ($301,321). It attributed the results to a 17 per cent drop in revenues because of lower commodity prices for all its products -- year on year, average prices for ammonia and DAP dropped 30 per cent and by 25 per cent for aluminium, where overall sales also fell. This negative impact was partly offset by a 16 per cent reduction in cost of sales through lower raw material costs and the impact of an ongoing initiative to cut operating expenses. In October, Ma'aden's chief executive told Reuters his firm was reviewing its spending in the wake of low commodity prices. Ma'aden, which operates in gold, aluminium and phosphates, is a key pillar in Saudi Arabia's plan to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons. The firm had reported a loss or falling profits in the preceding three quarters on lower products prices but it has weathered tough conditions better than some of its global peers because it has low production costs. This advantage has been eroded somewhat by changes to energy and gas feedstock prices announced by the government in December: this would reduce Ma'aden's profit in 2016 by around SR120 million ($32 million), the firm has said. Reuters Opec and non-Opec oil producers meeting in the Qatari capital of Doha will start talks at around 1200-1230 GMT on a deal to freeze output, hours behind schedule as the initial plan has run into complications, sources said. Talks were meant to begin early Sunday morning but were postponed due to what looked like a new spike in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, sources told Reuters. "There is an issue. Experts are discussing how to find an acceptable solution. I'm confident they will come up with a solution," one of the sources said. According to another source, Saudi Arabia said it wanted all Opec members to participate in the talks, despite insisting earlier on excluding Iran because Tehran does not want to freeze production. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major Opec producer to have refused to participate in the freeze. Tehran says it needs to regain market share after the lifting of international sanctions against it in January. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom would restrain its output only if all other major producers, including Iran, agreed to freeze production. More than a dozen nations inside and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have officially confirmed they would attend the meeting in Doha but the role of Iran has been the key issue overhanging the talks. "We have told some Opec and non-Opec members like Russia that they should accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market," Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by his ministry's news agency Shana on Saturday. "If Iran freezes its oil production ... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." ALL OPEC MEMBERS MUST JOIN Meanwhile, a new draft of a deal to freeze oil output that is to be agreed later on Sunday in Doha has a line saying all Opec members should be part of the agreement, industry sources said. The change appears to be a major obstacle for clinching a binding deal, given that Opec member Iran had decided not to send representatives to the meeting. -- Reuters The Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is gearing up for the Imex Frankfurt 2016 which is set to take place this week in Germany. The hotels participation at the travel and mice exhibition event, which will run from April 19 to 21, will be under the umbrella of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. Over the three days, we will introduce our facilities, services and promotions at the exhibition event that is primarily for buyers working in the incentive travel, meetings, conferences and events industry. We look forward to networking with the other exhibitors and distinguished professionals from the multiple international companies that will be attending. Imex 2016 can potentially drive business and open up numerous global opportunities for us, said Dulce Ortega, sales and marketing director of Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel. A first time participant at Imex Frankfurt, Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel aims to promote Abu Dhabi as a leading tourist destination. The establishment will use this opportunity to support Arabic heritage and hospitality which will increase the visibility of the UAE on the global map. Imex 2016 provides a common platform for business professionals within the incentive travel, meetings, exhibitions, conferences and events industry, to effectively publicise their promotions and provides networking opportunities. The worldwide exhibition has at its core, the hallmark Hosted Buyer programme which allows industry buyers the opportunities to do business with suppliers from around the world in an energetic environment. Additionally, it enables participants to stay updated on the industry and develops peer relationships. It goes without saying that in addition to promoting The Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel, we are going to dedicate our time there to enhance our knowledge about the business, the trends and enjoy the educational programmes from visionary thinkers, leading associations and industry groups, Ortega added. Imex Frankfurt has announced that an estimated 3,500 exhibitors from all over the world have confirmed their attendance. The event expects 9,000 participants which include 4,000 buyers. The three-day event will host business mice, education programmes, forums, networking events and the Imex pitch which will have technology startups that are set to showcase their products and services. - TradeArabia News Service Monday support meetings Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A St.; 0 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 6 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 7 p.m., Glenrock, 615 W. Deer St. (downstairs); 7:30 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200, closed; 7:30 p.m., Douglas, 628 E. Richards; 8 p.m., 328 E. A St. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688. Al-Anon: Noon, 701 S. Wolcott, St. Marks Church. Life After Loss Suicide Support Group: 6 p.m., Calvary Chapel, 341 E. E St., Ste. 135A. Info: Mark, 251-8231. $12 donation optional. Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 7 p.m., 302 E. 2nd, Methodist Church; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org. NAMI: 7 p.m., 133 W. Sixth St. Caring and Sharing Family Support Group. Info: 234-0440. Donate garage sale treasures Natrona County Democrats and friends, spread the word about the Stomping Grounds garage sale, an April spring fling event spearheaded by Mary Gilmore and her posse. The event features quality junk. Intake days at the Iron Workers Union, 344 N. Walsh Drive, are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday. Thursday is the last intake day. The sale is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and April 23. Most items welcome, including real collectibles. No clothing; no old, totally out of date, unworkable TVs; no old, totally out of date, unworkable computers, computer parts and/or accessories; no old, broken desks that can only be repaired by a genius. For more info or to sign up to help, contact Mary Gilmore, 2345730, email mikeag@bresnan.net. Senior enrichment Free to men and women 60 or older. Join the tap dancing group of Joyces Senior Stompers. It is moderate, easy, balanced clogging keeping us seniors young. It is great exercise for developing flexibility, helps coordination, increases endurance and strength and helps stimulate our brain in learning different dance routines. Exercise is important to increase lung capacity, burn calories, relieve stress, and it is fun. We meet on Monday mornings at 10:50 a.m. Call Joyce Sisk, 237-4908, for more information. Free Kona Ice on tax day Kona Ice will be hosting its third annual National Chill Out Day with free cups of tropical shaved ice and complimentary Hawaiian leis from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from its truck parked at 400 E. Collins Dr., on the corner of Beech and Second between the library and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Life in Guatemala exhibit opens A Photovoice exhibit titled What It Means to be a Woman in Guatemala, will be on display at the Gateway Building, second floor, at Casper College through May 2. The exhibit is based on photographs taken by participants in a three-day girls leadership organized by Casper native Sara Miller, a Peace Corps volunteer currently serving in Guatemala. Several Casper residents donated money to the project. The 36 participants in the camp, ages 8-35, come from three small villages in the western highlands of Guatemala, San Andres Xecul, Nimasac and Palmora. Following the camp, the participants were each given a disposable camera and asked to take photos depicting what it means to be a woman in Guatemala. Tween Monday 3D Drawing Students in grades four through six are invited to attend our weekly Tween Monday program at 4 p.m. at the Natrona County Library. This week, well create three-dimensional drawings of everyday objects. All supplies provided. Call 577-READ ext. 122 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information. Community impact at Pizza Ranch Pizza Ranch, 5011 E. Second St., hosts Community Impact nights from 5 to 9 p.m. normally on Mondays and Wednesdays. Members of nonprofit groups bus tables for tips, and 20 percent of meal tickets from diners who mention the group are donated as well. Dine-in, delivery or pickup orders qualify. Mondays nonprofit is Evansville Elementary School. Lion King Kids free at Summit Disneys The Lion King KIDS is playing at Summit Elementary School at 6 p.m. Admission is free and the public is welcome.The 60-minute musical, designed for middle-school-aged performers, is based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor and the 1994 Disney film. The Summit cast contains approximately 90 students led by Robin Grussendorf, music educator. The Lion King KIDS features classic songs from the 1994 film such as Hakuna Matata and the Academy Award-winning Can You Feel the Love Tonight as well as additional songs penned for the Broadway production. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. South Dakota needs more supply chain analysts. The demand for logisticians in the state is projected to grow almost a third by 2020, and a new operational analytics degree at the University of South Dakota aims to help fill that need, the Argus Leader reported. Operational analytics is one of four majors approved last week by the South Dakota Board of Regents. USD and South Dakota State University each added two programs targeted toward preparing students for the states workforce demands. Certainly what we look at is the evolving workforce and how we prepare students for not just what is needed out there today, but what theyre going to need out in a few years, said Jim Moran, provost and vice president for academic affairs at USD. USD added a bachelor of business administration in both operational analytics, and innovation and entrepreneurship. The states need for urban and regional planners is projected to increase by 6.5 percent from 2012 to 2020, which led SDSU to create the community and regional planning degree. SDSU also added a bachelor of science in public relations. Both schools also added a number of minors and certification programs. Adding new programs is a two-fold process, according to Dennis Papini, dean of the college of arts and sciences at SDSU. It really doesnt do anybody any good to offer a major that students arent interested in pursuing, Papini said. At the same time, as the land-grant university, we have a duty, a responsibility, to identify areas in the workforce that either are under-served or will need much greater service. The regents also approved expansion of online courses offered and programs that can be offered through the Sioux Falls University Center. SDSU expanded minors offered online including: criminal justice, geography, gerontology, history, psychology and sociology. The university will also offer its minor in human development and family studies online and at the University Center. The ability to offer any course in more than one modality ... is really a way to make sure that students and professionals throughout the state have access to the training and development that they need and want to advance their careers, Papini said. USD added a number of certification programs, which require fewer credit hours than a minor. These programs allow students to develop expertise within a focused area. New programs will be available starting this fall. A spring snowstorm is still spinning its way through Colorado and Wyoming and bringing more rain to Oklahoma and Texas. National Weather Service forecaster Jim Kalina in Boulder, Colorado, says flurries in the Rockies could continue into Tuesday as the storm winds down. Kalina says it's all part of a storm system that parked over central Colorado, bringing up to 4 feet of snow to some mountain areas and blowing snow to Wyoming, where winter storm warnings are still in effect and travel is being discouraged. The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, says a few strong storms are possible on Sunday. Precipitation will push into eastern Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon and northwest Arkansas by Sunday night. An interesting article appeared in this paper last week on production taxes collected by the state on wind energy. It reported $3.7 million was collected by the state in 2015, down from $4.4 million collected in 2014. The article demonstrated how the current taxes collected on renewable energy have no capacity to offset declines in taxes collected on oil, gas and coal. Many in our country, led by President Barack Obama, naively dream of a day when renewable energy will take the place of our stalwarts, oil, gas and coal. For Wyoming, we all need to realize the $3.7 million collected in production taxes for wind in 2015 compares to $600 million collected on oil and gas and $300 million on coal in 2013. An accurate comment in the article was made by UW economist Rod Godby: This revenue stream is small. What a revelation. To put the $3.7 million production tax collected on all wind energy in the state in 2015 into perspective, that same amount of production tax would be collected on about 4,500 barrels of oil per day with prices at $40 per barrel. Three good oil wells in Converse County can produce that much. Three wells! There is no doubt about it wind energy is enjoying great support thanks to voters in California and Oregon who have voted to rapidly convert their electric power supply in future years to consist of 30 percent of their total capacity. Current renewable energy numbers amount to only low single digits of our electric supply. I respect the will of the voters in these states as long as their desires include taking the full responsibility of the cost of their choice in electricity. We are seeing firsthand how renewable energy, especially wind power, receives a pass by most regulatory agencies. Thanks to the presidents instructions, federal agencies are processing wind farms at record speed. This fast-track analysis does not sit well with those like me in the oil and gas industry. I participated in an environmental impact statement for oil and gas wells near Rawlins that took the BLM six years. Whereas a similar environmental review for 1,000 wind turbines known as the Chokecherry Sierra Madre Project, owned by a financial supporter of Obama, took only 18 months for BLM to complete. Even more disappointing were the groups that appealed our project for sage grouse, raptors, view shed and historic trails that are mysteriously silent on the wind project in the same area. This despite the fact wind turbines are white, seen from as far away as 30 miles during the day and have blinking red lights at night, not camouflaged like oil and gas facilities. What does the decline in oil, gas and coal and the proliferation of wind farms mean for Wyoming? We will endure an erosion of our view shed and wildlife for the benefit of other states with little compensation for Wyoming citizens. We must ask our leaders in both the legislative and executive branches of state government to protect our state and its citizens. The measures that should be considered are that Wyoming must demand and receive any federal carbon credit associated with the installation and use of renewable energy sources. Currently, the state where the wind-powered electricity is used enjoys that benefit. Second, we must impose a production tax on wind that replicates declines from traditional sources of oil, gas and coal. Third, our Public Service Commission and DEQ should be directed to deny any permits for new wind farms unless corresponding increases in rates due to costs associated with the construction and operation of the wind farms and transmission lines will be directed to rate payers in those states that voted for the renewable power supply. I am sure this measure will not meet with the acceptance of one of our electrical supply companies, which is owned by another financial supporter of Obama. If supporters of renewable energy accept these conditions, then their projects should receive state approval. If not, they should consider constructing their projects in other states. I am not against new energy sources. Demand is increasing. Our country depends on cheap, reliable and a constant delivery of electricity. Computers needed for everything from national security, military to medical and household appliances depend on a constant electrical current. I am just suggesting those who want renewable energy pay for it. Wyoming leaders have to be creative if we intend to survive efforts to convert our nation to renewable energy and destroy oil, gas and coal. We cannot be as hypocritical as the article by a retired professor telling us about climate change and extolling the virtues of getting rid of carbon while he lives comfortably on his state retirement funded in large part by the very carbon he hates. Messy party photos, offensive tweets, pepper spraying student protesters ... sometimes, you just want a do-over when it comes to your online presence. And for a hefty price tag, you can have one. The University of California, Davis is under fire for contracting consultants for at least $175,000 to clean up its online reputation after a November 2011 incident in which campus police pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters, according to a report in the Sacramento Bee. If that PR campaign worked at all, its now backfired. Heres how this sort of reputation scrubbing is supposed to help and some ways in which it might have the opposite effect. Call the pros Services such as Reputationdefender.com and Naymz.com offer to clean up your name, or, as the latter advertises, achieve your professional and personal aspirations. A company called ICMediaDirect advertises reputation control for $6,300, in which the service will try to push down your undesirable search results by populating Google with friendly links instead. These companies didnt return messages seeking information about their services. Instead of lawsuits, for example, the companies promise that search results will turn up your LinkedIn profile, business website or other sites that portray you in a more positive light. Of course, theres no guarantee any of this will work; its awfully hard to delete anything permanently from the internet. Right to be forgotten If you happen to be in Europe, you can also exercise your right to be forgotten. This entails filling out a form that asks search engines like Google to remove certain links when people look up your name. Of course, this means nothing if someone Googles you in the U.S. Things that dont erase Just ask Justine Sacco, the former IAC media relations representative who lost her job after an unfortunate tweet one widely seen as racist, although Sacco said she was aiming for irony raised the hackles of the Twitterverse. Three years later, the incident still turns up first when you search for her name on Google. You also have to consider the possible blowback when and if your cleanup attempts see the light of day. Thats the pickle UC-Davis is in now. Some California legislators have called for the resignation of university Chancellor Linda Katehi, who approved the PR campaign. Old-fashioned clout For companies and public figures like celebrities and politicians, putting a positive spin on the negative can be as simple or as complicated as getting a friendly story in the news. Being proactive is key. Terry Corbell, a business performance consultant, recommends shameless self-promotion as a way to build a positive online reputation before disasters happen. Be active on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have a strong reputation to begin with, its easier to deal with the bad stuff if and when it happens. 73, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 10, 2016. He was born June 10, 1942, in Huntington Park, CA. He is preceded in death by parents Robin and Mary Jolliffe; brother, David; granddaughter, Lauren, and daughter-in-law, Erin. Wayne is survived by wife Genee; children, Chris (Beth), Rob, and Jennifer (Albert) and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by brother, Michael (Rudi) and many nieces and nephews. Wayne spent 30 years at IBM, the last 15 in Tucson with the Storage Systems Division supporting marketing branches in the U.S. and Canada. Wayne loved traveling. After retiring, he and Genee enjoyed extensive RV traveling in the US, Canada, and Mexico. They also traveled internationally to Australia, Central America, and Asia. Wayne was an active member of CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) cooking chili for charities across the country. He was also a Certified KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) BBQ Judge. Memorial donations may be made to High Desert Pod CASI Scholarship Fund, PO Box 584, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85636. A Celebration of his Life will be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements by DESERT ROSE HEATHER. Their daughters first prison term devastated Dick and Roxana Johnson, but the Oro Valley couple also understood the reasons. Thats not how it feels this time around. Colleen Johnsons recent return to Arizonas Perryville Prison in Goodyear for nearly five years undermines the progress she was making and, they say, illustrates how poorly the states mandatory-sentencing laws serve its citizens. Dick Johnson, a former Oro Valley Town Councilman who filled in as the towns mayor in 1998, said their daughter had recently made significant improvement in managing her mental-health and substance-abuse challenges. Her legal case started in 2008, when she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol twice within a couple of weeks. She served a two-year term for those DUIs and was still under state supervision when she was rearrested in June 2013. Their opinion of the states legal processes has steadily deteriorated since that summer, and led them to become advocates for change. LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK Looking back, Dick Johnson says, there are things they wish they had handled differently. He wonders if imposing stricter rules when their daughter was a teen or seeking professional help sooner might have helped them avoid where they are now. Colleen, the older of their two daughters, attended Salpointe Catholic High School and was a strong student until her junior year, when her grades dropped and, her father says, she started partying. Colleen declined interview requests for this story. While there had been indications during her early adolescence that she was struggling, her father said her more significant mental-health challenges depression, anxiety and things that remain unclear to them, things Colleen didnt share started later. After attending both Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona, but not completing a program of study, she was slow to get her life going. At the same time, she was well-liked, funny and clearly very intelligent, her father said. Shes the type that, when she gets on an elevator, by the time she gets off, shes met everybody, he said. At the time of her arrest for drunken driving in 2008, she was in her early 40s. As parents of Colleen Johnson, we know that what Colleen has done is very serious and deserves punishment, Dick Johnson wrote in 2009 to former Pima County Superior Court Judge John Leonardo. We dont know the options you have at your disposal to rehabilitate, punish, monitor, etc., but whatever you decide, we know that it will be what you have determined to be the best for Colleen. During those two years in Perryville, Johnson said his daughter was a model prisoner who helped other women earn their GEDs. When she was first released, in August 2011, she worked at Baggins. But finding her way again, as a convicted felon, was challenging. She cant vote, she cant do anything, her father said. She cant even get an apartment. For a while she stayed home with her parents. She eventually got a job as an assistant manager at an Oro Valley restaurant and that worked for a while. Then things started to unravel again. When she was arrested in June 2013, she was driving very slowly near her house. She blew a 0.05 on an alcohol breath test. Thats below the legal limit of 0.08, but people can be charged with DUI for any blood-alcohol level if they are found to be impaired to the slightest degree. She was taking several medications prescribed by her psychiatrist, which her parents believe slowed her down considerably, both physically and mentally, and are the reason she was driving under the speed limit that day. Colleen was held in Pima County jail over the summer and then, in September 2013, the charges were dismissed without prejudice, which means they could later be refiled. We never knew or really understood why they were dismissed, Dick Johnson said. Our attorney at that point said it was probably due to delays with the lab. As soon as she left the jail, her parents pushed her to go to Cottonwood Tucson for rehabilitation. We got to the point where we realized this was the only way we could save our daughter, he said. The family participated, too, he said, and things improved considerably after Cottonwood. Mental health and substance abuse, its all interrelated and these are the problems we needed to solve, he said. These are the real issues. REHABILITATION VS. INCARCERATION About 15 months passed, during which Colleen started working again this time at Impact Southern Arizona, a nonprofit service organization where shed volunteered after her first prison term. She remained sober, her father said, and followed the terms of her probation to a T. Then, in January 2015, the Pima County Attorneys Office brought back the charges from her June 2013 arrest. Her parents were shocked. We thought, Holy cow. Whats going on? Dick Johnson said. She had been really thriving, and was helping people. They tried to find a way to help their daughter, anything instead of prison. The case dragged on for another year, time they remained hopeful thered be another way. In the end, she entered a guilty plea so her sentence could be scaled down to 4 years. If the case had gone to trial, she risked a possible six to 15 years in prison, the standard in Arizona for a third DUI conviction in 84 months. Johnsons letter to Pima County Superior Court Judge Teresa Godoy in January 2016 reflects his frustration: From my experience with Colleen, I am committed to having the Legislature change the archaic laws governing non-violent offenses, especially those of drug and alcohol. Rehabilitation rather than incarceration has proven much more effective and less costly, he wrote. But to take the facts and situation out of the judges hands by mandatory sentencing is not right nor fiscally prudent. To me and many others this mandatory sentence is strictly punitive, costly and needlessly harmful to both society and Colleen. The average cost per day for an Arizona inmate is $64.93, DOC spokesman Andrew Wilder said. Following that average, Colleens current incarceration will cost taxpayers nearly $107,000 money Johnson wishes the state would instead use to help rehabilitate inmates with mental-health or addiction problems. Its so black and white. Theres no gray, he said. For the life of me, I cant understand this approach, that every situation is the same. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH At the end of February, 11,143 of the 42,626 inmates in Arizonas prison system were receiving regular mental-health services, state corrections records show. But many, like the Johnsons and Rae Hopf, board president of an Arizona nonprofit called Davids Hope, believe prison is not where people with mental-health or addiction problems, which are often co-occurring, are best-served. Davids Hope was started in 2009 on behalf of CEO Mary Lou Brnciks son, who has mental-health problems and has cycled in and out of lockup. Other states are using alternatives that Arizona has been slow to adopt, Hopf said. Community supervision, ignition interlock devices and expanded use of mental-health courts could provide the supervision needed. Because of our sentencing laws, we have very strict guidelines and so people end up serving long periods of time for what might seem, to you and I, like minimal infractions, said Hopf. Thats one of the big problems we see in this state. The sentencing guidelines that we have have taken all the control away from the judges and have left it in the hands of the legislators. But Jason Frazier, state director of Arizonas Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said when it comes to driving under the influence, they often see repeat after repeat after repeat. Therefore, he said, we support the law in Arizona and we support mandatory sentencing. On average, about 3,000 peopled are injured and 230 to 280 are killed each year in Arizona due to someone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he said. People do say its a non-violent offense and it might be, but it can also be one of the most violent offenses there are, he said. Joe St. Louis, a Tucson defense attorney who specializes in DUI cases, said Arizona has some of the most punitive DUI laws in the country. He said alternatives to locking people up need to be used more often. In this case, she was being a productive member of society, working, paying taxes and helping the economy overall and now shes become a drain on the economy, said St. Louis, who was not Colleen Johnsons attorney. When she gets out in five years, what are her prospects of getting a job at that point? St. Louis said he often sees cases where people are struggling with mental-health problems and self-medicate with alcohol. Predetermined sentences limit judges ability to consider mitigating factors like an individuals background, community support, likelihood to reoffend and available alternatives. You have to get at the core reasons why they are doing that, and locking them up doesnt change who they are, he said. Only treatment can help change that. A Pima County jury awarded a Tucson man $650,000 in damages last month for injuries caused when he was bitten by a Sheriffs Department dog during a traffic stop, documents show. Brian McDonald was bitten on the leg on Nov. 13, 2013. The department said McDonald was driving his vehicle in the wrong lane of traffic and almost crashed into a deputys marked vehicle, court records show. The deputy unsuccessfully tried to stop McDonald. When he couldnt, he called in to report he was pursuing a suspected drunken driver. Another deputy, Joseph Klein, responded to assist with his canine, Barry. McDonald stopped his car, but then drove away, stopping a second time after three of his tires were punctured by traffic spikes, records show. When McDonald got out of the car, he was unsteady on his feet, didnt speak and didnt follow any commands. There is no evidence that (McDonald) threatened force, acted aggressively, or reached for a weapon, Pima County Superior Court Judge Catherine Woods wrote in a Feb. 10 document. Deputy Klein used Barry to apprehend (McDonald) at some point after (he) got out of the car and failed to follow commands. McDonald, who is a diabetic, wasnt drunk, but was suffering from extremely low blood sugar, documents show. The Pima County Attorneys Office declined to file unlawful flight charges against McDonald, saying there was insufficient evidence. In May 2014, McDonald sued the county, alleging that Klein acted negligently and used excessive force by releasing Barry. The county asserted that because the deputies were conducting a stop on a suspected DUI driver who had attempted to flee, Klein was engaged in the statutorily-imposed law-enforcement duties, and that the county should not be held liable. After a weeklong trial that included dozens of pieces of evidence and multiple witnesses, the jury found Klein to be 95 percent at fault, according to the March 3 court document. The jury decided that McDonald was at fault for the other 5 percent. Of course nothing is sacred in politics. Why should the states highest court be any different? And yet, theres something unseemly about the deal moving through the Legislature that would add two seats to the states Supreme Court. Three unseemly things, actually. The bill would expand the court from five to seven justices even though no one on the court or recently retired from it is saying thats necessary. The bill is winning support via horse-trading: Basically, legislative leaders promise to restore previously cut funding and give judges raises if the Supreme Court will not oppose the expansion. The bill would give Gov. Doug Ducey two more appointments, allowing him to effectively pack the court, as the old phrase goes, by naming three of seven justices in his first year and a half in office. The only reason I can see that would be a basis to increase the Supreme Court would be a political reason, retired chief justice Charles Bud Jones told me last week. There can be no other. Its a court-packing arrangement for political influence. Jones, by the way, is a Republican, appointed by then-Gov. Fife Symington in 1996. I interviewed four of the last five chief justices two Republicans, a Democrat and an independent. None supports the proposed change, though not all were as quick to find a political motive as Jones was. But, of course, none is sitting in Scott Bales chair. Bales, the Supreme Courts chief justice, says that none of the current justices support expanding the court as a stand-alone deal, but if trading horses is what it takes to get necessary funding for the judicial branch, hell do it. The deal struck with legislators would increase funding for the courts by about $10 million, $6 million of which restores money previously swept by the Legislature, $3 million for childrens dependency cases, and almost $1 million for tech upgrades. It would also increase judges salaries by 3 percent. I have agreed to support a package suggested by representatives of other branches of government that combines needed court funding, salary increases and two new justices, Bales wrote in a piece for the Arizona Republic. I did so because I think that on balance it would strengthen Arizonas courts in administering justice. The idea of having to negotiate a package to simply meet the needs of an equal branch of government is what most bothers former chief justice Thomas Zlaket, a Tucson attorney. I like this chief justice, I have great respect for him, Zlaket said. I think its a bad idea for the court to negotiate this kind of a deal with the Legislature. People seem to forget that this is an independent branch, he said of the judiciary. I dont like the idea of having to negotiate and give a quid pro quo for what should be normal, fair government functioning. Zlaket, who served as chief justice for five years until 2002, was a Republican at the time and is an independent now. Fellow former chief justices Stanley Feldman, a Democrat, and Rebecca White Berch, a Republican, shared his concerns. And, despite their roots in different parties, they suspect the real motive is to win decisions more favorable to the Republican legislative leadership and to the governor. Its an obvious political attempt by the governor to increase his political power by expanding the court and getting two additional appointments, Feldman said. This is an attempt to expand the court when the court doesnt need an expansion. The governors spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, told me theres no such push from that office. Nevertheless, Berch, who retired as chief justice last September, pointed out that the court functions well as it is, and she made the same accusation as Feldman, if more diplomatically. I dont want to impute motive, Berch said. There may be those who think that if the court contained more friends, laws might be interpreted differently. Of course, the system doesnt allow the governor to appoint just anyone, Scarpinato pointed out. He must choose from a slate picked by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. But that commission has eight Republicans out of 13 members now. And more ominously, a bill passed last year gave the governor the right to replace those commissioners at will, even when their terms arent up. With that, he effectively gained control of the commission that gives him the names to pick from. If you want to look for decisions the Legislature was unhappy with, look no further than the Supreme Courts 2013 decision holding that the Legislature is obligated by a 2000 ballot measure to increase school funding annually. Thats the decision that led to a standoff between school districts and lawmakers and ultimately to next months vote on Prop. 123. But the author of the measure to expand the court says it has nothing to do with old decisions, nothing to do with packing the court, and had no influence from the governors office. Rep. J.D. Mesnard, a Chandler Republican and self-described policy nerd, said he believes in spreading power, both among the branches and within the branches of government. To me, five people who have that much power is too few people, he told me Friday. With two new justices, he said, power is more dispersed. Also, he said, more justices means more opportunities for a more diverse Supreme Court. True enough. But he also acknowledged that he would be less enthusiastic about the bill if a different governor were in office. And if I were betting, Id guess that Ducey will come as close as possible in future appointments to replicating Clint Bolick, his recent Supreme Court pick who, like, Ducey, is heavily influenced by the Koch Bros. emphasis on the economic liberty of corporations and the rich. In a hearing March 16, Sen. Martin Quezada, a Phoenix Democrat, suggested that perhaps the two new seats could be added, but not until after the next gubernatorial election, or the one after that, removing the partisan concerns from the debate. It seems like a good idea to me, but it was met with scoffs from Republican Sen. John Kavanagh and others on the committee, who contrasted it with Democrats arguments in favor of holding a vote for President Obamas pick to the U.S. Supreme Court. To me, that was a decisive sign, because the situations are so different, and Quezadas solution represented common sense. I have no reason to doubt that Mesnard sincerely believes in the principal of spreading power this way. But the effect of the bill, intended or not, would be to allow Ducey to put two more loyalists on the court and cement one-party rule across all branches of state government. On second thought, to call it unseemly is probably too generous. Its a power grab. Counselor Heather McAuley hasnt managed to sit down. She hovers over her desk as she furiously clicks away on a student dashboard on the computer screen, half standing and half sitting, in her corner office at Desert View High School. By 9 a.m. on a recent Friday, the veteran of 16 years has already made several trips to the attendance counter, principals office and copy machine. Three students, another counselor and a college and career readiness counselor have also visited with her. Its an ever-revolving door, she says. On a typical day, McAuley sees anywhere from 20 to 25 students individually. Counselors at Desert View each have a caseload of approximately 300 students. In some Tucson schools the ratio is more than 500-to-1. Its hard to give each student enough attention, she says. As Arizona school districts tighten their belts, they are having to ax more and more counselor jobs, leaving the state with the highest number of students per counselor in the country. The American School Counselor Association recommends at least one counselor per 250 students. Arizonas average is 941, compared with 491 nationally. Our number is high, in part, because the state does not mandate counseling, counselors and experts say. In light of budget cuts, Arizona districts have reduced counseling positions in elementary and middle schools. Calculating only for grades nine through 12, using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Arizonas ratio looks more like 435-1. A Star analysis of Tucson-area public high schools counselor staffing data found that only one Santa Rita, at 243-1 meets the recommended national ratio. That school experienced a dramatic decline in enrollment in the past five years. Other local schools with a ratio under 250 were mostly alternative schools with total enrollment of fewer than 250 students. For example, Tucson Unified School Districts Project More, which is an alternative high school for juniors and seniors, has one half-time counselor, making the ratio 168-1. COMPARISONS TO ELSEWHERE More than half of the states in this country require counselors, according to the counselor association. Far fewer have mandates on specific student-to-counselor ratios. Those mandates come from legislative action, administrative code or the states boards of education. Vermont and New Hampshire, which rank No. 2 and No. 3 for lowest ratios, all mandate that schools have counselors. They also require a 300-to-1 ratio for higher grades. Their averages are 213 and 235, respectively. Only one other state, Wyoming, at 211, meets the national recommendation However, having mandates does not necessarily translate to enforcement when a school is unable to meet the required ratio, said Amanda Fitzgerald, director of public policy for the American School Counselor Association. Unless specific dollars are tied to counseling, such as special-needs students who must have individual education plans, schools or districts cannot be punished for not meeting the mandated ratio. Ive never heard of that kind of thing happening, she said. Fitzgerald said she couldnt say for sure why those three states are able to achieve such low ratios, but added that smaller total student populations and higher spending on education could be factors. Generally, reaching the associations recommended ratio, which she said is based on years of research and tweaking as counselors responsibilities changed, would require all hands on deck. It takes an investment by the school system by the school itself, by the school district and by the state to want to be able to provide those services, she said. It really comes down to money, Fitzgerald said. When you look at all the education statistics, they are usually at the bottom in terms of funding. Arizonas per-pupil spending was $4,016 in fiscal year 2013, compared with Wyomings $9,252, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus public education finance data. Up until about three to four years ago, Arizonas average counselor ratio was closer to the 500s, said Kay Schreiber, college and career readiness coordinator at the Arizona Department of Education. The state then saw steep cuts in education funding. Less money meant some people had to go, she said. School counseling just happened to be one of those areas that they started cutting. Music, physical education and art positions were also eliminated. When the choice is between keeping teachers or counselors, administrators and counselors say the obvious choice is teachers. I hate it, McAuley of Desert View said. But Im also a teacher, so I get it. PERSONAL/SOCIAL, ACADEMIC AND CAREER Back at Desert View, Carolyn, a junior, clutches a black coffee mug offered by her counselor. She is the fourth student to visit McAuleys office on a recent Friday morning. The teen has enough credits to graduate early and has been accepted to the University of Arizona. She was even offered a scholarship to attend college. But there is a problem. Carolyns mother retired unexpectedly and cashed in her 401(k) for an emergency. That amount was reflected as income on the mothers tax documents, which now makes Carolyn ineligible for the need-based scholarship. Carolyn keeps calm for a while, but when it becomes clear that she will not be able to attend college this fall, she bursts into tears. Everything you worked for is screwed up, and thats beyond your control, McAuley tells her. So lets come up with a game plan. As a counselor, McAuleys duties include looking after a students personal and social development, as well as academic and career or college planning, according to the counselor associations national model. At the high school level, counselors say they spend most of their time helping students plan their academic schedules, stay on track to graduate and manage attendance. Some of their other duties are designing, developing and implementing behavioral- and social-health programs, crisis response and giving lessons in classrooms. The counseling association has for years encouraged schools to adopt more data-driven counseling programs, said Schreiber of the state Education Department. Data related to counseling includes anything from dropout rates and college application rates to federal aid application completion rates. You need to be able to draw the data and put into programs that would bring about student achievement, Schreiber said. Data could also help school counselors advocate for themselves, especially with superintendents, said Katherine Pastor, the counselor associations 2016 School Counselor of the Year, who works at Flagstaff High. TOO MUCH TO DO, TOO LITTLE TIME Teresa Toro wears many hats. Shes primarily a senior counselor at Pueblo High Magnet School. But shes also a sponsor of school clubs, department chair, event organizer, fundraising coordinator, community outreach specialist, test supervisor and mentor. If you want a monotonous job, this is not it, she says. Every day is a different day. Toro has a caseload of about 330 students because she is in charge of the seniors, who she says need a dedicated counselor because of graduation and post-secondary planning. Two other counselors split a caseload of about 1,200 students. Toro also volunteers for the swim team, participates on the committee for the schools recertification and helps during testing, which includes the state standardized test, PSAT, ACT and others. Toro and several other counselors with whom the Star spoke all said not having enough time is one of their biggest challenges. Her contract hours are from 7:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. But she says she usually leaves school around 5 or 5:30. And on some nights, she has school events to attend. You cant get it all done within that time frame as a leader, she says. So you put in the extra time. At Cholla High Magnet School, freshman counselor Alexandra Tsosie scrambles across campus between second and third periods on a recent Tuesday. She plans to hit three classrooms for brief presentations on summer school. Thats just during the third period. She eventually needs to get the information out to 550 or so students. Shes already been to two classes this morning and her total goal for the day is 15. I go into classrooms a lot, she says. That way, she can reach more than one student at a time. The Arizona State Board of Education requires educators to meet with every student in grades nine through 12 to plan for post-secondary options, whether its getting a job or going to college. The requirement doesnt name counselors, but they frequently are the ones who do it. Meeting with groups counts, so counselors often interrupt class instruction to give presentations, such as the ones Tsosie delivers to rooms full of freshmen. Between visiting classes and talking about summer school, Tsosie says she may need to duck out to help with test planning, which is considered a counseling duty at Cholla. Most other counselors interviewed for this story said they also help with test planning and proctoring. Tsosie says she has always had a high caseload in the four years she has been at Cholla, so its difficult to imagine what she could accomplish with half the number of students. We could really tackle a lot of stuff if there was another person, she says. SHIFTING DUTIES School counselors duties and responsibilities have shifted over the years, said NJ Utter, director of college readiness at the Sunnyside Unified School District. As more and more support staff is eliminated, the people who are left, including counselors, are expected to pick up their work, she said. Counselors sometimes have to be on cafeteria or playground duty. A shortage of teachers means some counselors substitute in classrooms, she said. With fewer people to go around, counseling has become less waiting for students to come see the counselor and more proactive behavior lessons and classroom visits, Utter said. Thats not necessarily a bad thing. But increasing caseloads and broadly targeted counseling would inevitably mean quality could suffer, Schreiber of the state Education Department said. Were not seeing the depth of counseling that we used to see, she said. Tsosie and other counselors said they would do anything to help their schools. Here, were ready to pitch in, Tsosie said. OUTLOOK Most counselors and school administrators interviewed by the Star do not think the counseling associations 250-1 ratio is realistic. Budgetarily, its not feasible, Toro said. But if the state of Arizona begins to fund education better, then that becomes more of a probability. Sunnysides Utter said because its maintenance-and- operations budget override election failed last November, the district has to cut one counselor from each of its two high schools. Schreiber, of the state Department of Education, said what is more important than ratios is that schools are building comprehensive counseling programs. Nevertheless, Schreiber believes Arizonas student-to-counselor ratio will be on a downward trend in coming years. Districts are starting to see that counselors and what they bring to the schools are very, very important, she said. We need our legislators and our government officials, our parents and our communities to realize that we really truly need professional counselors in every school. Federally, the American School Counselor Association is pushing to increase the amount of grant money that would be distributed to student support programs, some of which could fund counseling. Congress has authorized $1.65 billion to be appropriated through Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants to eligible school districts, though only $500 million has been confirmed to be appropriated thus far. As it stands, Tucson-area high schools do not plan to increase the number of counselors. But counselors say they love their work. You have to have the passion, said Jessica Dale, a counselor at Amphitheater High. If youre just coming and going, then you cant connect with the students. Toro of Pueblo Magnet said students who struggle and then make it to graduation keep her going. To see them through years of high school and transition to whats going to be the next chapter of their lives, seeing the students bloom thats the payoff. A potential ban on texting while driving is set to be discussed by the the Oro Valley Town Council. But even if such a measure passes, its likely to be more of a symbolic gesture than a catalyst to increased enforcement. Last year in Arizona, there were more than 2,500 crashes on state highways attributed to distracted driving. And more than 10 percent of those were due to cellphones being used by the drivers, according to data from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. On Wednesday, Oro Valleys council is set to discuss an ordinance that would require drivers to put their cellphones down while driving within the town limits. Council members Lou Waters and Mary Snider have asked that the proposal be on the agenda for discussion. Its something that has been brought forward as a concern by our residents, Snider said. We want to hear how the community feels about it. Snider said bringing the issue before the council is an opportunity for residents to share concerns and ideas. We dont want to enact an ordinance right now, Snider said. Were trying to start a discussion. Distracted driving is a huge problem, and the towns police officers lack any ability to keep drivers from using their cellphones while behind the wheel, said Lt. Kara Riley, of the Oro Valley Police Department. I think that we really encourage education and prevention in our community, Riley said. She noted that the department releases multiple videos outlining the problem of distracted driving. Tucson already has an ordinance that says drivers cannot text while driving. But for the entire year of 2015, only 28 violations were issued, said Chris Hale, the City Court administrator. In the state, 4,218 traffic citations were issued for districted driving. However, those can be issued for reasons other than texting while driving, state data shows. Citations for districted driving are typically given after someone is already pulled over for a traffic violation. Arizona is one of only two states that doesnt have a law requiring that drivers put their cellphones down while operating a vehicle. Efforts to pass a state law have failed. Sen. Steve Farley, a Tucson Democrat, said he was the first state lawmaker in the country to introduce legislation that would ban using a hand-held digital device to read or write texts while driving. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous practices you can do, Farley said. Youre 2,300 percent more likely to get into an accident if youre texting while driving. Im glad I made it safe for everyone else in the country, Farley said, adding that he looks forward to the day Arizona can join other states in seeking to make roads safer. A Tucson man could play a pivotal role at the Republican National Convention in selecting the next GOP nominee, and most people dont even know his name. Bruce Ash doesnt like the term kingmaker, but as a Republican National Committee member and chairman of the RNCs rules committee, he will play a big role if a GOP convention goes to a second ballot to nominate a presidential candidate. Recent rules changes, which could be criticized in the coming months, were mostly designed to change bad or outdated rules, Ash said in a recent interview. The committee never predicted that the 2016 election would have so many candidates, or that a reality television star would enter the race. It would have been hard to imagine wed have 17 candidates for president as well as a super person like Donald Trump getting involved, he said. We made these changes for the first time in four (presidential campaign) cycles. A lot of the changes were for the good, he says, noting they reduced the number of debates and that the RNC is working closer with media groups to coordinate the televised events. One rule hasnt changed, however, and it is getting a lot of press this election season: Rule 40(b.), which says that a candidate must win at least eight state primaries in order to be nominated for president of the United States at the Republican convention. Ash said he reached out to various campaigns in January to discuss changing the rule. All of the people I talked with, all of the major campaigns, said No, do not change it, Ash said. The campaigns told him that changing the rules would make it look like the RNC was putting its thumb on the scale in an effort to sway the election, and each campaign was confident it would win at least eight states by the time of the July convention in Cleveland. Ash predicts two names will be put forward at the convention: Sen. Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump, but admits its just a guess. It is still hard to say how this is going to turn out, he said. The voting coming up on Tuesday, March 22, probably wont make a big difference in the overall race, he said. Two Western states are voting, Arizona with a presidential-preference election and Utah with a convention. It will be hard for either Trump or Cruz to sweep both of them, Ash said. Both Trump and Cruz held events in Arizona over the last few days to rally voters before Tuesday, including a Tucson rally by Trump. Ash wont say who he is backing in the race, but also is firm that whoever is the nominee after the convention will have his full support. It is going to be a mixed bag between now and June 7th when the California primary takes place, Ash said. Both candidates are likely to split delegates in California, he said, noting delegates there are awarded by congressional district, not a winner-take-all approach. Ash wont say for sure whether he expects a contested convention, but said it is important for there to be contingency plans in place. We havent had a contested convention since 1948, he said. He insisted it wont make anyone at the RNC a kingmaker. There just arent any kingmakers, period. Nobody sits in a back room, he said. All of the campaigns involved, he said, will be consulted on a day-to-day basis if the convention is likely to have more than one ballot for the presidential nomination, and to clear up any common misconceptions. Ash predicts the campaigns are already making contingency plans. They are probably already starting a first-ballot and second-ballot strategy, he said of the three remaining GOP campaigns, those of Trump, Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Ashs prominent role in the party came about accidentally, he recalls. I think I was an independent since I first registered to vote, he said. Things changed about 13 years ago, when he got involved in an independent committee to help elect now-former Tucson mayor Bob Walkup, a Republican. In 2004, Ash, who owns a property-management company in Tucson, briefly ran for a seat in the Arizona Legislature before a judicial ruling changed the boundaries of the district he wanted to run in. One fateful call from a friend put Ash on the path to be on the Republican National Committee. The friend suggested he run for an open seat on the RNC in 2007, and he defeated Don Goldwater, nephew of Barry, Arizonas late Republican icon. A rule amendment Ash floated at the convention in 2008, requiring any member elected as an RNC officer to be a member of the Republican National Committee, was soundly defeated. Ive always been a bit of an outsider in the RNC, he said. He had to repeatedly fight for his position inside of the committee. I was threatened by somebody that I would be taken out in the next election ... for trying to change the rules, he said. Ash not only survived the challenge, but has risen through the ranks. After all this chaos in this election, does Ash still talk to his friend who suggested he run for the RNC nine years ago? Were still great friends, he said. A global renewable-energy developer that is the only publicly known supplier for the proposed $2 billion SunZia power line is on the edge of filing for reorganization under federal bankruptcy law, news reports and a subsidiary say. Missouri-based SunEdison Inc., saddled with debt, disclosed in a public document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday that it has entered into confidential negotiations with lenders over proposed financing transactions. These transactions, known as debtor-in-possession loans, are typically done to prepare for Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. The company has proposed building a large New Mexico wind farm that would supply renewable power to the controversial SunZia project, whose power lines would slice through Southeast and Central Arizona. Three outside analysts say that proposed SunEdison projects such as the wind farm are likely to be delayed while the company prepares for and goes through much of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The process typically allows an insolvent company to reorganize and develop a schedule to pay off its debts. SunZia spokesman Ian Calkins said last week that company officials are extremely confident of finding other renewable energy clients and that SunEdisons problems wont affect the power line schedule. But opponent Peter Else of Mammoth, who has researched the project for seven years, reasserted his opinion that delivery of wind energy from New Mexico wont be economically competitive no matter who the supplier is. Partly, that is because costs for the New Mexico section of the line have increased by hundreds of millions of dollars because SunZia has agreed to bury three miles of it near White Sands Missile Range to ease U.S. Defense Department concerns. A year ago, SunEdison was considered the leading global renewable-energy development company. But toward the end of 2015, its losses mounted. Its debt topped $11 billion. Its stock price crashed from $31 last July to 35 cents a share on Friday, down 23 cents from Thursday following the release of its document disclosing negotiations for financing during a bankruptcy filling. It has failed to meet legal deadlines, most recently March 30, to release a 2015 annual report even though that could result in a technical default with big bank lenders. Its been reported by numerous newspapers and media websites that the company faces an SEC investigation into its financial situation. A company subsidiary, TerraForm Global, warned in a March 29 SEC filing that there is a substantial risk that SunEdison will soon seek bankruptcy protection. SunEdison officials have not been available to respond to reporters questions. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported April 1 that SunEdison planned to file for bankruptcy protection in the coming weeks. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, also citing an anonymous source, reported Friday that SunEdison could file for bankruptcy as early as Sunday, April 17. The company has cut its work force by 40 percent since October and expects a total 50 percent reduction, SunEdisons Friday filing said. The filing contained a March SunEdison presentation to creditors that said it needs $310 million in financing to stay afloat through midyear. In the Southwest, SunEdisons proposed Lincoln County, N.M., wind farm would lie near the start of two, 515-mile, high-voltage SunZia power lines planned to extend through southern New Mexico and into Arizona. The project would install 450 to 600 wind turbines and was cited as a planned anchor tenant by SunZia Transmission LLC during contentious public hearings last fall. At the time, a SunEdison official testified it expects to start construction in 2019 or 2020 and generate power by 2021. In February, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted 3-2 to grant a certificate allowing construction of the Arizona section. The decision came in the face of critics concerns that the project was economically unfeasible and environmentally destructive. Company officials and the commission majority said the project is vital for achieving a renewable-energy future. But since the wind farm is likely to burn cash in its early years, its likely to be on hold for some time, said John Sirico, an analyst for Covenant Review, a New York City-based publishing service that analyzes bank debts, credit agreements and other transactions for subscribers. They need cash to get themselves through bankruptcy and to exit from bankruptcy, Sirico said. A project like this is very challenging for a company headed into bankruptcy. Whos going to want to provide financing for this project? Another factor is that SunZia needs an approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to start construction in that state, he said. Are regulatory authorities going to push forward at full speed? Theyre probably going to put their foot on the brake, with the power line's leading tenant facing bankruptcy reorganization proceedings, Sirico said. Before SunEdison can tackle new projects, it must clear up debt issues, said David Carter, an analyst for Terril & Co., an investment-management company in the St. Louis area. He said he has no idea how long it will take the company to untangle its financial problems so it can start new projects. One complicating factor is that it had formed two subsidiaries, TerraForm Global Inc. and TerraForm Power Inc., to raise cash to invest in the parent companys projects, Carter said. While the subsidiaries are generally considered in better financial condition than their parent, several media reports have speculated they could be dragged into a SunEdison bankruptcy proceeding. Their presence will make the overall situation more complex and more confusing, Carter said. But SunEdisons problems have no effect on SunZias schedule for permitting and other milestones toward completion of the project, said SunZia spokesman Calkins. While Sun Edisons current circumstances are unfortunate and still unfolding, industry interest in SunZias anchor tenant process remains robust. In fact, SunZia is extremely confident of finding other renewable-energy developers, having received numerous inquiries from such firms since it secured approvals from the Bureau of Land Management in 2015 and now Arizona, Calkins said last week. SunZia will make a public announcement once it has an agreement with a developer, said Calkins. It could happen any day now. OPINION: "As a parent and teacher, I know the best way to address discord is to listen first and establish trust. As a neighborhood leader, I know how to work through differences by treating people with dignity and respect. As a mathematics teacher, I always taught my students that there is more than one way to solve problems," writes Theresa Riel, a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Pima Community College Governing Board. TEMPE Tempe police will have new authority to discourage people from sitting on downtown sidewalks for extended periods after the City Council adopted an ordinance Thursday that targets what some see as a growing problem along Mill Avenue. Both backers and opponents of the new law agree more is needed to address the larger issue of homelessness in Tempe, but a majority of council members agreed the law would at least give police an enforcement tool. The council adopted the ordinance on a 5-2 vote after a public hearing Thursday where supporters complained that dozens of sidewalk-sitters who camp along Mill Avenue each day are hurting businesses and causing people to avoid downtown Tempe. Many of the sidewalk-sitters are homeless and in their teens or 20s. But critics countered the law, which could impose a $100 fine on violators, would target homeless people without providing any help. Councilwoman Lauren Kuby, who voted against the ordinance with Councilman Kolby Granville, said the city has laws to address things like littering, public urination or aggressive panhandling. Is sitting on the sidewalk what we want to criminalize in our inclusive community? she asked, suggesting the city should instead increase funding for social-service programs and agencies that provide outreach and explore ways to address chronic homelessness. These are tougher discussions, I grant you. I know we can do better to find a solution to this issue, she said at the meeting, fighting back tears. All of the council members agreed a broader approach is needed. For me, its not the end. Its not everything. I think we continue to work and do everything we can to help all the stakeholders, said Councilwoman Robin Arredondo-Savage. The law applies to downtown Tempe and takes effect May 14. It makes it illegal to sit or lie on the sidewalk or on any object such as a blanket or chair that is not permanently affixed to the ground. It makes exceptions for a medical emergency or a person with a disability and people attending a lawful event such as a parade, festival, demonstration or event sponsored by a nearby business. City officials say police first will inform sidewalk-sitters about the law and ask them to move. If a person does not comply after a reasonable amount of time at the discretion of police officers could issue a ticket with a penalty of up to $100 for a first offense. The ordinance will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday through Sunday. The ordinance specifies that a person cannot be cited simply for being homeless. Scott Price, owner of C.A.S.A Sunba restaurant and bar, read a letter on behalf of a group of downtown business owners supporting the ordinance. They also pledged to raise $100,000 in the next year for homeless-assistance efforts. We agree that as a community we should do everything we can to help these individuals into better positions, he said. Nobody should be bedding down at night on a concrete sidewalk because they cant find help. Several residents spoke against the ordinance, suggesting it would allow the city to single out homeless people despite the wording in the law barring that. Im in opposition not because Im trying to discount the experiences of people who go to Mill every single day, but I feel it would disproportionately target people who arent here today, said Tempe resident Megan McClusky. Their voices arent going to be heard on this matter. Help India! By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net, Syed Ali Shah Geelani the grand old man of Kashmir popularly known as Baba-e-Kashmir in the region is a prominent Kashmiri nationalist leader. He is the chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and enjoys huge support in the valley for his strong and unaltered commitment for the independence of Kashmir. In an exclusive interview to Twocircles.net Mr. Geelani spoke about his views on the Indian Muslims ignorance regarding Kashmiri nationalist movement and oppressive policies of Indian government on Kashmiri Muslims. Support TwoCircles Many a time you have criticized Indian Muslims for not supporting the independence movement of Kashmir, why do you think it is important for an Indian Muslim to support Kashmiri cause? It is (Farz) absolute duty of Indian Muslim to support their Kashmiri Muslim brothers, but it can happen only when they start thinking like a Muslim. But the tragedy is 20 Crore Muslims of India are shaping their opinion about Kashmir as a Hindustani not as a Muslim. This 20 crore Muslim population is having sinful silent when in their backyard, their own Muslim brothers are being oppressed by the Indian army, exploited by the Indian political class, harassed by intelligence agencies, and even when Muslims are tortured, raped and killed mercilessly. In Islam it is Farz for every Muslim to help oppressed Muslim brother, and then this makes absolute duty for the Indian Muslims to speak about the atrocities committed by India on Kashmiri Muslims. Syed Ali Shah Geelani There is a general fear among Indian Muslims that if Kashmir gets independence and even if they support it or not they will be the victim of the backlash of Hindutva forces. What do you think about this perception? 12 million people of J&K cant be hijacked by India, by raising the bogy of fear. See Kashmir cause and Indian Muslims are two different issues. If Muslims in India are targeted after the secession of Kashmir then it is the result of anarchy and tyranny of the nation which they are living in, and it will have nothing to do with Kashmiri independence. When you are going to uphold truth and justice then you should also be ready for the ache which is unavoidable. That hurt will be the test of Allah, and a true Muslim who believes in the Day of Judgment and who believes that this world is predetermined, and the world here after is infinite then he will definitely uphold the truth and justice, irrespective of backlash it will accompany. But if a Muslim is more worried about his life and property rather than truth and justice then he should prepare to live his life under the shadow of a tyrant. Indian Muslims protest frequently whenever any where in the world Muslims are targeted, but when in Kashmir the same thing happens, no Indian Muslim raise their voice against it. As Kashmiri Muslim how do you feel about it? I always tell whenever I meet people from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind or any other Indian Muslims that they will be questioned in the Day of Judgment by Allah for their dangerous silence on the atrocities on Kashmiri Muslims by the Indian army. But they always give excuse that if they speak against the Indian government they will be banned, censored or restricted and then it will be difficult for them to carry out their functions. I think all this rhetorics of Indian Muslims is the result of week Imaan (faith), they fear Indian state more than Allah. Indian army have taken our land on the gun point, they raped and killed hundreds of Muslim women, I myself have inspected some instances where mother was raped in front of her little daughter, and wife in front of husband. Every one knows how two Muslim women in Sofian were raped and killed by Indian army. Because of all this humiliation when young Muslims were on the streets without any weapons they were killed on point-blank range by the Indian army, even a seven year old boy was killed by the army. From 2009 till now 125 unarmed Muslim protesters were shot down by the army. And even after all this Indian Muslims are silent, I and all the Muslims in J&K have serious complaint against them. I think they are silent because of the fear of wrath from the majority, but a true Muslim will always support the truth. I remember there was a huge public meeting in Darul Uloom Deoband and Aziz Burney, editor of Sahara Urdu daily said we will condemn hundred times the violence against Muslims in Kashmir, but will reiterate thousand times that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Aziz Burney represented the mindset of Indian Muslims that because of the fear from majority community and to appease them they are ready to tell the truth 100 times but will support a lie 1000 times. Indian Muslims will be answerable to Allah. You look quite distressed from Indian Muslims, what will be your message to them? I will urge to the Indian Muslims to protect and preserve their identity, they should always feel proud of what they are i.e. Muslims. They should not just be a Muslim by name but should be a practicing Muslim. They should protect their culture, because with out their culture Muslims are nothing but just like any other community. In Jammu & Kashmir we are facing a cultural aggression from India; Indian army is trying every bit to destroy our Islamic culture, and Muslims of Kashmir is resisting that cultural aggression, Indian Muslim should take lesson from Kashmir. Indian Muslims should get united as a single ummah and leave their ideological differences to fight against their adversaries. Twenty crore Muslim population of India should get united and in one voice should support the Muslims of Kashmir for their genuine cause and pressurize the Indian government to fulfill their promise made in UN resolution. But till now it has been seen that Indian Muslims are keeping quiet on the atrocities done on Kashmiri Muslims by the Indian army, I can tell with whole confidence that if Indian Muslims are going to continue this type of laxity then they will be questioned by Allah. And I dont hesitate in saying this thinking that Muslims of India will get angry with me, because a Muslim should fear only Allah and I am sure Allah will ask Indian Muslims why they were silent when their brothers in their backyard were subjugated. Parties, media in Taiwan call for justice for fraud victims Updated: 2016-04-18 00:32 (Xinhua) TAIPEI -- Political parties and media outlets in Taiwan have denounced telecom fraud and said the suspects must be brought to justice, after Taiwan police on Saturday released 20 fraud suspects who were deported from Malaysia. The Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday released a statement saying that the party was concerned about the harm born by the victims and the negative impact the fraudsters' actions have had on the image of the island. The party called for a joint denouncement of the criminals and called for justice to be served. Hung Hsiu-chu, the newly-elected chair of the KMT, warned that Taiwan should avoid becoming known as an "exporter of fraud rings." Taiwan police on Saturday released 20 fraud suspects who had been deported from Malaysia Friday evening, citing a lack of evidence. They were among 52 people from Taiwan arrested in Malaysia for suspected telecommunication fraud. Taiwan's New Party said the immediate release of the fraud suspects at the airport triggered public outcry from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. The prevalence of fraud rings in Taiwan have harmed numerous innocent people across the Strait, it said, adding the general public in Taiwan were outraged by the light punishment and what appeared to be the condoning of criminal activity. An article carried by Taiwan's Want Daily newspaper said Taiwan's handling of the fraud suspects rubbed salt into the wounds of the victim, making the island synonymous with the title: "a heaven for fraudsters." Netizens in Taiwan also condemned the crimes and called for penalties for any law breakers. That's exactly the spiritual challenge that Jewish Renewal places in front of us. Are we willing to take the risk of reshaping Judaism so that it truly speaks to this moment of such profound social, generational and planetary change? Are we willing to take the risk of co-creating that kind of Judaism, risking that we might fail? Reb David and I, and everyone at ALEPH, are taking the risk to trust that your answer is yes. Our people have done this before. Our ancestors left a familiar enslavement with no idea where God would take them or how their lives might unfold. With the Exodus we reboot the story of Jewish peoplehood, the story of becoming who we most deeply are. Each year we're called to rededicate ourselves to taking the risk of leaving enslavement and choosing to become. In a nutshell, thats the story of Passover -- going before were ready, not yet knowing how or where, trusting the way forward for transformation and renewal, and taking a leap of faith not despite not-knowing but precisely into the not-knowing. We set out on this year of listening to invite self-reflection and reflection by all who care about ALEPH and Jewish Renewal -- about where our movement came from, where it's been, and where we might want to take it next. We did so knowing that a future of renewal, all that this movement can be, is starting to open right before us -- and also knowing that it wasnt yet clear what that future would be or how wed get there. Theres a certain leap of faith that were all taking -- being here in such a self-reflective way, visioning a future perhaps difficult to see, making ourselves vulnerable to the truths of what needs fixing, and going forward before our plans are ready. If I believed in coincidences, maybe Id believe that our visit to Kehilla for the ALEPH Listening Tour just happened to coincide with this season of renewal. But I think it's no coincidence that our time with you here, in this city which is one of Jewish Renewal's beating hearts, comes at this sacred season. Preparations for Pesach take many forms. For some of us this is a season of intensive physical house-cleaning, when we strive to remove every crumb of / hametz (leaven) from our homes. For many of us, this is a season of intensive spiritual house- cleaning, when we strive to clear the spiritual hametz from our hearts so that we may walk ever more upright into a future of renewal opening right before us. I don't much enjoy the physical housecleaning, but the spiritual housecleaning is my idea of a good time. I love that our tradition gives us this opportunity for reflection as Pesach draws near. Shabbat Shalom. I come bearing perhaps surprising news: Pesach is almost upon us. This is Shabbat haGadol, the "Great Shabbat" immediately before Passover. Traditionally, as Reb David mentioned last night , this is the day when rabbis are supposed to give sermons about preparations for Pesach. For me, one of the most powerful moments in the Pesach story happens after the part we retell during the seder each year: the parting of the Sea of Reeds. Midrash teaches that the waters didn't part until a man named Nachshon walked into the sea -- in fact, the sea didn't part until the waters were up to his neck. Nachshon stepped forward into the future even though he couldn't have known for certain that the waters would part. That's where spirit calls us to go into the future we can't yet see. The future of Jewish Renewal is one we will co-create with the Holy One of Blessing. Our task is to trust that the waters will part when we take the plunge, and then to leap in. Last night Reb David offered a teaching from the Slonimer Rebbe, Shalom Noach Beresovzky. Here's another. The Slonimer teaches that there are different levels of / emunah, faith. There's emunah of the heart, there's emunah of the mind, and there's emunah of the body. Perhaps paradoxically, for the Slonimer the highest form of faith is emunah of the body. When we're able to fully embody our faith in God, to literally leap into the sea before it parts, then the divine Presence dwells within us. Thats when we can sing a new song of redemption. We need to cultivate faith in the future: not just with our hearts, not just with our minds, but in all that we are. Cultivating that faith is the work of this Listening Tour. Imagine the Judaism the world most needs: what does that Judaism look like, and what do you want ALEPH to do to help bring it about? How should Kehilla and ALEPH partner in the work of weaving the Judaism you most want to see? What matters most to you about spiritual life, about Judaism, about Jewish Renewal? What do you yearn for? What would it take for you to leap with us into recommitting to build that kind of Judaism together? * * * This week isn't just Shabbat HaGadol; it's also Shabbat Metzora, which means that this week's Torah portion features cures for / tzara'at, a disease which can arise both in people and in homes. "Tzara'at" is frequently translated as leprosy, though the tradition tends to view it as a spiritual ailment, not a physical one. My favorite interpretation of what tzara'at might mean comes from Nachmanides, who viewed tzara'at as a withdrawal of godliness from the world. According to Torah, the cure for tzara'at in a human being involves painting first blood, and then anointing oil, on the ear and thumb and big toe. It's striking that these are the same places anointed with blood on Aaron and his sons when they received smicha as priests, the parsha we read just a few weeks ago when Reb David and I were on our Listening Tour visit to Vancouver. If tzara'at is a sign of God's presence withdrawing from the world, then the cure must be a tool for restoring the Presence. The anointing of ear and thumb and toe -- making holy our listening, and the work of our hands in the world, and the paths we walk -- isn't just for the priestly class anymore. For us in Jewish Renewal, it's for anyone who has experienced God's absence. It's for anyone who has longed, anyone whose heart has yearned. It's for all of us. Jewish Renewal offers tools for restoring our awareness of God's presence. As Rabbi Burt taught me many years ago, / leit atar panui mineih, there is no place devoid of God -- but we might not see it, or know it in our bones, unless we open our hearts to noticing that holiness was always already here. Our tradition teaches that God beckons even in the mis-steps, in missed opportunities and the 'hametz' of the past whatever we imagine them to be. It's our task to find that spark of God hidden in all things, and make that Presence real among us. Thats what it means to walk upright into the future of renewal opening right before our eyes. I pray that the holy work of listening and dreaming the future will heal and empower. May we clean out any hametz we find to make space for what's new. May we be inspired to cultivate the next turning of a renewed Jewish future of embodied faith, so that together we can sing the song of our redemption. May what we do here help to make this possible here, and for all who thirst, now and always. 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. HA NOI President Tran ai Quang yesterday attended an opening ceremony to celebrate the cultural day of Vietnamese ethnic groups in Ha Noi. From 2009, the Government declared April 19 as the annual cultural day of 54 ethnic groups with the aim of honouring their cultural values, strengthening the great national unity, and promoting patriotism, he said. The President stressed the need to continuously implement effectively the Resolution adopted at the 9th session of the 11th Party Central Committee on the building and development of the Vietnamese culture and people to meet the countrys sustainable development requirements, as well as the cultural development strategy through 2020. He urged people to step up preserving, promoting cultural diversities and building new cultural values while expanding international exchanges. It was necessary to increase the public cultural enjoyment, especially in the rural, ethnic minority, remote, border and island regions, and integrate cultural preservation with sustainable development of economics and tourism, he noted. After the opening ceremony, an art programme took place, featuring the unique culture of 54 ethnic groups across the northern mountainous region, northern delta, central region, Central Highlands, and southern delta. Participants take part in folk games and enjoy food from different regions at the Culture and Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups from April 15-19. A variety of art forms are highlighted such as Luon Coi singing of Tay, Nung ethnic groups, HMong panpipe and umbrella dancing, and Kho Mu folk music, along with xam singing a genre of music once popular in the north of Vietnam, cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera), and quan ho (love duet), chau van (spiritual singing), Central Highlands gong performance, and on ca tai tu (amateur singing) of southern people. Nearly 120 village patriarchs and artisans from various ethnic groups are engaging in cultural activities. VNS Pham Ngoc Thuong, a disabled student at the Thanh Ba 1 Secondary School works hard every day on his computer to encourage people to donate books to students in Thanh Ba District, Phu Tho Province. Photo laodong.com.vn . By Thu Anh Poor children living in Phu Tho Provinces Thanh Ba District believe that only books can open a door to the world. Unfortunately, not many books, particularly history and art productions, are sold in the area. To improve the situation, a disabled student at the Thanh Ba 1 Secondary School works hard every day on his computer to encourage people to donate books to Thanh Ba students. Pham Ngoc Thuong, 14, has had poliomyelitis since he was two months old. His grandparents sent him to live in Thanh Ba Centre for Disabled Children because his father died while his mother left home to take a job. The centres guard gives him a ride to school. Thuong decided to place a bookshelf in his classroom to help his friends improve their reading. He has used social media websites to encourage youngsters around the country to donate and send books to his school. Many students in Ha Noi and other provinces have delivered their books to help us build our own library, said Thuong. Every book delivers love and sharing from donors to us. Thuong and his classmates spent more than seven months saving to buy a small bookshelf to store the charity books. They locked the shelf with a key, which was kept by their class manager. They called it Our Library. To borrow a book from the library, you have to sign a paper to guarantee your return. We wanted to keep and deliver the books to our younger friends after we leave school, Thuong said. Thuong said he likes reading history books and he dreams of becoming a historian. Reading can improve your soul and will. All of the stories I have gained from good books offer me opportunities to change my destiny, he said. VNS by Thu Anh Despite the abundance of modern supermarkets and shopping malls in HCM City, niche markets still attract customers who love discovering unusual, odd or hard-to-find products. Visitors to Binh Tay Market in District 6, for example, are sometimes surprised to discover piles of votive fake currencies in US dollars and Vietnamese ong as well as rows of miniature paper replicas of houses, motorbikes and other goods. These paper items are highly popular as it is traditional to burn them on the death anniversary of a departed loved one and on every full-moon day. People believe the offerings will cross over to the spirit world and provide luck to the deceased. Most of Binh Tays 20 shops that offer vang ma (votive paper) have been opened for decades. A Con, a Chinese-Vietnamese shopowner, said he sells several dozens of tonnes of paper each year. No official statistics are kept on this industry, but all major cities have a street devoted to the sale of votive offerings," he said. Con earns VN5,000 profit for every 1 million of ong of fake currencies his shop sells. "My shop prints scores of billions of fake money every day. And even more during the days before Tet (Lunar New Year) and especially in August, the seventh month of the lunar year, when many people buy joss items to offer to depart loved ones or to forsaken spirits, he said. Over the years, paper offerings like shoes and clothes have given way to newer items, including houses, motorbikes and cars under international brand names of Toyota, Audi and Mercedes. Besides votive offerings shops, other markets, such as the Nhut Tao Market in District 10, offer goods that are secondhand. Nearly 80 per cent of the products at the market are secondhand. First time visitors to this outdoor market may leave a headache, as the noise from competing TVs and stereos can be deafening. Visitors can identify the location of our market because they can hear the noise from a distance, a shopowner said. Nhut Tao has more than 250 stalls which operate all day. The shops specialise in electronics, including items made 20-30 years ago. Electric rice cookers, irons, fans, TVs and hi-fi equipment are all available at low prices, but it is necessary to check items carefully before buying as many look new but may be broken or have missing parts. If your motorbike needs anything replaced, you can easily find the part at Nhut Tao, which sells motorbike parts such as mirrors, lights, fenders, petrol tank caps, tool cases and innumerable other spare parts. The market supplies accessories and spare parts to electronic repair shops in the city and neighbouring provinces. Chinese quarter One of the citys biggest indoor markets is Soai Kinh Lam Market in the Chinese quarter Cho Lon in District 5. The market has 500 shops offering clothes and handmade accessories. Known for their friendliness, Soai Kinh Lam sellers allow many dealers to postpone payments until after they have sold their products a custom that has made them popular in the provinces of the Mekong River Delta. At Soai Kinh Lam, more than 300 tourists shop each Saturday and Sunday, while the number of local customers is 500 a day. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, a member of the markets managing board, said Vietnamese, particularly youth, like silks imported from South Korea, China and Thailand, while foreign visitors often buy traditional Vietnamese clothes and handmade bags and shoes. "I began my trade career here when my mother transferred her business to me five years ago. Our profit has fallen by 25 per cent compared to the time before 2000, when shopping malls had not yet expanded," said Hong Quang Minh, a shop owner. Like Minh, many young shop owners and sellers can speak two or more languages, usually Cantonese Chinese, English, Japanese or Korean. "Sellers here know my language and they give me good prices. Their manner makes you think they are your friends," said Erika Pang, a visitor from Hong Kong. Minh said that tourism had brought more foreign customers to the market in the last few years. "We understand Soai Kinh Lam is not only a brand name, but also a cultural symbol of Cho Lon," he said. VNS by Bao Hoa As the Korean wave continues to spread across Asia, its latest drama series Descendants of the Sun (Hau due mat troi) has gained popularity among young people in several Asian countries. The drama has recently fallen into controversy after a Vietnamese TV channel announced it would broadcast it. Descendants of the Sun tells the story of the love between Yoo Shi Jin (played by Song Joong Ki), leader of a UN peacekeeping force, and Kang Mo Yeon (played by Song Hye Kyo), a surgeon volunteering for an NGO as they work together in the war-torn country of Uruk. Since its first episode aired in South Korea by the end of February, the series has been praised by millennials for its charming actors, attractive storyline and drop-dead gorgeous romance scenes. Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been quoted by several newspapers as complimenting Descendants of the Sun on its spirit of patriotism and virtue for ones country, and encouraging Thai people to watch it. Thirty-three countries have bought the movies copyright from its original broadcaster KBS and will soon broadcast it - including Ho Chi Minh Citys channel HTV2. However, some dont think the drama should be shown in Viet Nam. Tran Quang Thi, a journalist, objected to the show, citing all the pain and losses South Korean soldiers caused to the Vietnamese people in south-central Vietnamese provinces during the American War. If one Korean soldier was killed, the others would shoot the entire village where they thought the soldier was killed, he wrote on his personal Facebook account. Mass shootings and bombings, rapes, splitting children into two... the darkest part of the war made its presence known in every place South Korean soldiers set foot on. He said he was not forbidding people to watch the series. But if one day a series that promotes the image of the South Korean army appears on our city television, I will have only one word: shame! he wrote. His post was shared nearly 90,000 times and received a lot of praise. A comment by Facebook user Lang My read: When I was little - and that was before 1975 - stories about South Korean soldiers always freaked me out." I know we should leave the past behind and head toward the future, but it doesnt mean we should deny or refuse to acknowledge what happened," he said. In the context of the drama being widespread amongst Vietnamese youth, many people from the older generation said youth should be aware of the South Korean armys crimes while watching it. However, many who watched the drama online said it had nothing to do with the Viet Nam War. The Korean soldiers in it belong to the UN peacekeeping force, said Tran Thu Hien, 23, of Ha Noi. To criticise their image would be to overcomplicate the issue, because it is just a trend that will soon fade. Thuy Tu, a 24-year-old advertising agent in HCM City, said the series helped her understand the qualities of a good citizen, as well as love and responsibility for ones community, ones self and ones profession. Watching it makes me yearn to devote my skills and knowledge to serve the community, she said. I admire the filmmakers and actors, for they have been able to turn the difficult subjects of patriotism and social responsibility into something inspiring for the youth. A large number of young people watched the drama just because of its attractive actors and storyline, and wouldnt have thought of the historical aspects, said Vo Pham Que My, 24, of HCM City. "Even if we do judge the drama from a political perspective, I dont think we should be too critical," she said. "The war is over." Answering interview questions from Viet Nam News, the director of HTV2 said, We received ten of thousands of comments on social media every day from viewers. Reading them, we see a positive sign that young people have realised Descendants of the Suns key message, which is the desire of the new generation to lead a meaningful life. They are doing their best to develop a lifestyle of selfless devotion to their community and loved ones. He said the drama had broken records in viewership ratings in South Korea and received more than 2 billion views in Asia - reasons that HTV2 decided to bring it to Viet Nam. The series is expected to officially premiere on HTV2 by the end of April, he said. As a communications major who has taken media analysis courses, I think theres a lot to take into consideration when it comes to analysing a media product. When the movie Fifty Shades of Grey (50 Sac Thai) first came out in Viet Nams theatres, the idea of a movie laden with violent sex scenes being widely promoted in my country bugged me. The feminist texts I read in college came back to me, and I wondered if young people who have never heard of the concepts of "rape culture" and "consent" would be able to tell the differences between consensual violent sex (BDSM) the movies main theme and rape. As a result, I became averse to the fact that thousands of young adults rushed to cinemas to watch the movie before equipping themselves with a certain understanding about the subject they were about to get exposed to. As for Descendants of the Sun, I understand This position, knowing more about a media production than what appears on the screen, as well as the urge to share such knowledge with the community. However, having taken a look at the drama myself, on the one hand, I agree with the millennials that it is not related to the American War. I also agree that whats past is past, and the wounds of the past should be left to heal instead of slashed open again by the next generation. On the other hand, as English writer Aldous Huxley wrote in his book The Art of Seeing: "The more you know, the more you see." I appreciate every bit of extra knowledge and background information around an issue, even if they are not directly related. In this case, it is to be aware of what my country had been through without using it to judge a cultural product. At the end of the day, isnt it healthy for the younger generation to keep an open mind, be a sponge, absorb everything and see what we can make of it? VNS. It has been 12 years since Gurgaon-based and BSE-listed Pearl Global Industries set up a garment manufacturing unit in Bangladesh. The company, which has 4,000 machines across four factories in the neighbouring country, is planning to double its capacity in the next three years. Chennai-based Ambattur Clothing Co has two units in Bangladesh which employ 8,000 people. It supplies clothes to brands such as Zara, Gap and Taylor. While the units in Bangladesh account for 60 per cent of the company's business, Chennai accounts for only 15 per cent. Orient Craft, a Delhi-based garment exporter which employs 32,000 people, has so far stayed away from Bangladesh. Now, even Orient Craft is thinking of setting up a unit in Bangladesh. As India's garment exports stagnate at $17 billion a year, Bangladesh's apparel exports are growing at double digits and are likely to touch $27 billion this year, say Indian exporters. India's garment exports were $15.49 billion between April and February 2015-16, up only 1.5 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Between July 2015 and February 2016, Bangladesh clocked $18.12 billion in apparel exports, growing by 9.52 per cent over the corresponding period last year. For the past four months, its exports have been between $2.2 billion and $2.6 billion per month. Bangladesh overtook India in 2008 and its share of world trade began to climb from 2010 (4.19 per cent vs India's 3.16 per cent). Interestingly, India's share of the world trade in garments increased from 3 per cent in 2000 to 3.78 per cent in 2010. In 2014, India's share was 3.67 per cent while Bangladesh's share was 5.09 per cent, according to WTO data on clothing exports as of October 2015. "We were among cheapest source of manufacturing. For about eight years, we were sitting pretty, thinking who will dislodge us," says a senior executive with a large Indian garments exporter. Isn't Orient Craft already late for Bangladesh? "In India, we can grow from Rs 1,800 crore to Rs 2,000 crore. But if my aspirations are to grow faster, I have to look at low-cost production bases, which enjoy duty advantage," he says. The search for cheaper production bases is driven by retailers who are constantly looking for ways to cut costs. "Exporters are shifting to Bangladesh as buyers want it. Bangladesh offers ease of doing business, importing-exporting is faster. R&D on new styles is faster as you can import fabrics in three days. In India, it would take 10 days. The more samples and styles you produce, the better the chances you stand to get an order," says Vijay Mathur, additional secretary general, Apparel Export Promotion Council. Ambattur has units in countries like Bahrain and Jordan, apart from Bangladesh. Pearl Global has units in Indonesia, Bangladesh and one coming up in Myanmar. "Every country offers a unique advantage. Indonesia is good at garments made with silk and fine fabrics while Taiwan, being closer to China, takes lesser time to execute orders," says Deepak Seth, group chairman, Pearl Global. But not many Indian exporters have been able to set up bases in Bangladesh or elsewhere because a majority of them are small-time players. Only three-four Indian garment exporters do business in excess of $150 million. Indian exporters have been losing their competitive edge; they no longer cater to the mass-market, and have capacity which is utilised for only four-five months in a year. Net margins of four-five per cent leave them with very little to invest in fresh capacity abroad. No wonder, more than Indian exporters, it is Indian business families based in Sri Lanka and Hong Kong which have exploited the Bangladesh advantage. These include Hong Kong-based groups like Must Garments, Epic Garments and Sri Lanka-based groups like Brandix, MAS Holdings and Hydramani Groups. Why Bangladesh exports do well Of course, its biggest advantage is duty-free exports to markets like the European Union, Japan, Australia and Canada under a preferential tariff system called Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which provides an exemption from the more general rules of the WTO. Garment exports from India to Europe attract an import duty of 11-12 per cent. Apparel-manufacturing is a labour intensive industry. And labour cost in Bangladesh is 25 per cent lower than India. A skilled worker in India, with two-hours of overtime, costs $200-$225 a month, while a similar worker in Bangladesh is available for $140-150 a month. Labour is not just cheap, but also highly skilled - garment exports account for 82 per cent of Bangladesh's total exports. "It's single-largest industry in Bangladesh, and enjoys high priority. If there are any issues like strikes, they are quickly resolved," says Deepak Seth, chairman, Pearl Global. The fact that many of Bangladesh's top politicians and bureaucrats own these businesses has also helped the industry immensely. Earlier, power cost was 50 per cent lower than India due to abundance of gas, but that difference has come down. "There's still some difference as boilers, generators and vehicles run on gas. Oil has come down to $40/barrel, but in India government is still increasing fuel prices," says an Indian exporter. "It's all about focus. In India, when you have consecutive holidays, like this week, the Customs is closed. In Bangladesh, it is open 24x7 throughout the year. Even if you have strikes, vehicles ferrying garments enjoy exemptions," says Dhingra. Also, provident fund or medical cover for workers is not statutory in Bangladesh. Working conditions are also poorer than India. A recent study by US brands found that only 24 of the 700 factories inspected met international safety standards. India's loss of opportunity is huge Thanks to the duty disadvantage and higher costs, India became uncompetitive. It has vacated the mass-market for garments (shirts, trousers) and now largely plays in the fashion segment for value-added garments, like embroidery or in garments which need a lot of handwork, or premium garments that cost upwards of $15. Growth in garment industry can add a lot of jobs but exporters feel the government is oblivious to the opportunity. One way to drive competitiveness is to go for bilateral agreements with key countries, seeking duty-free exports. "Trade agreements are very important. One has been hearing about a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU for ten years, but some industries want protection," says Seth of Pearl Global. "The Indo-EU FTA got side-tracked, thanks to lobbying by the automobile and wine industry, who forced the government to not sign the agreement," rues another exporter. "A bilateral agreement with European Union, which links foreign investment from EU to duty-free exports of garments from India, can grow exports to Europe 3-4 times to $24 billion-$26 billion in three years, from $9 billion today," says Dhingra. Consider the potential: Maruti Udyog, with sales of Rs 48,605 crore, employs only 12,900 people while Orient Craft with Rs 1,800 crore sales employs 32,000 people. With exports of $16 billion, the garment industry employs about 37 million people. A majority of these are uneducated people, mostly women, who are trained for 90-days and can earn Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000 a month. "The Chinese saw it 60 years back: Either you create jobs or give them doles. They chose to subsidise labour-intensive jobs," says Dhingra. At $117 billion, Chinese garment exports are nearly seven times that of India. April 7 started off on a bad note for India's leading power companies - Tata, Adani, Reliance, GMR and GVK. One wrong newsflash on a legal case and their stocks came crashing down. While Tata Power and Adani Power were direct parties to the case, others suffered in anticipation. After visiting oil-rich Gulf nations, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday reached Dhaka on a three-day visit to push for Indian state-owned firm setting up a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal in and a pipeline to export liquid fuel. The visit from April 17-19 is aimed at following up on the ambitious agenda set between India and during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to in June last year, an official statement said here. On arrival in Dhaka, Pradhan called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss bilateral issues pertaining to the hydrocarbon sector. He referred to the supply of 2,200 tonnes of diesel from Siliguri Marketing Terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd to Parbatipur Depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Bangladesh and said that India was planning to continue supply of high-speed diesel in a sustainable manner. He noted the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services, the statement said. He shared details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides. Pradhan also discussed the Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline and called it an important project for both countries. During his stay in Bangladesh, Pradhan will meet Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, advisor on energy, power and mineral resources to the Prime Minister and Nasrul Hamid, minister of state for power, energy and mineral resources of Bangladesh. On Monday, he will witness signing of a MoU of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh between IOCL and BPC. He will also visit Chittagong on Tuesday to witness award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited as project management and consultant for its three-million tonnes refinery expansion project. The minister had last week visited Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia to further bilateral energy ties. 04:34 Jim Chalmers has to start making some hard decisions Former Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger says Treasurer Jim Chalmers is just like a commentator simply telling us the... 03:00 A number of issues with Victorian governments energy plan The Australians Environment Editor Graham Lloyd says there are a number of issues with the Victorian governments decision to boost the... 06:00 The game is up for despicable Lidia Thorpe Sky News host Chris Smith says he believes the game is up for the "despicable" Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, following recent revelations.... 06:06 Distinct intensification of concerns about Taiwan Former US deputy assistant secretary of defence Elbridge Colby says theres a distinct intensification" of concerns about Taiwan in the... 05:48 Entitled and small-minded: Netball Australia has cooked its greatest golden egg Netball Australia is about to learn the lesson, "go woke and you go broke" the hard way, says Sky News host Chris Smith. Zookeeper killed in tiger attack MIAMI (AP) South Florida zoo staffers and friends of a veteran keeper attacked and killed by a Malayan tiger met Saturday to mourn her death as investigators sought clues as to what led the tiger to turn on his caretaker. The Palm Beach Zoo remained closed over the weekend following the death of Stacey Konwiser, 38, who was killed by the 13-year-old male tiger in an enclosure known as the night house Friday. Tigers sleep and are fed in the night house, which is not visible to the public. Authorities had to wait until a sedative took effect before they could come to Konwisers aid, police said. Its unclear why the Malayan tiger was not killed, but zoo officials said only 250 such tigers known to exist in the wild. Man leaves $1,000 tip for waitress GUN BARREL CITY, Texas (AP) A customer eating alone at a Texas restaurant left a big surprise behind for an 18-year-old waitress a $1,000 tip. Alesha Palmer said she was so stunned she began crying in the middle of Vetonis Italian Restaurant in Gun Barrel City, a small community about 50 miles southeast of Dallas. The high school senior said she was serving a couple she knew last weekend and they asked about her college plans. Another customer who was seated nearby left the huge tip and asked to remain anonymous. Pastafarians wed in New Zealand AKAROA, New Zealand (AP) The wedding rings were made of pasta, the ceremony was held on a pirate boat, and when it came time for the kiss, the bride and groom slurped up either end of a noodle until their lips met. New Zealand on Saturday hosted the worlds first Pastafarian wedding, conducted by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. The group, which began in the U.S. as a protest against religion encroaching into public schools, has gained legitimacy in New Zealand, where authorities recently decided it can officiate weddings. Saturdays ceremony was all about having fun. The guests came dressed as pirates. The groom, Toby Ricketts, vowed to always add salt before boiling his pasta. Bride Marianna Fenn donned a colander on her head. Wannabe stripper left baby in hot car NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) A woman and her friend are facing charges after they left her infant in a hot car outside a strip club where she was auditioning. Kelsey McMurtry, 24, was auditioning at club in downtown Nashville Thursday while her daughter sat in a locked car with the windows up. A passerby saw her and called police. According to a warrant, it was 72 degrees outside when officers arrived and temperatures inside the car had reached 100 degrees. Witnesses estimated the baby was in the car 30 minutes. She was treated and placed with childrens services. Cleared of 1957 murder, man is freed CHICAGO (AP) A 76-year-old man who a prosecutor says was wrongly convicted in the 1957 killing of an Illinois schoolgirl was released Friday shortly after a judge vacated his conviction, meaning one of the oldest cold cases to be tried in U.S. history has gone cold again. Jack McCullough was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 in the death of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph in Sycamore, about 70 miles west of Chicago. In a review of documents last year, a prosecutor found evidence that supported the former policemans long-held alibi he had been 40 miles away in Rockford at the time of Marias disappearance. The American two-party system has proven to be effective. Each side keeps the other in check and the pendulum swings back and forth from one party winning the White House and then the other. It has been that way for decades. But the last two decades have turned ugly. It is understandable each side criticizes the other side for its approach to running the country. Sometimes the criticisms take a nasty tone in order to get the base voters fired up. Several factors have lowered the bar for nastiness and loss of civility to the point it is hard to believe either side anymore. When parties demonize elected members of the opposing party and use made-up claims, their legitimate criticisms are neither heard nor believed. President Bill Clinton once lamented someone who had attended one of his speeches accused him of being bent on destroying this country. Clinton wondered how any American would truly want to deliberately destroy his own beloved country. But extreme views cause some to become so paranoid they believe it is entirely plausible an elected president could be determined to destroy his country. The popularity of cable TV and the need to fill hours of broadcast has led to extreme sensationalizing of controversial topics to increase viewership. Just by listening (without looking at the TV), it takes but a few minutes to realize if it is MSNBC or Fox News reporting their fair and balanced news. Both are presenting partisan views to the extremes. Sadly, their extreme views are parroted by their viewers as absolute facts. Political action committees place advertisements that spin information in the ugliest way possible. This causes a loss of credibility resulting in a turned-off voter. Then there are the elected members of Congress. They seek to investigate members of the other party for any matter to distract and create doubts. This too has gotten to a point where nothing is believable. In the recent election only Jeb Bush and John Kasich have dared to even acknowledge the other party has made positive contributions. Bush went as far as pointing out that President Obama is an eloquent and decent man. This dismayed those who have heard nothing positive ever said about the president. It was Bushs attempt to show we have gone too far and some civility is in order. It seems he was not rewarded for it. We can disagree with the other sides policies, but should not demonize and dismiss all Americans from the other party have done for the country. A woman supporting Donald Trump recently said short of Trump shooting her children she would support him regardless of what anyone says. Was she making the point she would not listen to or believe the legitimacy of anything negative put forth about her candidate? Similarly, mention Benghazi and it is immediately dismissed by Democrats as a bogus Republican investigation. Unfortunately, with so much crying wolf even the legitimate concerns about a candidate are dismissed as partisan bickering. To gain peoples trust both parties need to first acknowledge the other side is not full of anti-American, immoral, greedy extremists bent on destroying the country. Then keep the criticisms to the policies. We should not accept the current caustic way is the nature of politics. It takes only one generation to reject the negativity and change it for the better. By Matt McClain, West Kentucky Star Staff Reporter Apr. 14, 2016 | 06:38 AM | PADUCAH, KY Peabody Energy and certain of its affiliates filed for protection under the Federal Bankruptcy Code on Wednesday, and that could have an impact on the Prairie State Coal Plant that Paducah Power partially owns and gets its power from.According to a news release from Prairie State, Peabody is the parent company of Lively Grove Energy Partners, LLC, which owns an approximate 5% share of the Prairie State Energy Campus, and that percentage was included in the filing.The plant and mining operations are managed and operated by the Prairie State Generating Company under the ownership of the Prairie State Energy Campus Management, which is controlled by the owners like Paducah Power, with weighted votes in proportion to their ownership share.In January of this year, Peabody announced an agreement to sell Lively Grove Energy Partners interest in Prairie State to Wabash Valley Power Association based in Indianapolis, Indiana. That sale was not finalized, however, before the recent bankruptcy filing, and now must be approved by the Bankruptcy Court.Pending that and other relevant determinations pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, Lively Grove Energy Partners (Peabody) remains subject to the Participation Agreement executed by Prairie State's owners.To date, Prairie State says Lively Grove has met the obligations of the Participation Agreement, but the bankrupcty filing just took place on Wednesday, so it is uknown what the longer term effects will be at this time.Prairie State says the financial challenges being experienced by Peabody Energy have had no material impact on the other Prairie State owners to date, and is not expected to in the future.According to the news release, the remaining owners of Prairie State are working with legal counsel to understand all options and obligations as the bankruptcy proceedings move forward.Paducah Power owns nearly 8% of Prairie State through the Kentucky Munincipal Power Agency that it formed along with Princeton Electric. Prairie State is Paducah Power's main supplier of electricity.Multiple municipal joint action agencies maintain ownership in Prairie State, according to Moody's Credit Rating Agency:American Municipal Power 23.3%Illinois Municipal Electric Agency 15.2%Indiana Municipal Power Agency 12.6%Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission 12.3%Prairie State Power Inc. 8.22%Southern Illinois Power Cooperative 7.9%Kentucky Municipal Power Agency 7.8% (Paducah Power and Princeton Electric)Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency 7.6%Peabody Energy 5.06%The cost overruns at Prairie State while it was being constructed, is also the reason Paducah Power had to dramatically increase their electric rates to among the most expensive in Kentucky, leading to customer outrage. Those rate increases cost then General Manager Dave Clark his job after he resigned in October 2014.Paducah City Commissioners also essentially fired then Chairman of Paducah Power's Board, Ray McLennan, when they asked him to resign from the board in October, 2014.Peabody has been under a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation since 2013 regarding the Prairie State Campus. As of November 30, 2015, the SEC investigation was still ongoing according to Probes Reporter, an independent investment research firm that focuses on public companies' interactions with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not known if the SEC investigation was completed when Peabody attempted to sell it's remaining 5% interest in Prairie State to Wabash Valley Power Association, before it got caught up in the bankruptcy fiiling. 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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. CHICAGO, IL, April 17, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- LaSalle Network, a national staffing and recruiting firm headquartered in Chicago, announced today its recognition as one of the 2016 "Best Places to Work in Illinois" for its sixth year in a row by the Daily Herald Business Ledger and Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC). "It's an honor to be recognized on this list for six consecutive years," said LaSalle Network Founder & CEO, Tom Gimbel. "We are one team at LaSalle, and this award wouldn't be possible without coming together to collaboratively achieve goals." In partnership with the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Advocacy Council, and MRA -The Management Association, this list identifies and honors the best places of employment in Illinois, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. To be eligible for nomination, companies had to have at least 15 employees working in Illinois, be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity, be a publicly or privately-held business, have a facility in the state of Illinois, and must have been in business for a minimum of one year. Participating companies were assessed through a two-part process. The first part consisted of evaluating each company's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure employee experience in the company. LaSalle Network will be recognized at the 2016 "Best Places to Work in Illinois" awards ceremony on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center, located at 3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, IL, 60523. The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. CT - 8:30 p.m. CT. Winners will also be featured in a special publication on June 27, 2016 that will honor and profile each of the awarded companies. For more information on LaSalle Network, please visit lasallenetwork.com or contact Heather Youkhana at 312-496-6562 or [email protected] About LaSalle Network LaSalle Network is a leading provider of professional staffing and recruiting services specializing in accounting and finance, technology, administrative, call center, human resources, marketing, executive search, supply chain, and healthcare revenue cycle. Since its inception, LaSalle has worked with thousands of clients and placed more than 30,000 candidates in temporary, temporary-to-permanent and permanent positions. LaSalle Network has been listed on Inc. Magazine's 500/5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America list for the past nine years, named by Staffing Industry Analysts' as a top five "Best Staffing Firms to Work For" from 2011 to 2016, and Crain's Chicago Business' Best Places to Work list from 2014 to 2016. The firm has offices in downtown Chicago, Arlington Heights, Oak Brook and San Francisco. For more information, please call 312-419-1700 or visit http://www.lasallenetwork.com. About the Daily Herald Business Ledger The Business Ledger is the leading provider of business news and information about businesses and the economy in suburban Chicago. The Business Ledger is a sister publication to the Daily Herald and part of the Paddock Publications family. # # # PASADENA, CA, April 17, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Educators in California looking for the best ways to prepare students for emergency lockdowns during disasters involving armed intruders, earthquakes or tornados are impressed with survival kit products from Quake Kare, a company that is the nation's leading provider of emergency survival kits. "We are receiving many requests from California school officials for our Safety Lockdown Container Survival Kit," said John Caine of Quake Kare, a not-for-profit company headquartered in St. Louis. Missouri. Caine is among thousands of people attending the California School Business Expo at the CASBO Annual Conference at Pasadena Convention Center this weekend. With more than 250 vendors, CASBO is the biggest trade show of its kind in California and the state's largest annual gathering of school business and safety officials. Quake Kare's Safety Lockdown Container Survival Kit is designed for classrooms with necessary emergency supplies for up to 72 hours. This portable kit contains emergency food, water, lighting, first-aid, portable toilet, and shelter supplies, as well as a solar / hand-crank powered flashlight; weather band radio; and a USB device charger that never needs batteries to charge smartphones and other USB devices. CASBO is an acronym for The California Association of School Business Officials, the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. "This expo is especially timely because authorities and educators are preparing for a potential surge of school shooting incidents this spring because records show that such disasters often begin to erupt in April," Caine said. Experts tracking school shooting incidents theorize that many such disasters occur in April because some armed intruders want to copy or venerate what other shooters have previously done, or memorialize a date in history. "Many schools and law enforcement officials are conducting 'preparedness drills' for students and faculty, and communicating with parents about disaster plans in the event of emergency," Caine said. "All school shootings are tragic, and evidence shows that April is a particularly bad month for disasters in the United States," said Caine. He noted that the Parker Middle School shootings, the Columbine shootings and the Virginia Tech shooting -- among others -- all occurred in April. Quake Kare is owned by the nonprofit Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis. School districts, businesses, law enforcement agencies and families rely on Quake Kare disaster preparedness kits to help survive floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other threatening episodes. (http://www.quakekare.com). All Quake Kare sales revenue directly supports Lighthouse service programs for people who are blind or visually impaired in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois. The Lighthouse currently employs 47 people who are legally blind in two manufacturing plants in St. Louis County to assemble, pack and ship Quake Kare survival kits and other products. "We are excited to participate in CASBO and we are making many new business friends here," Caine said. For Quake Kare product information, contact John Caine or Brittney Bettonville at 800.542.3697 or 314.423.4333, or see the website http://www.quakekare.com. For details about Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis services and programs, call 800.542.3697 or 314.423.4333 or visit the website or http://www.lhbindustries.com. Quake Kare is owned by the nonprofit Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis. School districts, businesses, law enforcement agencies and families rely on Quake Kare disaster preparedness kits to help survive floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other threatening episodes. (http://www.quakekare.com). # # # Apr 17, 2016 | By Alec The most revolutionary applications of 3D printing technology can be found in academic hospitals around the world, where numerous patients have already received life-changing and sometimes even life-saving 3D printed prostheses and implants. These medical solutions can not only be used by us humans, but also our animal companions. Gray Kid, a lucky parrot can now eat normally again, after receiving a 3D printed beak at the Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo in China. Gray Kid isnt the first animal to receive a 3D printed implant or prosthetic, but it is still quite a rare thing. He is now part of a select group of animals, that also includes Fred the tortoise and Derby the dog, who have all received custom-made, 3D printed implants or prosthetics that give them a chance at a normal life. And in Gray Kids case, a normal life was almost completely out of the question. Though a very handsome parrot, his beak was recently almost completely destroyed. Gray Kid lives at the Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo in China with a flock of his species, but unfortunately gang fights sometimes happen among parrots. During one of those fights, Gray Kid lost most of his beak. And that damage was more than just cosmetic, as breeder Liu Wei revealed. Gray Kid was left unable to pick up big pieces of fruit and could not chew on nuts at all. The unfortunate bird could only eat crushed foods by licking it up with his tongue, but without a beak he couldnt defend his meals from greedy companions either. If this situation continued, it would have definitely threatened his health and even his life, Liu Wei said. Fortunately, 3D printing offered a solution. The Hongshan Zoo animal hospital veterinarian Cheng Wang Kun began looking into a 3D printing solution, and fortunately the Nanjing Additive Manufacturing Research Institute caught wind of that idea. They offered to sponsor a 3D printed beak for Gray Kid. As Cheng Wang Kun explained, they brought another, healthy parrot to the research institute for 3D scanning, giving the 3D printing specialists a good notion of the dimensions of the necessary beak replacement. That 3D scanning data was used to design a customized 3D printable beak, which was completed and 3D printed in resin within just a day. Though the 3D printed beak was ready to go, it could not be installed so easily. Gray Kids beak suffered from irregular shedding, preventing the surgeons from simply screwing it on. They therefore had to adjust the shape of the 3D printed beak slightly. The anesthetized bird was subsequently brought into the operating room. We connected the 3D printed beak to the remnants of the original beak successfully, and then fixed it into place with a bone nail, the surgeon explained. All in all, the procedure only took about thirty minutes. But the worries were not quite over yet. As Liu Wei explained, there was still a good chance that Gray Kid rejected the prosthesis. To everyones surprise, the bird did not display any self-mutilating behavior, nor did he try to destroy or damage the new beak. In fact, he was very careful with it, and within just two days Gray Kid was seen flexibly using it to eat and drink alongside a companion. He looked, they say, comfortable. The 3D printed beak and the gray bone nail were very noticeable, but the companion bird also did not attack or bully the recovering Gray Kid. Perhaps he felt a bit guilty? This 3D printing solution thus seems to be a complete success, which is even more remarkable as it is the first time Hongshan Zoo used 3D printing as an animal health solution. They have already hinted that this positive experience has convinced them to use advanced technologies more often in the future, if it can benefit the animals. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Are they color blind wrote at 4/18/2016 12:12:49 AM:They could have at least used black filament to match the rest of the beak!, pore thing will be a social outcast. Blake Morrison in The Guardian: When Jenny Diski was told she had an incurable cancer, her first reaction was embarrassment. That wouldnt be the response of most people, but Diski rarely does as expected. Contrary-minded is her own phrase for it, and anyone who has read her over the years will know what she means. Who else would choose as the narrator for a novel a baby born without a brain (Like Mother, 1988)? Or feel a sudden compulsion to go to Antarctica and write a travel book that then turned into a memoir of her mother (Skating to Antarctica, 1997)? As a child she never did as she was told (borderline personality disorder, the experts called it), and as a writer shes constantly surprising. Sometimes, for all her wit and knowingness, she surprises even herself. She was embarrassed because it felt so banal and predictable. With a disease so known in all its cultural forms, what could she say that hasnt been said a million times? Her first response, in the consulting room with the Onc Doc, is to make a joke. Even that, she decides, is probably stereotypical behaviour, as is asking, in an apologetic, roundabout way, how long she can expect to live. Two to three years is the answer, but she wonders how much faith to invest in that: life expectancy for cancer patients is hard to predict, and what if the Onc Doc has added a year for luck or erred on the low side to avoid raising false hope? In Gratitude works on many levels: as a memoir of an unusual adolescence; as an essay on family dysfunction; as an intimate mini-biography of a Nobel-prize-winning novelist; and as an unillusioned meditation on illness and death. At its heart, though, is the story of a difficult relationship between women, both, as it happens, outstanding writers. However prolific she has been in the past 18 titles by my count its the story Diski most needed to tell. More here. Magnolia LNG Receives FERC Order Perth, April 18, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (LNGL) ( ASX:LNG ) ( LNGLY:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to advise that its wholly owned subsidiary, Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), received the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorization (FERC Order) to site, construct, and operate facilities to liquefy and export domestically produced natural gas from its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Lake Charles District, State of Louisiana, USA. In addition, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) approved the air permit for the Magnolia LNG. In a related matter, FERC also authorized the Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline LLC (KMLP Pipeline) to install compression and other related facilities on the KMLP Pipeline, facilitating the transportation of full feed gas volumes to the Magnolia LNG project. LNGL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Greg Vesey said, "We are pleased to receive the FERC Order and the air permit from LDEQ. Both of these items are important milestones as we progress the Magnolia LNG project towards a final investment decision. We look forward to the US Department of Energy (DOE) processing Magnolia LNG's pending application to export LNG to countries that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States." Magnolia LNG proposes to construct and operate up to four liquefaction production trains, each with a capacity of 2 mtpa or greater using the Company's OSMR(R) patented LNG process technology. Construction and operation shall include two 160,000m3 full containment storage tanks, ship, barge and truck loading facilities, and supporting infrastructure. As previously announced, construction of the facility will be by the KBR-SKE&C joint venture (KSJV) under a lump sum turnkey EPC contract. "Our primary focus remains to complete marketing of Magnolia LNG's offtake capacity, finalize financing arrangements, and progress towards construction", stated Mr Vesey. About Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY) (LNGL) is an ASX listed company whose portfolio consists of 100% ownership of the following companies: - Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), a US-based subsidiary, which is developing an eight mtpa or greater LNG export terminal, in the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA; - Bear Head LNG Corporation Inc. (Bear Head LNG), a Canadian-based subsidiary, which is developing an 8 12 mtpa LNG export terminal in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada with potential for further expansion; - Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), which is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km gas pipeline lateral to connect gas supply to Bear Head LNG; and - LNG Technology Pty Ltd, a subsidiary which owns and develops the Company's OSMR LNG liquefaction process, a midscale LNG business model that plans to deliver lower capital and operating costs, faster construction, and improved efficiency, relative to larger traditional LNG projects. Mobility Airmen support Canadian exercise in High Arctic Fifty Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing and two ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules are in the High Arctic supporting the Canadian Armed Forces annual Operation Nunalivut exercise in Canada's Nunavut territory. The Canadian exercise began April 1 and wraps up April 22. It is the third year that the New York ANG Airmen, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York, have participated in the Canadian military exercise. The New York ANG team is operating out of three locations during the exercise -- Resolute Bay; Thule Air Base, Greenland; and Little Cornwallis Island, which is about 50 miles northwest of Resolute. Shortly after arriving, maintainers and operations Airmen began establishing a skiway camp to support LC-130 flight operations. The first LC-130 landed on the skiway April 14. A skiway is an area cleared of snow so that ski-equipped planes can land. The team who prepared the skiway consisted of eight Airmen from the 109th AW who are also trained four Canadian engineers on how to prepare a skiway for large aircraft. "We're the only team in the world that does this," Maj. Matthew Sala, a member of the 109th AW, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "Our aircraft is the only C-130 in the entire world that has skis on it and can land in the Arctic and Antarctic." The LC-130s are able to provide up to 9,000 pounds of cargo per flight as opposed to 1,200 pounds the Canadians' Twin Otters can carry, allowing the LC-130 to transport in one trip what the Twin Otters would need 10 flights to move. The 109th AW will help bring fuel and supplies to the forward-deployed locations during the exercise. "Our support for Operation Nunalivut allows us to demonstrate our full range of polar expeditionary airlift capabilities in a joint U.S. and Canadian environment," said Col. Shawn Clouthier, the 109th AW commander. "I'm proud of our Airmen for the great work they are doing in showcasing our unique mission all over the world." Operation Nunalivut is a sovereignty operation conducted annually since 2007 in northern Canada. According to the Canadian Forces Joint Task Force-North, the exercise provides an opportunity for the Canadian Armed Forces to assert Canada's sovereignty over to northernmost regions; demonstrate the ability to operate in the harsh winter environment in remote areas of the High Arctic; and enhance its capability to respond to any situation in the region. The New York ANGs 105th AW, based at Stewart ANGB, New York, is also supporting the Canadian forces exercise using C-17 Globemaster IIIs. If Aney remains happy by cutting the cake containing the image of Maharashtra then we too will retaliate says Nitesh Rane. Congress MLA Nitesh Rane gave a befitting reply to Maharashtras former Advocate General Shrihari Aney by cutting a cake containing the latters photo. Nitesh who is in favour of unified Maharashtra had earlier criticised Aney when he had demanded statehood for Vidarbha and Marathwada. Earlier Aney had celebrated his 66th birthday by carving out Vidarbha region from the cake containing Maharashtras map. Political parties had criticised Aney and said that he is promoting divisive politics. Nitish had then said that let people of Maharashtra see how many birthdays will Aney celebrate in this manner. Aney is indulging in divisive politics. We will ensure that Aneys demand of separate Vidarbha and Marathwada will never be fulfilled. People of Maharashtra oppose the bifurcation of Maharashtra and want development of the state, said Nitesh. This is an insult to the people of Maharashtra. If you can bifurcate a state by cutting a cake then everybody would have followed this tactics. We will oppose the division of Maharashtra. Instead of dividing the state the government should try to merge Belgaum and Karwar with Maharashtra, he added. The cake cut by Aney earlier was shaped as Maharashtra, with all parts like Vidarbha, Konkan, Marathwada and Western Maharashtra shown in different colours. After blowing the candles, Shreehari got to carve Vidarbha out of Maharashtra. He also had cut the slice of Marathwada region from the cake. This ingenuous cake was presented to him by some lawyer friends practising in Nagpur High Court where the cake was cut. Earlier MNS Chief Raj Thackeray had criticised Aney by saying that Maharashtra is not a cake which can be cut into pieces. Aney had cut the portion of Vidarbha region to challenge Thackeray. Even Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik criticised Maharashtra Advocate General Shreehari Aney for demanding statehood for Marathwada. Sarnaik had compared Aney with Owaisi who is known for making controversial statements. Aneys demand for separate Marathwada has already created a furore in the assembly as Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena raised slogans and demanded his resignation. He had to resign from the post of Maharashtra Advocate General after his remarks about granting statehood to Marathwada. Resuming their agitation for reservation and demanding release of Hardik Patel from the jail, Patel community in Mehsana is staging Jail Bharo today as part of the second round of the stir, even as the district administration issued notice to the campaign organisers terming it as illegal. On Sunday morning, agitators under the banner of Sardar Patel Group (SPG) with the support of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) gathered in Mehsana to form a human chain. Later, they moved towards the Mehsana sub jail to court arrest. On Saturday, SPG leader said that talks with the Gujarat government over the 27-point demands on April 11 failed and hence, we have decided to resume the stir. He further added that Jail Bharo agitation is being organised as their one-month ultimatum to the government to concede to the demands expired with no favourable result. Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel, presently in judicial custody, said he will compromise with the state government on the issue of reservation only if it is in favour of their community. We will surely compromise (on the reservation issue) if it is in favour of our community, Patel told reporters April 15, 2016 RAMALLAH, West Bank The Bedouin al-Araqib village (status unrecognized by Israel) in the Negev (Naqab) region is facing an ongoing demolition campaign that started on the morning of June 27, 2010, when the whole village was flattened to the ground. Since then, demolition work has been recurring each time the inhabitants set up new tents, with Israel claiming lack of permits. The latest incident took place April 5 and was the 96th to date. Before the demolition campaign started in 2010, Araqib had a population of 400. The number is now down to 22 families (80 people) after some inhabitants were forced to leave the village. Following the destruction of their houses, the people of Araqib now live in tents or trailers, suffering from a complete lack of health care and educational services, as well as an acute shortage of electricity and water, to a point where they rely on generators and solar panels to generate electricity and pay a high price to transport water via tankers. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Aziz Touri, a member of the Araqib defense committee, said, The village is experiencing harsh living conditions amid the absence of the [minimum] standards of living, as Israeli authorities have demolished the residents houses and destroyed their crops and livestock. However, the people have survived and are continuing their peaceful fight to claim their rights, gain official recognition for their status and acquire the ownership of the land they live in. In parallel with the ongoing demolition campaign, Israeli authorities have instituted legal proceedings against the residents of Araqib before Israeli courts, demanding that they bear the cost of demolition, in a bid to force them to leave the village. Touri said, There are now two financial lawsuits filed before the Israeli courts against the residents of Araqib. Israel is requesting the residents pay 2 million shekels [around $529,000] in compensation for the costs paid by Israel to police officers and workers manning the bulldozers in the first eight demolitions of the village. The court is expected to issue its ruling in the upcoming months. The second lawsuit is even more barbaric; it requires the residents to pay a penalty of 50,000 shekels [around $13,000] for each day they spent in the village starting in 2014 until today. This means that the Israeli government is asking for an amount of 40 million shekels [around $10.5 million], allegedly for disrespecting Israeli courts and not abiding by its decision to evacuate the village. The residents are basically accused of illicitly taking over the states land and building houses without a permit, Touri added. Touri continued, The demolition policy along with the [Israeli] authorities lawsuits against the residents of Araqib aim to undermine our fight and will and pressure us into abandoning our village. However, all these measures wont break us. Khaled Sawalha, the lawyer in charge of defending the village in court, told Al-Monitor, The main lawsuits the court of Beersheba is examining since 2011 are the governments lawsuit requesting the residents of Araqib to pay 2 million shekels in compensation for the costs of their houses demolition and the lawsuit filed on counts of contempt of court decisions, which is related to the [Israeli] governments claim for compensation to be paid by the residents of Araqib who refused to leave the village. Sawalha also explained, The only thing the residents of Araqib can do is resist the Israeli decisions and refuse to relinquish their rights or bargain with them. Every Friday, the court in Beersheba holds a hearing to examine the two lawsuits filed against Araqib. In the future, we will bring the case before the Israeli supreme court. When asked about his defendants confidence in the integrity of Israeli courts and their ability to render a just decision in the case of Araqib, Sawalha responded, Israeli courts have never been fair and just when it comes to Arab lands. We dont really expect much from the court, but addressing it is a necessary procedure. He added, Since the inception of Israel, there have been some laws in force that contradict international laws, such as the Absentees Property Law through which Israel was able to take over the refugees money and property. I am talking about the refugees who had been displaced in 1948. The Araqib case is merely another example of the unrecognized villages in the Negev region (75 villages). Israel is planning to relocate the people in order to establish Jewish communities. This is part of the Prawer Plan presented by Ehud Prawer, the former Israeli head of policy planning in the prime minister's office, in 2011. Arab Knesset member Massoud Ghanayem told Al-Monitor, Araqib is a miniature model of the battle Israel has been waging against Palestinians in the Negev region for years. It aims to Judaize the region and take control of it in order to implement the Prawer Plan. Ghanayem added, The confrontation in Negev will take time and patience. Its a struggle that requires popular, legal and political efforts. Indeed, we began by addressing the European Union and the UN human rights organizations with the issue in an attempt to face the Israeli aggression. Concerning the Israeli lawsuits requiring the people of Araqib to pay large penalties, Talab Saneh, the member of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, told Al-Monitor, Its another tool the government of Israel is using to put pressure on the citizens to force them out of their land. This is why we are trying to provide the inhabitants of unrecognized villages with the necessary means of survival through aid, donations and help with building houses. The committee is also exploring the possibility of establishing a national fund that relies on donations (individual, social, local and international) to compensate and support the population affected by the demolition campaign in Araqib and other unrecognized villages in a bid to reinforce their resilience in the face of government settlement projects, said Saneh. The Araqib case is just another chapter of a bigger story headlined Palestinian land. It is a land that Israel has never stopped seizing control of whether the lands of 1948 or the West Bank to the point that Palestinians now only own 15% of the total historical surface of Palestine. April 16, 2016 CAIRO Protesters took the streets of Cairo April 15 chanting Arhal" ("Leave") the same slogan that was ubiquitous during the January 25 Revolution when protesters called on then-President Hosni Mubarak to step down. Massive protests and sit-ins were organized in various parts of Cairo, including the city center, on the so-called Friday of the Land. The demonstrators objected to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis giving up ownership of the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia during the recent visit of King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud to Egypt. The protesters chanted slogans such as Bread, freedom and the islands are Egyptian, a modification of the iconic Bread, freedom and social justice slogan of the revolution, and Awad sold his land, a reference to an Egyptian folktale about a man named Awad who brought his family shame by giving up the family farm. Other chants could be heard condemning the transfer of the Islands, which had been under Egyptian control. Despite the political and security measures that had succeeded in thwarting previous demonstrations, the protesters have returned to the streets to denounce Sisis policies. In the same squares that witnessed the outbreak of the January 25 Revolution, hundreds of protesters rallied and marched to various locations in downtown Cairo, with thousands gathering in front of the Journalists Syndicate after the security forces closed and denied access to Tahrir Square. During the march from Sayyida Zeinab Square to the center of the capital, Al-Monitor spoke with a number of protesters who said that the demonstrations aim to quash Sisis decision of relinquishing Tiran and Sanafir, and that they demand full Egyptian sovereignty over the islands. Essam Khalil, one of the protesters, told Al-Monitor, The January [25] Revolution has yet to end. Our protest is peaceful. Today the people are saying 'no' to this bad deal. We will not wait around for the parliament to reject [Sisis decision]. It is obvious that the members of parliament have blessed this deal ever since they 'hailed King Salman' and gave him the opportunity to address parliament as a sign that they are upholding Saudi Arabias position disregarding Egypts historical right to the islands. The protesters enthusiasm and determination to continue organizing events to force the parliament to reject the deal was obvious; they even discussed with Al-Monitor proposals of organizing trips to Tiran Island from the city of Sharm el-Sheikh to raise the Egyptian flag there. Political activist Ahmed Abdullah told Al-Monitor, What's happening today is the beginning of a popular movement against Sisis decisions. We have started to break the barrier of fear and despair of staging protests. He added, While most protesters today are liberals and leftist activists, there is a large-scale public objection to the regime's policies. By nature the Egyptian people are attached to their land, and historically most Egyptians worked in agriculture. Land for Egyptians is a matter of honor. In light of a massive deployment of security forces, particularly in downtown Cairo and Tahrir Square, frictions between protesters and security forces were limited to the start of the protests. The Central Security Forces, however, intervened to break up the protests in downtown Cairo and in the Giza and Mustafa Mahmoud squares in the Mohandeseen district by using tear gas and buckshot and rubber bullets. The protesters had disregarded the Ministry of Interiors warnings not to respond to calls to take part in these tendentious protests, especially in light of the statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood calling for participation in the protests and the media attacks by Sisis supporters accusing the protesters of being traitors and agents. In an attempt to prevent the protests from deviating from their main objective namely preventing the transfer of the islands and recovering their ownership the crowd chanted, Unite your ranks, shoulder to shoulder, our objective is one. In front of the Journalists Syndicate, where the largest crowd gathered, lawyer and political activist Khaled Ali spoke to Al-Monitor about the need for continuing the revolutionary movement against the transfer of the islands, calling on protesters to sign petitions to support the case brought before the Egyptian judiciary to challenge the constitutionality of the Saudi-Egyptian agreement. Mahmoud Hussein, a young man in his 20s, told Al-Monitor, I participated in the rebellion against the Brotherhood and supported Sisi at the beginning of his reign since he called for fighting terrorism, protecting the Sinai Peninsula and reforming the economy. I now realize that he was promoting illusory projects and this is evidenced by the fact that he has sold off part of the state for a few billion [dollars] as a temporary solution to the collapsing economy. The protesters agreed to end the sit-ins, setting April 25 Sinai Liberation Day as a date to return to the streets again if the government does not respond and renounce the transfer deal. It seems that the April 15 protests were just a warning to the regime and an expression of anger that prevails among many Egyptians. Ambassador Masum al-Marzouki, former assistant to the minister of foreign affairs and a member of the popular movement, told Al-Monitor, The popular movement did not end with Fridays protests. What happened was a form of strong popular pressure that could force the regime to renounce the deal and apologize to the people. As the angry protesters filled the streets of Cairo, Sisi was on an inspection visit to follow up on the execution of the Galala city project on the highest plateau of the Galala Mountain in the Red Sea area. Sisi held an open dialogue with a group of young supporters of his political program on the shores of the Red Sea, warning of what he called "national suicide and acts undermining the will of the Egyptians." Sisi spoke with a number of representatives of social movements, editors-in-chief of Egyptian newspapers and some members of parliament in a meeting called "the Egyptian Family," where he strongly condemned the offensive reactions against the maritime demarcation agreement with Saudi Arabia. He said, This was a stab in the heart. The agreement only gave back a right to its rightful owners and was not a land sale agreement, demanding Egyptians not to talk about the agreement. They only hurt themselves by talking about this, he said. The scene of the massive protests that rocked the Egyptian streets for the first time since Sisis rise to power is a new indicator of the state of public anger and outrage in Egypt, which may continue against the political messages that the president and the government are trying to pass about Sisis ability to contain crises and lead Egypt to a better future on all internal and external reform levels. April 17, 2016 On April 2, the Italian Association for Responsible Tourism (AITR) issued a statement noting that all its travel packages to Egypt would be suspended until the tragic events of [Giulio] Regenis murder are revealed. Regeni, an Italian graduate student conducting research in Egypt, went missing on the fifth anniversary of the January 25 Revolution. His body was found Feb. 3 on the outskirts of Cairo with clear signs of torture. The decision of AITR, a nongovernmental association, comes amid ambiguity concerning investigations into the murder and a lack of confidence on the part of the Italian authorities as well as Regenis family about the integrity of the Egyptian investigation. Regenis mother has criticized the Egyptian authorities for a lack of transparency concerning the investigation and said she was prepared to publish a photo of his battered body if authorities do not share their findings. On April 8, Italy recalled its ambassador to Egypt due to a lack of progress in the murder investigation. The decision raised the concerns of Magdi al-Banoudi, an Egyptian consultant on international tourism, who said Egypt has already lost 50% of the UK market and the entire Russian market. He said the majority of the Egyptian tourism enterprises are operating at about 25% of their normal capacity due to the stagnation in tourist traffic. Banoudi told Al-Monitor, A large number of tourist offices and institutions in Egypt depend on Italian tourists as a main source of income that cannot be overlooked. Egypt managed to attract about 1 million Italian tourists in 2010. However, this number has been steadily declining over the past five years, despite marketing efforts by Egyptians to restore the normal tourist activity in the country. He added, Egypt risks losing the entire European market. Given the stalemate in Regenis case, Banoudi expects tourist sanctions and flight restrictions to be imposed on Egypt. According to the annual tourism book issued by Egypts Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics in 2015, Italy ranked sixth in the world and third in Europe in terms of tourist arrivals to Egypt. Italian tourists to Egypt numbered 332,932 in 2015, contributing about $23.1 million to the Egyptian tourism sector. Banoudi stressed that the AITR decision amounts to a mere recommendation for travel companies, describing it as part of the pressure by Italians on the Egyptian administration in light of the lack of clarity in the Regeni murder case. The tourism sector in Egypt is going through a crisis, a bottleneck or more like a dark tunnel, Banoudi said, stressing that Egyptians working in the tourism sector are suffering because of the successive crises. He called on the political leadership to find a swift solution to the crisis with Italy and to take advantage of Egypt and Russia's relationship to revive the Russian market in Egypt. The Egyptian tourism sector has been hurting due to the unstable situation in the country. In November, a Russian plane crashed after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh airport. This was blamed on terrorism, prompting Russia to ban flights to Egypt; the flights have yet to resume. While Britain banned flights to Sharm el-Sheikh following the incident, it lifted the ban Dec. 1. All this has affected the number of tourist arrivals to Egypt; the total fell about 600,000 tourists in 2015, a 5.6% decrease compared with 2014. Bassem Halaka, chairman of the constituent board of the professional workers union in the tourism sector, said that implementing the decision to suspend tourist flights to Egypt would depend on the Italian government and tourists themselves, not tourist companies or associations. He stressed that it is not in the best interests of Italian tourist companies to not meet the requests of Italians wanting to visit Egypt. However, Halaka expected the AITR decision to adversely affect the Italian tourists flow to Egypt. He added, however, that this does not mean all flights will be suspended, as not all Italian tour operators are members of the association and thus its decision is not binding for some. We are trying to open channels of communication between Egyptian and Italian companies to remedy the situation and to try to avoid political issues impacting the tourism sector, which has been struggling for years and cannot endure more blows, he said. Halaka told Al-Monitor, Some Italian tourism companies are keen to overcome to this crisis, as Egypt serves an important tourist attraction for Italy, not to mention the high prices of other tourist destinations in the region such as Tunisia, Turkey, Jordan and Israel. Sami Mahmoud, head of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, played down the impact of the AITR decision on the Italian tourist flow to Egypt. This association has no value in the Italian market, he told Al-Monitor. He said that the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority continues to work with other Italian companies such as the Italian Association of Tour Operators and the Italian Federation of Travel & Tourism Associations. Italian tourists love to visit Egypt, Mahmoud said. He believes that Egypt is an excellent tourist destination for Italians in terms of geographical proximity, low cost and weather, stressing that there Italian tourists are still coming to the coastal cities of Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam despite the AITR decision. At the same time, Mahmoud expressed fear that the Egyptian and Italian sides would fail to reach an agreement about the circumstances of Regenis death; he expected that Egyptian tourism would be negatively affected and could lose the Italian market should the ambiguity surrounding the issue increase. Regenis case has been blown out of proportion. The Egyptian authorities should have dealt with it wisely from the very beginning; now they have to contain it, especially since Italy is one of the few countries that have yet to impose any travel restrictions on Egypt, despite the unstable situation in the country, he said. Farag Abdel Fattah, professor of economics at Cairo University, has warned against the impact of the Italian associations decision on the Egyptian economy and Egypts income in foreign currencies, especially in light of the crises that have been plaguing the tourism sector for five years now. He also stressed that should Egypt lose the Italian tourism market, this would not only mean the loss of the $230 million Egypt gained last year as a result of Italian tourist arrivals, but would also impact the tourism market from Europe in general. Abdel Fattah told Al-Monitor that the solution to this crisis lies in the hands of the political leadership, which ought to take further actions to avoid such a loss and to rebuild economic relations with Italy. April 15, 2016 BABIL, Iraq Under the rule of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (2006-14), $150 million was allocated to the construction and development of public schools in several Iraqi areas. Yet only 6% of the project was implemented. As a result, there is a significant shortfall in the number of school buildings, while classrooms are extremely packed and overcrowded. The Ministry of Education announced on Sept. 16, 2015, that Iraq is in need of about 9,000 new schools, given the overcrowded classrooms that negatively affect the educational process. In the same vein, on Nov. 4, 2015, an Iraqi citizen staged a two-day sit-in in Karam al-Bari primary school in northern Dhi Qar province, south of Baghdad, protesting the large number of students, which exceeds 60, in the same classroom. Majed Fadel, a professor from Babil, told Al-Monitor, Given the large number of students in the same classroom, the teaching process and conveying the message to all students have become a difficult task to achieve, as not all of them would be focused on what the teachers are saying. He added This is not to mention that in packed classrooms, diseases and infections are easily transmitted among the students. Things get worse with the scorching heat as temperatures hit around 50 degrees Celsius [122 degrees Fahrenheit] in the absence of ventilation or air-conditioning systems in classrooms. Al-Monitor also met with Saad Hassan, 10, from Babil, who dropped out of school and is now working as a peddler in a large market in Hillah. I left school because the classroom was packed with students and I could not grasp anything of the lessons. The teachers did not pay me any attention because there were so many students in the class. Sometimes I would skip school and no one would notice, he said. The poor and imbalanced educational process has pushed some parents to enroll their children in private schools. Saad al-Hilali, a merchant from the city of Hillah who enrolled his children in a private school, told Al-Monitor, Classrooms at Al-Zahra school, which is a few meters away from my home, have about 50 students each. I had to enroll my son in a private school located about an hour away from our home, where there are no more than 15 students per classroom. My son has started to perform better in school. The lack of schools and crammed classrooms are not only found in urban schools. Alaa al-Khafaji, a teacher in Al-Yarmouk high school in the countryside of Babil, which is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the center of Babil province, told Al-Monitor, Some classrooms in the schools in the countryside include 70 students coming from different neighboring villages. The more the tribes have good ties with government officials, the more they manage to convince them to build schools in their areas, in the absence of a clear schools distribution plan that takes into account [the areas] needs and population density. For his part, Abu Rihab al-Shammari, a teacher from the city of al-Suwaira, south of Baghdad, told Al-Monitor that internal displacement is another factor contributing to the jammed classrooms. Hundreds of families who escaped Mosul, Ramadi and Salahuddin arrived in the city, and parents had to enroll their children in schools. This has increased the number of students in schools, which are not well-equipped for such large numbers, he said. He added, School [employees] had to work double shifts sometimes, and three schools were merged in one building to accommodate the large number of students. Some teachers have also volunteered to give extracurricular lessons to displaced pupils." Shaheed al-Ghalibi, head of the Education Committee at the Dhi Qar provincial council, told Al-Monitor, The large number of students is intimidating for the teachers, as they are no longer able to control the class. The class period was reduced to less than 45 minutes. Ghalibi said, The Education Directorate in the Dhi Qar governorate has been merging schools to be able to accommodate the large numbers of students, with one building including four different schools. There are more than 90 slum schools in the governorate, with about half a million students. On March 3, the Baghdad Investment Commission said in a press statement that it intends to build about 50 private schools in the capital, while the provincial council expressed support for the establishment of public schools through payment on credit, which will be funded by the Baghdad Investment Commission. Parliamentarian Ahmed Taha, member of the parliamentary Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee, told Al-Monitor, The lack of planning has caused a discrepancy between population density and the number of schools. This is not to mention the rampant corruption, causing the funds allocated for school construction since 2003 to be wasted. Building a new Iraqi generation will remain a difficult task to achieve, as long as the educational process is not rectified in Iraqi schools. The first step on this path would be to increase the number of schools in a way that goes in line with the population density. They also need to be equipped with modern education equipment and means, providing convenience and comfort to students to encourage them to attend classes. April 14, 2016 Given the total political stalemate regarding a two-state solution, some in the Palestinian leadership have begun reflecting on out of the box ideas for policy initiatives leading to Palestinian independence. One such person is professor Sari Nusseibeh, former president of Al-Quds University in Abu Dis in the West Bank. According to a source working with Nusseibeh on the policy proposals, Nusseibeh today supports the establishment of a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation based on two independent states with strong institutional links between them. Nusseibeh supports this prospect mainly due to the current difficulty to reach a negotiated two-state solution. He relies on the credibility of Jordans security forces in relation to the threat of the Islamic State in the eyes of the Palestinians, Israel and the United States. The Palestinian Authority and Jordan, it is proposed, would negotiate such an initiative, based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. The negotiations would relate to the 1967 lines as the future confederation's western border and to East Jerusalem as one of the two capitals together with Amman. Such a Jordanian-Palestinian understanding would then be presented to the international community, possibly in the form of the Quartet United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia to help with negotiations with Israel and regional peace arrangements. There are clear advantages to the proposal. It makes the two-state solution not solely dependent on the Israeli government of the day. Jordanian King Abdullah II enjoys the respect of the West, and his security forces are perceived as reliable. The issue of security along the Jordan River and on the border crossings with Israel will be easier resolved with Jordanian involvement. Economically, open trade, joint economic projects and free trade and tourism zones will strengthen the economies of both Jordan and Palestine. Also, given the Israeli security establishments high regard for Jordanian security forces, the Israelis would be easier to convince to take the security risk of having a neighboring Palestinian state within this kind of two-state solution. Last, a confederation would finally resolve the complex relationship between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinians, who compromise approximately half of the Jordanian population. Many issues would need to be worked out in relation to the political, institutional, economic and security nature of such a confederation. Detailed research on such a possible confederation has been conducted by several groups, including Al-Quds University. Despite many advantages, there are major difficulties in the way of realizing such a proposition. The Palestinian leadership is traditionally suspicious of the Jordanian court; it perceives it as favoring Israeli security policy positions. It also views a confederation between two states as giving up on a degree of sovereignty, especially regarding the Muslim holy sites in East Jerusalem and security arrangements on the Jordan border crossings. Former Palestinian President and PLO leader Yasser Arafat used to state publicly that he favors a confederation with Jordan. For example, he referred to this option during a visit to Hebron on Feb. 12, 1999, immediately after King Abdullah Ii took the throne in Jordan, saying, "We want him to know that the Palestinian National Council has agreed to a confederation with Jordan. We are, after all, twin brothers, Palestine and Jordan." The Palestinian negotiators during the Oslo process used to cautiously endorse the idea of a confederation but only after the creation of an independent Palestinian state. As aforementioned, there is little love lost between the leaderships across the Jordan River, but it seems today that their destinies are intertwined. While Israels political establishment was always inclined to involve Jordan in a permanent status deal, the Netanyahu government is likely to reject offhand any proposal of a two-state solution that is based on the 1967 lines. A senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official from the ministry's MAMAD Research Center told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Nusseibeh is not alone supporting such an initiative, and that there are also veteran Fatah officials and Palestinian businesspeople residing in Amman who are advancing similar ideas. He also told Al-Monitor that there is no chance that the Israeli government will endorse such a plan, and that this position has been made clear to Abdullah. Despite the obstacles and reservations, the confederation plan should be resuscitated. An active Jordanian role in a two-state solution is of paramount importance. Abdullah can today play a historic role in putting an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and in pacifying the region. The United States, too, given all other alternatives, would do well to include this eventuality in President Barack Obamas Middle East legacy. April 16, 2016 Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, now a leader of the Future Movement, visited Moscow on March 30. The visit didnt make front-page news, mostly because both sides kept a low profile. Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Hariri family have a long-standing relationship, and the Kremlin press service seemed extremely reluctant to reveal details of the visit, stating in two sentences only that Hariri paid a private visit. However, the fact that Putin welcomed Hariri at the Kremlin is remarkable. It signals that the issues discussed were of profound meaning for Lebanon, Russia and a number of regional stakeholders. Hariri has visited the Russian capital on several occasions: in August 2006 as the leader of the Lebanese parliamentary majority, in November 2010 as president of the Council of Ministers and in May 2015 during a series of top-level regional and international trips. Each time, Hariri met with high-ranking Russian authorities and business leaders to discuss extensive agendas, revolving mostly around his seeking Moscows mediation in the war-torn country, or soliciting Putins support for filling the presidential vacuum in Lebanon. A year on, recent developments in Syria packaged the same agenda differently two major issues in the forefront, namely Lebanons own political future and the Syria settlement with several lines to read between. Contrary to some crying-wolf stories, Russia is not interested in redrawing the geopolitical map of the Middle East, and it doesnt have the capacity for a large-scale, comprehensive presence in the region. However, what it is interested in is keeping fragile statehoods alive, especially those with multiethnic, multi-religious and multicultural societies such as Lebanon. Therefore, Moscows concern over a prolonged domestic political crisis is genuine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs call that all problems of Lebanon should be resolved exclusively by the Lebanese people with respect to the countrys sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and without a foreign interference bears a tint of bitter lessons in Syria that Moscow had to learn the hard way, and that it now seeks to prevent elsewhere. On the surface, it echoes with the statement of Hariri himself about the dangers of outside presences in Lebanese politics. The problem, though, is that when Lavrov and Hariri talk about foreign influence, they do not necessarily mean the same forces. For Moscow, foreign influence mostly means Western powers and Gulf monarchies promoting their vision of the Lebanese power structure. Some hard-liners in Russia go even further, arguing that the crisis in Lebanon is fueled by the United States, which feels it needs revenge for the defeat in Syria. For Hariri and the people whose ideas he represents, it first and foremost means Iran and Hezbollah, whose influence he and his father have struggled against. Besides, Moscow and Hariri-loyal forces see a formation of Lebanese statehood differently. Moscow wants to preserve the current structure (a Maronite Christian as president, a Sunni as prime minister and a Shiite as the parliament speaker), fearing a change in the balance would entail a third bloody civil war. Hariris Future Movement, however, having close ties with Saudi Arabia, seeks a lesser Shiite (and Christian) presence in the countrys government, arguing that the social and political dynamics have shifted in the Sunnis favor and should be reflected in the political system. On a more optimistic note, both the Kremlin and Hariri share the belief that the longer the period of political uncertainty continues, the more opportunities will emerge for destructive forces seeking Lebanons disunity. Another clear facet of Hariris mission was to make yet another attempt to convince Moscow to keep pressuring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hariri has been an outspoken critic of Assad, calling him at one time a monster, and is convinced Assad is the real obstacle to a political settlement in Syria. His proposal to Moscow to virtually exclude Assad from the transition process looked like an attempt to follow up on the Russian drawdown, which was seen as a push for Assad to be more cooperative in the political realm. What could have been perceived as an attempt to drive a wedge between Moscow and Assad a year ago is now listened to more attentively in the Russian decision-making process, although it does not mean the Kremlin will drastically change its attitude toward Assad, especially as far as public relations are concerned. At the same time, having invested so many military, political and image-building resources, Russia itself now has a large stake in this process. Russia becomes uneasy when the initiatives it supports, such as drafting a new constitution, are being filibustered by Assad over his own political imperatives survival, most of all. There is an understanding in the Kremlin that Hariri is to a certain degree a messenger expressing the vision of the general Syrian opposition (both domestic and foreign) on this issue. If so, this channel represents for Moscow a political opportunity to reach out to the Sunni groups willing to embrace a greater role for Russia in Syria and other Middle Eastern affairs. Moscow might consider this opportunity, but would most likely do so without compromising its initial position, which boils down to the settlement being a process that takes two Assad and the opposition forces to tango, even though it is a dance in which both partners have a huge distaste for one another. Hariris close ties with the Saudis made some in Moscow wonder whether he would also bring some clues about the status of the long-awaited arms deal between the Saudis and Russia or if Hariri might only mete out information as a carrot to solicit the cooperative stance Riyadh hopes to see from Moscow on both the Lebanese and Syrian issues. However, even if that was the case, there is a growing sense in Russia that the longer this issue is used as a bargaining chip, the less assurance there is that the Saudis are serious about the proposal. Hariri himself was rather cautious about potentially giving his impression of this idea. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia after his meeting with Lavrov, Hariri declined to assess prospects for Russian-Saudi relations, saying only, It is my hope that contacts between the two countries will be gradually improving. The situation in Lebanon is definitely a priority on Moscows radar. Yet Hariris hope that Russia can use its ties with Iran to secure a presidential election may be too extreme for the Kremlin. A source close to the Russian Foreign Ministry told Al-Monitor following the talks that some in Moscow were questioning whether Hariri genuinely understands that the Kremlin can change little in the relationship between Tehran, Damascus and Hezbollah, or he may just conclude that Moscow is reluctant to change anything. We have seen this movie before when he wanted Moscow to pressure Israel to stop bombing Lebanon in 2006. But he may just fall prey to all the talk about Russias skyrocketed capabilities in the region." In this regard, Hariri probably does reflect a broader sense across Sunni communities that Russia can play a more constructive role in regional peace-building and should capitalize on its recent political gains in Syria to deliver on this mission across the Middle East. That expectation may indeed have been based on a general perception of Russia as an omnipotent player, and Putin as a Middle Eastern Caesar, as some in the region have come to call him. But it to a certain degree overestimates Russias relations with both Iran and Israel, as well as Moscows ability to exert power over Hezbollah. Certainly, the Kremlin has at times better leverage in relations with the difficult partners, but this leverage isnt as big as some in the region and the West think and Russia will not abuse this leverage, especially if its interests are not at stake. April 15, 2016 After a month of unpleasant exchanges between Washington and Riyadh, US President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia on April 21 to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit. In an interview in the April issue of The Atlantic, the presidents remark about US allies in the Gulf being free riders for not contributing their share on the world stage widened the rift in an already-strained relationship with Riyadh. The remark prompted former Saudi Ambassador to Washington Prince Turki al-Faisal to write a detailed reply in which he reminded the president of a long list of Saudi contributions to regional peace. From humanitarian aid to Yemen and Syria, to fighting the Islamic State (IS) and sharing intelligence with the United States, the prince emphasized Saudi leadership contributions and credentials, debunking the presidents free riders comment. Notwithstanding these unpleasant exchanges, on his visit to Riyadh, Obama will encounter a leadership totally immersed in the audacity of hope, determined not to share the Middle East as Obama had hoped after the nuclear deal with Iran and had clearly expressed in his recent interview but to emerge from the chaos that followed the Arab uprisings as the undisputed leader of the region. The American dream that has driven Obama and many others before him has met its counterpart in a Saudi dream that the leadership has been struggling to make come true. The collision between the Saudi and American visions centers on one issue. Obamas dream for the Middle East seems to envision the existence of multiple regional powers, all on friendly terms with the United States but without one of them dictating its will over the others. From Cairo to Tel Aviv, Ankara, Riyadh and Tehran, Obama saw a maze of competing claims and counterclaims about hegemony and control. He rightly distanced himself from all of them and pursued American national interest which amid the chaos that engulfed the region meant that America became a distant but engaged source of support for those willing to abide by the rules of a new game. However, while not trying to read too much into the presidents thoughts, it was so clear to many Arabs that Obamas vision for the region was bound to collide with the Saudi dream of leading the Arab world into more-entrenched authoritarian rule. Several WikiLeaks documents demonstrated to many Arabs the contempt and disrespect that many American diplomats had for the regions autocrats, with whom they had to fake friendship and respect. From Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia to Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, the US administration was under no illusion that it was encountering the last days of a corrupt coterie waiting to be deposed. It may not, however, have anticipated the swift return of authoritarian rule, thanks to the systematic effort of Americas old allies such as Saudi Arabia and the heads of other GCC countries the president will meet in Riyadh. Having enjoyed at least 40 years of being the endeared ally of America in the region, the Saudis did not agree with Obamas vision of a multipolar region in which several states coexist, cooperate and perhaps compete in a civilized way. From the moment Obama was elected in 2008, the Saudis struggled to assert their dream of emerging as the sole regional power without the American umbrella they had gotten used to since the 1980s. This rush to pursue the Saudi hegemonic dream was further accelerated as a result of the Arab uprisings that above all threatened the type of government the Saudis practice. Obama is perceived in Riyadh as the only US president who had shaken their dream and woke them up to an unpleasant reality as he pursued reconciliation with Iran. "Many Saudis readily admit that they are now simply awaiting the end of President Obama's tenure, with some boldly proclaiming that anyone will be better than Obama, Saudi analyst Fahad Nazer declared. Such was the rift between the United States and Saudi Arabia that Obama has to fly to Riyadh, even at such a late point in his presidency, to convince the Saudis and other GCC countries that they remain key US allies, although they have to try harder when it comes to fighting the terrorism menace associated with IS and other groups. The Saudis are exploiting the current rifts between the United States and its regional allies, from Cairo to Ankara. The Saudis even went further than that when they pursued more contacts with Israel, also an old and close US ally that Obama has collided with during his presidency. It is clear that the Saudis are seeking closer alliances with Americas disgruntled allies in the Middle East. The departing presidents visit can only be seen as an attempt to inject a last-minute semblance of support to benefit the future US president. Neither Obama nor the Saudis are prepared to abandon their contradictory cherished dreams Obamas dream centers on regional multipolarity while the Saudis accepts nothing short of total hegemony. If Obamas visit is to make a lasting impact, he needs to try harder to convince the Saudis that the age of a single hegemon is perhaps gone, at least for the foreseeable future. The Saudis must recognize that deadly regional rivalries are better contained rather than exploited until they develop into full-fledged proxy wars. Of course, Obama does not need to explain to the Saudis why their dream to lead the Arab world hasnt come true. He does not need to remind them of why their model of Islamic governance has little appeal to the more than 300 million Arabs. He does not even need to ask why imprisoned jihadis are lodged in five-star rehabilitation centers while peaceful prisoners of conscience are dumped in the al-Hayer prison dungeons. Such questions are difficult and will probably never be asked by future American presidents. These questions are better left to the active US nongovernmental organizations and media; both have done a great deal to alter perceptions of the so-called eternal and historical alliance between the United States and the Saudi kingdom. The shift toward more critical assessment of the US-Saudi alliance, and the many doubts expressed in the United States about such an alliance, are doomed to continue in the foreseeable future. Many in the United States question grandiose Saudi claims that the kingdom can be the sole leader not only among Arabs, but Sunni Muslims worldwide. Such illusions are destined to develop into further conflicts in the Middle East and beyond. April 17, 2016 The failure to date of Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups to retake the Syrian border town of al-Rai from the Islamic State (IS) should be a warning to US intelligence officials reportedly preparing a plan B for Syria, should the cessation of hostilities collapse. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Central Intelligence Agency and its regional partners are drawing up plans to provide more advanced arms, possibly including anti-aircraft weapons, to Syrian opposition forces as a contingency plan. Old habits and bad ideas seem to die hard in some Washington policy circles. One might recall, for example, the failure of the ill-fated initial train and equip mission, which cost $382 million to train 180 fighters, 95 of whom are reportedly still active. But instead of coming to a reasonable conclusion of "been there, done that, that didnt work," for many understandable reasons, the CIA is consulting with Turkey and Saudi Arabia on a scheme to ramp up the capabilities of Syrian proxies, which would of course be devastating for the Syrian people who have enjoyed a mild reprieve from the bloodbath of the past five years, as Mohammed al-Khatieb reported from Aleppo last week. The divide between the United States and Turkey over the role of Syrian Kurdish groups has further complicated the campaign against Jabhat al-Nusra and IS in northern Syria, and is a major reason why a plan B would fail. Fehim Tastekin writes that the Turkish-backed operation in al-Rai has turned into a fiasco. The weeklong campaign has so far gone poorly, with IS putting up a fierce defense. The plan appears to have been hatched after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appealed to US President Barack Obama to back off support for the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the leading force in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and instead work through armed groups linked to the Turkish National Intelligence Service, a composite force of Turkmens, Free Syrian Army factions and Salafists, according to Tastekin. Turkeys Syria policies will only become more problematic as there is little or no hope for a "cessation of hostilities" with the Kurdistan Workers Party. Metin Gurcan writes, The milder meteorological conditions will allow the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to become more mobile. With improved logistics support, the PKK could integrate its urban units, which have been operating independently, and transform them into a regional force and escalate fighting. Security forces, which are aware of these realities, are frantically preparing. Security officials in Ankara expect multiple, simultaneous PKK operations on the ground or actions in the cities at the end of April. Ankara has reacted by increasing the number of special operations teams trained in urban warfare, appropriate vehicles and weaponry. Tastekin concludes, Turkeys tactical moves designed to keep the YPG away from the area are impeding a real and meaningful struggle against IS. The expectation is that if the Kurds and their Arab allies move against Menbic, Turkey will arrange for a repeat of the al-Rai offensive. If the Syrian army succeeds in the Great Aleppo War, the northern front will be even more complicated, so much so that even Turkey wont be able to cope with it. Then, the 'with Kurds or without Kurds' debate will become irrelevant. Despite the leaks of a plan B, UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura is not ready to write off progress since the US-Russian agreement in February, despite a breathless report in The Washington Post on April 14 about the apparent collapse of the cessation of hostilities. At the start of a new round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva, de Mistura told reporters April 13, We need to make sure, at any cost, that the cessation of hostilities, in spirit and in substance, continues to give hope to the Syrian people, because that is what made all of them believe that, in fact, even if they have to wait for the intra-Syrian talks, their lives are at least improved. Laura Rozen reports that US concerns about the challenges to the cessation of hostilities are in part the result of disputes over the targeting of Jabhat al-Nusra in and around Aleppo by the Syrian military and its backers, especially Iran and Russia, as some of the armed groups supported by the United States and its regional partners are in close proximity to Jabhat al-Nusra, which is al-Qaedas affiliate in Syria. The relationship and proximity of other Syrian armed groups to Jabhat al-Nusra is a matter of some urgency. UN Security Council Resolution 2254 reiterates that the cessation of hostilities does not apply to Jabhat al-Nusra and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with al-Qaeda or [IS]. This column has zero tolerance for those who run with al-Qaeda, even if for tactical reasons or a shared hatred of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Plan B, in our score, should be kept on the shelf for good, if not a candidate for the shredder. The thought of advanced arms, including anti-aircraft weapons, falling into the possession of sectarian Salafi groups such as Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, which are fellow travelers with Jabhat al-Nusra, and are backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, should be something to be avoided, not discussed. The bottom line is that the US-Russia partnership on Syria is mostly working, and is Syrias best bet for an end to the war. Rather than a plan B, a better approach would be to build on what is working and establish a mechanism for both monitoring potential cessation violations, which is under discussion, and enhanced intelligence coordination among the United States, Russia and its regional partners in the International Syria Support Group about Jabhat al-Nusra and IS, especially in and around Aleppo, in anticipation of a likely offensive to retake the city, which would be a turning point in the war. Kamal Sheikho reports from Kobani that the latest military movements by the SDF and armed Syrian opposition factions in northern Syria aim to cut off the supply route to IS, which links the eastern and northern Aleppo countryside to Raqqa, and to bottleneck IS militants by cutting off the remaining border passages with Turkey. Analysts and experts in Syrian affairs believe it is likely for the coming days to witness heated and decisive battles between conflicting parties, changing the balance of power in favor of the forces fighting IS. As we wrote in January, If the Syrian army, backed by its Iranian and Russian allies, retakes Aleppo, the citys liberation will come by directly defeating terrorists and armed groups that are already deserting the battlefield. A government victory would be of a different order and have a different impact than the negotiated departures of besieged armed opposition forces in Homs and around Damascus. The people of Aleppo would experience a flat-out victory by the government and a defeat, and exodus, by the armed groups. A Syrian government victory in Aleppo could be the beginning of the end of the sectarian mindset that would have been alien to the city prior to 2011. There is no more appropriate city to begin Syrias healing. A Syrian government victory in Aleppo will make it harder to rationalize Western backing for jihadi groups that want to keep up the fight against long odds in the rest of the country. IS and al-Qaeda may prefer, over time, to begin to relocate to Libya and other countries where they can avoid the pounding from the US-led anti-IS coalition and Russian- and Iranian-backed Syrian forces. This may already be happening, and if so, it is to be cheered by those who seek a unified, secular and nonsectarian Syria, as outlined in the Vienna Communique, and as is Aleppos tradition. A Florence police officer was shot early this morning and the suspect is dead. Officer Brian Berry was shot in the face at the intersection of Cox Creek Parkway and Cloverdale Road in Florence. The suspect was identified by Florence police Chief Ron Tyler as Mathew Hall McCravy. The officer returned fire, but it is not clear if McCravy was hit, a social media post by the Florence Police Department said. The suspect fled the scene, and the officer was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, Senior Trooper Johnathan Appling with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. Florence police noticed a vehicle similar to McCravy's vehicle about 30 minutes after the shooting. Officers pursed the vehicle for a short time, until the chase ended in the Chisholm Hills Church of Christ parking lot. When approaching the car, officers heard a single gunshot. They found McCravy dead in the car of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Appling said. Berry is alert and talking in the hospital. The State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case. All findings in the investigation will be handed over to the Lauderdale County District Attorney. A FedEx Express hub worker in Memphis apparently fell asleep while loading a plane and accidentally stowed away on an early Friday morning flight to Lubbock, Texas. The Commercial Appeal reported the worker woke up mid-flight and communicated with the pilots by telephone. The employee was told to secure himself in the seat in the cargo hold until landing. The worker was questioned by the authorities after landing in Lubbock, and then turned over to FedEx. He wasn't arrested. "This is very unusual," Kelly Campbell, director of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, told the newspaper. Bernie Sanders Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks at a campaign rally, Monday, April 11, 2016, in Binghamton, N.Y. Sanders may be behind when it comes to delegates and votes, but he has one clear advantage over his Democratic and Republican counterparts, a lot of people actually like him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders protested outside a Hillary Clinton fundraiser, hosted by actor George Clooney, yesterday in California, CBS Los Angeles reported. Protestors threw dollar bills at Clinton as her motorcade approached the Clooney house, a jab at her perceived relationship with Wall Street, ABC News reported. Tickets to the fundraiser started at $33,400, and tickets to sit at the table with Clinton and Clooney sold for $353,400. A counter-fundraiser was held by Sanders' supporters nearby, where tickets sold for $27, according to ABC. The odd number is representative to the average amount of contributions to his campaign, Sanders has said. The maximum individual contribution under federal law to a presidential candidate is $2,700, but the profits from last night are permissible because it benefited a joint fundraising committee- Clinton's presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and 33 state Democratic parties, CBS said. Clooney's wife and international lawyer Amal was also present at the high-priced table. Clooney said on NBC's Meet the Press this morning that he did not oppose the Sanders' protestors. "They're right to protest. They're absolutely right. It's an obscene amount of money." Two 17-year-old boys are presumed dead after they were swept into the sea yesterday in San Francisco, the Los Angeles Times reported. The teenager's names have not been released. They were in the surf at Ocean Beach with three other friends around 4:20 p.m. yesterday when the two victims were dragged further out by strong currents, a San Francisco firefighter told the paper. Their friends made it to shore and were hospitalized, but listed in stable condition. Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department searched for the two boys into the night, for over four hours. They searched with a helicopter and two boats, according to the Times. Officials called off the search around 9 p.m. last night and told the boys' families that the teens were presumed dead. They would not resume the search today, authorities said. The firefighter added to the Times that the teens could have been dragged up to 15 miles from the beach, and it could take a week for their bodies to wash up to shore. Ted Cruz campaigning Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, gets off his bus for a campaign event at Generals Sports Bar and Grill, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Weare, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Paul Beaudry) Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won all of Wyoming's 14 preferred delegates in yesterday's Republican convention, The Wall Street Journal reported. His win in the state means that 23 of the state's 29 delegates will go to Cruz on the first ballot of the Republican convention in July. Of the remaining delegates, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has one, Donald Trump has one, and the other four are uncommitted. ABC reported that there are 14 alternates- half of which are bound to Cruz. Cruz said at the convention, "We've got a slate of delegates who are committed to me in Cleveland...If you don't want to see Donald Trump as the nominee or hand [Hillary] Clinton the election, which is basically what a Trump nomination does...I ask you to please support the men and women on this slate." The 14 delegates signed a pledge, which said they will support Cruz on all ballots of this summer's GOP convention, ABC reported. Trump was not present at the convention, because he was in New York campaigning for its primary on Tuesday. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was scheduled to appear for the frontrunner in Wyoming, but she canceled her visit. A local delegate, Claire Powers, stepped in for Palin. An inmate at an Alabama Department of Corrections facility in Baldwin County escaped Saturday evening. Christopher Leard McCorvey, 33, escaped from the Loxley Work Release Center at around 5:50 p.m., according to ADOC. The circumstances surrounding McCorvey's escape weren't released. McCorvey is a black, 6-foot 4 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. McCorvey was sentenced on Jan. 6, 2016 to serve one year and 10 months in prison on a theft of property first-degree conviction out of Mobile County, according to ADOC. Anyone with information on the inmate's whereabouts is asked to call police immediately or call the Alabama Department of Corrections at 1-800-831-8825. This 1919 photo shows President Woodrow Wilson and members of Alabama's congressional delegation with cages of roosters. The roosters were auctioned off to raise money to help fund the construction of Rooster Bridge in Demopolis. (Alabama Department of Archives and History) Alabama once sold roosters to finance a bridge, so it might not seem so out of the ordinary for transportation officials to turn to tolls for big-ticket projects. In the next few years, tolls may play a crucial role funding major roadwork in Mobile and Baldwin counties, where rapid coastal growth is fueling congestion. "It is another tool in our toolbox," Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott said. Two tolling options have surfaced: Baldwin's state lawmakers expect passage of a bill this session that allows voters to determine whether to establish a toll authority for major projects such as a The Alabama Department of Transportation announced Friday that it will conduct a travel and toll study for much-sought-after project to build an Interstate 10 Mobile River bridge and widen the I-10 Bayway. 'Go on our own' The Baldwin toll authority concept is unique for the state. No county has set up such an entity previously to deal with roads. The bill, which cleared the House earlier this month, establishes the toll authority if voters, during the November general election, support it. Under the terms of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Gulf Shores, the new authority could determine how much and to what extent that tolling should be imposed to for the construction of the Beach Express from I-10 north to I-65 or to help finance the Intracoastal bridge that would open new access to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The bill awaits approval in the Senate, where Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, said it has a good chance of passing during the waning days of the Legislature's regular session. McMillan said the idea is to find an alternative means to green-light expensive projects which are unlikely to be paid for through dwindling state resources anytime soon. "We've talked about it for years and decided the time was right to go our own way and not rely on anyone else," he said. The quasi-governmental authority, set up by the Baldwin County Commission, would have the ability to issue revenue bonds for construction. The authority's jurisdiction to set tolls would be limited to new road projects only. Existing roads, such as the highly traveled Alabama 59, would not be subject to tolling. "You wouldn't toll Fish River Bridge, you'd do it for major projects," said Commissioner Tucker Dorsey. "We're not going to toll (Alabama) 181. But we'll have options." The Beach Express extension would create a wide new corridor between I-65 and the beaches, the state's most lucrative tourism draw by far. Revenue from a toll charge - affecting a section of the roadway -- would be coupled with BP spill-settlement dollars provided through a separate bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Hightower, R-Mobile. The Hightower bill would give a major chunk of the state's $1 billion BP settlement to transportation projects statewide. But it specifically sets aside $250 million for the Baldwin Beach Express and the extension of U.S. 98 in Mobile County. Elliott and Dorsey said Hightower's bill, while offering a significant boost for the Beach Express, would not cover its entire cost. "We're going to have to come up with another mechanism," Dorsey said. 'Reduced toll' There are four tolled roads in Alabama, all operated by a private company: The Foley Beach Express bridge near The Wharf in Orange Beach, Joe Mallisham Parkway in Tuscaloosa, Emerald Mountain Expressway in Montgomery and the Montgomery Expressway in Montgomery and Prattville. Of those, the Foley Beach Express charges the most -- $3.50 per one-way trip. That kind of cost is a concern for city leaders who are angling for an additional bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said wants to see lanes added to the Foley Beach Express bridge, but with a "reduced toll" that is indexed and capped on an annual basis. Kennon said he's frustrated that American Roads LLC, which acquired the toll bridge in 2007, has complete autonomy to establish the toll rate. He said that the $7 two-way charge on motorists is unaffordable for rank-and-file coastal workers. Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said the toll pricing diverts motorists to the often-choked Alabama 59. "The people working for a minimum wage fee are not going to pay a $7 toll," Craft said. "They are going around and using 59." He added, "A reasonable toll is in the eye of the beholder, but it's not $3.50." Neal Belitsky, CEO of American Roads, said most locals pay less than the $3.50 cash rate, and referred to a myriad of discounted options. Among those is a 50 percent discount for Orange Beach and Ono Island residents who are registered to vote within the city. Asked about whether he supports expanding the bridge or reducing the toll amount, Belitsky said: "We look forward to working with the local communities and ALDOT on improving transportation in the region." Craft and Kennon both said they support the public toll authority alternative, but Belitsky said he needed additional information before commenting. 'Essential in the future' ALDOT spokesman Tony Harris said that tolls are definitely worth discussing in high-volume areas, such as Baldwin County. Baldwin County, according to the latest U.S. Census figures, is the fastest growing county in the state. "The key is you need enough revenue from the tolls to handle debt service," Harris said. He added, "ALDOT and local governments are struggling to adequately meet the needs posed by maintaining existing roads and bridges and new construction to relieve congestion, so considering toll-funded construction will be essential in the future." That appears to be the case with the estimated $800 million I-10 project in Mobile. The new toll study, according to ALDOT, will sample the preference of drivers. ALDOT teams plan to distribute surveys to truckers at various truck stops along I-10 on Monday. Postcards providing a link to the survey will also be mailed to Mobile and Baldwin county residents. The data collected will be used "solely for study purposes," according to ALDOT. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, is a proponent of the I-10 project. He doubts whether tolls are the best choice, he said Friday, but "I understand the need to evaluate all options." 'Have to embrace' A tool booth once was in operation at the Bankhead Tunnel in Mobile, Ala. (file photo) There's been plenty of talk about public toll roads in the state in recent times, even if none have materialized. The state even has an Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority, which has met to examine feasibility studies for toll projects. But Alabama hasn't had a major roadway or tunnel operate as a toll in years, Harris said. An elevated U.S. 280 toll road in Birmingham was one example of a project that received initial consideration before fizzling. Perhaps the most notable toll road in coastal Alabama was the Bankhead Tunnel under the Mobile River, opened in 1941. A 25-cent per car toll was charged to its users until 1973, when the George Wallace Tunnel on I-10 opened nearby. And Alabama has a history of peculiar (or innovative, depending on how you see it) financing methods for public works. In 1919, with President Woodrow Wilson presiding, the state sold roosters to help finance a bridge in Demopolis. Harris said it's been 50-60 years since a toll-funded project advanced. "With the advent of federal funding, toll-funded construction in most parts wasn't necessary," he said. "But we've seen no growth in federal and state revenues. With no new revenues, the consideration of toll-funded construction is something we'll have to embrace." One of the smaller political parties in the US nominates a candidate, with hopes to shake up race for the White House. I just witnessed something I never thought I would at a nominating convention for a political party. There have been many times in the 2016 election I have found myself saying, I never thought that would happen. For example, I never predicted that billionaire reality TV star Donald Trump would catapult to the lead after he called Mexicans rapists in his very first speech announcing his candidacy. He has gone on to break every known rule for how to run a presidential campaign, but he is still winning so maybe I should stop being surprised. Nevertheless, I am in Salt Lake City Utah covering the Constitutional Party. They picked their presidential candidate on Saturday. Darrell Castles name will be on the ballot in 16 states. His was an unusual acceptance speech. UN flag Castle warned the audience of 142 delegates that the United States was close to giving up its sovereignty. He warned of a global currency being created by the International Monetary Fund and that Americans would be forced to pay a world tax in order to pay for the recent climate change agreement. The hallway outside the small ballroom had a United Nations flag taped to the ground so people could step on it. He fired up the crowd by telling them that they need to be ready to fight. He said to remember their ancestors took on the Vikings and then celebrated by drinking out of their empty skulls. If you are wondering, it was in fact the empty skulls statement that took me by surprise. Castle gave me an interview and he admitted he does not have the slightest chance of winning, but he said you can lose the election and still win something. He said he would have an effective candidacy if he can grow his party and spread their message. Far-right views Many of the convention attendees told me they think they have their best chance yet because the Republican Party is so fractured. The Constitution Party does not have significant clout, notoriety or membership. In the last election they received just over 100,000 votes. They are to the far right and believe that all federal programmes not guaranteed by the US constitution should be sent back to the states. No social safety net for the poor, disabled or elderly. They believe all abortion should be banned, even in cases of rape and incest. They believe in vitro fertilisation should also be against the law. All of their policies are controversial and outside the mainstream, but that does not mean they will not get more support this time around. There is a common theme to this election and it is permeating from the far left, the far right and many people in the middle. The voters are disillusioned. They do not believe they still have a voice and that the country is being run to benefit corporations and billionaires. Lack of trust Many think their politicians are bought and paid for and are looking out for their donors and doing it at the peoples expense. Much of this goes back to the housing crisis. They see their neighbour still struggling to rebuild their lives while the bankers at the heart of the economic devastation are doing incredibly well. Wall Street carried on without punishment or long-term pain; the American people on the whole cannot say the same. There are countless polls that show the majority of Americans no longer trust their government. They do not think the federal government works. They are angry. They seem willing to try something completely new in hopes that this time the system changes. I keep wondering just how angry and how far are they willing to go to prove it. That is exactly what the Constitution Party plans to find out in November. New York may prove decisive in whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump get nominated to run for the Oval Office. New York, USA New York is famed for fashion, finance and as a skyscraper backdrop to thousands of movies. But, coming late in the primary election cycle, it usually only plays a small role in selecting the United States presidential candidates. That changes on April 19 when voters in the Empire State decide whether to back the frontrunners for the Democratic and Republican nominations Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump or to frustrate their White House bids by choosing their rivals. Clinton and Trump both lead polls in the state, but the competition is fierce and bitter. Electorally, the state of 19.8 million people is a hodgepodge. Voters range from upstate conservatives to sassy liberals in New York City, where everyone from millionaires to Mexicans and Muslims has featured in campaign rhetoric. For Peter Vandunk, 20, a comedy club barman, the 2016 election is about closing the gap between Wall Streets rich elite and the 99 percent of New Yorkers who struggle to pay rising rents, he told Al Jazeera at a rally in lower Manhattan. He backs Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator challenging Clinton for the Democratic nomination, saying the socialist will hit the stodgy people who walk around thinking theyre better than everybody because they make a little more money than you. While Sanders pledge to break up the banks resonated with a young, mostly-white crowd of some 27,000 in Washington Square Park on Wednesday, it does little to woo the fund managers behind much of the citys economy. If somebody talks about Wall Street fat cats, they wont get a good reaction on Wall Street, Mark Garbin, 65, a managing partner of the consultancy Coherent Capital, who lives in the leafy suburb of Westchester, told Al Jazeera. Once you strip away the emotionally-charged rhetoric, Bernies policies are fraud; he makes up statistics and has no credibility. Garbin will vote in the Republican primary but not for the populist celebrity construction tycoon Trump. Instead, he opts for the sensible, level-headed John Kasich, 63, even while the Ohio governors chances are slim, he noted. New York City The US primaries are seldom contested as doggedly as they are this cycle, raising the prospect of the Republicans and maybe even the Democrats going to their conventions in July with no clear idea who their presidential candidate will be. It's been a long time since New York has gotten this kind of attention. This is because it's such a close race on both the Democratic and Republican sides, and three of the top contenders are from the state. by Jeanne Zaino, Iona College Its been a long time since New York has gotten this kind of attention, said Jeanne Zaino, a political scientist at Iona College. This is because its such a close race on both the Democratic and Republican sides, and three of the top contenders are from the state. Polls indicate that Trump leads his rivals by 31.3 points, according to Real Clear Politics, an aggregator. Clinton leads Sanders by 13.8 points, but the gap has narrowed and Sanders has defied expectations previously, as with his surprise win in Michigan in March. Its critical on both sides. Its a must-win for Sanders and a must-win for Clinton. In the Republican camp, its really important for Donald Trump to recapture some of the momentum that hes lost recently, Zaino told Al Jazeera. New Yorks primary is also a battle over home turf. Sanders, 74, was born and raised in Brooklyn, long before the hipsters arrived. Clinton, 68, lives in the dainty hamlet of Chappaqua, north of the city, and served as a New York senator between 2001 and 2009. Both Democrats have their campaign headquarters in Brooklyn and have taken campaign pit-stops for local delicacies cheesecake for Clinton and a Coney Island hot dog for Sanders. But their local credentials are under scrutiny. In transit, Clinton was seen struggling to swipe her metro pass. Sanders, who left the city in the 1960s, fared worse, saying he thought subway turnstiles required tokens not the MetroCard system that outmoded them in 2003. The most authentic New Yorker is Trump, 69, who was raised in Queens and lives amid his high-rise Manhattan property portfolio. He scored points against Republican rival Ted Cruz, 45, a Texan senator, by defending New York values and a spirit that withstood the 9/11 attacks. Just walk around New York City and youll see his name on a building by Central Park, then another down Fifth Avenue, Maurice Carroll, of Quinnipiac University Poll, told Al Jazeera. Hes not only a native, hes ubiquitous. But Trumps nativist railing at Mexicans and Muslims has alienated many from the states minority groups, including blacks (17.6 percent) and Latinos (18.6 percent). They typically vote Democrat; polls suggest they favour Clinton. Upstate The election extends beyond the skyscraper city of 8.6 million people. Upstate are hills, lakes and such rustbelt cities as Buffalo and Rochester that have witnessed population declines and factories shuttering in recent decades. There are still so many folks who are out of work or underemployed from industries pulling out, and also farms not doing as well as they once did, Kate Bartholomew, 52, a science teacher from Watkins Glen, an upstate village, told Al Jazeera. Bartholomew said that anger and frustration have nudged voters to Sanders, who blasts the free trade deals that pushed manufacturers overseas, and Trump, whose promise to make America great again enlivens the jobless. Gun ownership rules are a bigger issue upstate, and one of the few policy areas where Clinton sits to the left of Sanders. Hydraulic fracturing is another concern, said Bartholomew, and may flip people to Sanders pro-environment camp. New York has among the strictest registration rules in the US, leading to complaints of exclusion. The deadline for first-time voters passed on March 25, the window for switching party affiliation shut back in October. Under a closed primary system, only those registered as Republicans or Democrats can cast ballots. Independents cannot. In the Democratic race, this is expected to favour Clinton and may help end Sanders recent winning streak. The rules also hurt Trump. Two of his children, Eric, 32, and Ivanka, 34, have campaigned alongside the billionaire, but cannot vote for him in the New York primary because they both missed the registration deadline. There are 97 delegates up for grabs in New Yorks Republican race. Trump currently has 755, outpacing Cruzs 545, and he aims to secure at least 1,247 delegates to win a first-round vote at the partys convention in July, he said. Without that bulletproof majority, Trump risks multiple ballots and a contested convention in which he could be outmanoeuvred. Cruz, who appeals to Evangelicals, has proven to be a wily political operator. Its not a pretty process to watch, said Zaino. The last truly contested conventions were in 1948 and 1952. The vast majority of Americans have never seen one certainly not one played out under the glaring spotlight of Twitter and other social media. New Yorks Democratic race offers 247 delegates. Clinton holds 1,790 delegates compared to 1,113 for Sanders, putting her on course to scoop the 2,383 needed to secure the partys ticket for the White House, where she last lived as the first lady between 1993 and 2001. She touts her years of political experience and is the odds-on favourite, but is still under investigation over an email scandal. Other big states, including California, Pennsylvania and Indiana, will vote in coming weeks and could also prove decisive. If Sanders beats Clinton in New York, and she cant win her home state, theres gonna be a lot of nervousness about her viability, Jeff Smith, a New School politics scholar and former Democratic state senator, told Al Jazeera. Follow James Reinl on Twitter: @jamesreinl Gaza Strip Hundreds of Palestinians gathered on Saturday to commemorate the death of Vittorio Arrigoni, the iconic Italian activist who was killed five years ago in the besieged Gaza Strip. Adel Abdelrahman, a musician in the Egyptian-Palestinian band Dawaween, said more than 500 people attended the event to show appreciation for Arrigonis Palestine solidarity work. They commemorated Arrigonis life with a documentary film on his life, sang songs in his memory, staged dance performances and art activities. We are Muslims, but we are against terrorism and violence, Abdelrahman told Al Jazeera. We love peace and we are against killing innocent people. Arrigoni first came to Gaza on an activist-organised flotilla in 2008. He was a member of the International Solidarity Movement and participated in protests to support Palestinian farmers and fishermen who had been confronted frequently by Israeli forces. READ MORE: Staying human in Gaza Arrigoni was killed on April 15, 2011, after a small group of Palestinian gunmen kidnapped him a day earlier and demanded that the Hamas government in Gaza release one of their members. In a video released after the kidnapping, they accused him of spreading corruption among Muslims and gave the Hamas government 30 hours to meet their demands. Before their deadline was reached, however, the men killed Arrigoni in an empty apartment in northern Gaza. It is a very important day for all of us, particularly Italians and Palestinians, Meri Calvelli, director of the Gaza-based Italian Centre for Cultural Exchange, told Al Jazeera. There are a lot of people who still remember what happened to Vittorio. Italy is very proud of [him]. Khalil Shaheen of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said organisers want to keep Arrigonis memory alive out of respect for his solidarity. Our message since the day the activist Vittorio Arrigoni was killed is clear: We are against the terrorist group who killed him and they dont represent Palestinians or our society, he told Al Jazeera. He was part of our struggle for justice and peace. Follow Ezz Zanoun on Twitter: @EzzPress Kathmandus heritage sites may soon be placed on the UNESCO danger list due to mishandled post-earthquake restoration. The human cost of the earthquake, which struck Nepal a year ago this week, was immense, killing almost 9,000 people and rendering perhaps two million homeless. The response to the disaster has been lamentably mishandled. Most of those who lost their homes are still living under tin sheets and polythene. Despite more than $4bn being pledged in reconstruction aid, almost nothing has yet been done. And even as reconstruction appears about to belatedly begin, there are more questions and contradictions than clarity over the rules for using (or misusing) all this cash. One gets a different answer from every supposedly informed person one speaks to. Amid all the misery and the mischief this situation entails, spare a thought for the unique and precious architectural heritage of Nepal, and especially of the Kathmandu Valley. The damage the earthquake wrought on ancient monuments looks set to be completed by bureaucratic insensitivity and a lowest-tender bidding process, which has already awarded the contract to re-erect dozens of collapsed temples to unqualified building contractors. Danger list According to Christian Manhart, the country director of UNESCO, the UN cultural body which has placed Kathmandus architectural wonders on the World Heritage list, the status of the Kathmandu World Heritage site will be discussed at a conference in June, when it will be decided whether to place it on the danger list. READ MORE: Do they have what it takes to rebuild Nepal? Mechtild Rossler, the director of the World Heritage Centre, has already written to the Nepali governments Department of Archaeology (DoA), warning of the threat that the governments bidding process poses to the conservation values which Nepal has signed up to. In Nepal, public sector contracting is notorious for 'mafia-like' operators who cut corners and indulge in corrupt practices to produce substandard infrastructure ... by In Nepal, public sector contracting is notorious for mafia-like operators who cut corners and indulge in corrupt practices to produce substandard infrastructure such as badly designed and rapidly decaying roads, drains, and crude concrete buildings. Many of the monuments which were damaged in the earthquake are intricately decorated brick and timber pagoda-like structures in the unique Newari style, which developed in Kathmandu and nearby areas during the Malla dynasty. Many date back to the period between the 12th and 18th centuries. They have long been a subject of specialist study, and there remains a living tradition of working in the traditional methods, such as wood carving and brick-making, carried on by the descendants of the original builders. So far, 49 contracts have been awarded by the DoA. According to Bhesh Narayan Dahal, the director general of the DoA, he does not know who the winning bidders are, but he believes that while some might have relevant heritage experience, others dont. On the question of whether dodgy contractors may end up pouring concrete over heritage sites, he said: Our engineers, our site overseers, and also the community people are very worried about this. It is a very sensitive issue, but what can we do? One problem is that although the legislation on reconstruction spending appears to allow circumventing standard procurement procedures, such as lowest tender bidding, bureaucrats are unwilling to depart from familiar practices. Nevertheless, the governments process for identifying prequalified contractors was not applied in this case: No qualification criteria were used in selecting contractors. According to Govinda Raj Pokharel, a former National Planning Commission vice-chairman who briefly headed the post-earthquake National Reconstruction Authority, lowest-tender bidding is completely inappropriate for heritage restoration. A further problem is that the contracts have been awarded without any serious investigation of what work is necessary or appropriate at each site. Architectural conservation involves many dilemmas, for example in considering the sensitive use of modern materials or structural techniques to strengthen buildings, or deciding when it might be appropriate to copy or replace damaged elements. Specialists point out that working with traditional woodcarvers and masons is very different from how regular contractors work setting tight timelines for gangs of labourers hauling sacks of cement. READ MORE: The disaster in Nepal after the earthquake And there are scientific issues. Any serious contractor would need to know the condition of the foundations, which in cases like these are themselves archaeological sites. There are useful technologies available, such as geomagnetic soil examination, but apparently the DoA has not been particularly receptive. There is a widespread understanding that such tendering processes enrich officials through kickbacks. This occurs in all government departments. The entire tender business showers money into the DoA, said one close observer. There are, in fact, strict rules [determining] who owns what share of that money. By common practice, the money is divided according to seniority throughout the department. Its not a secret even; everybody knows that, said the observer. What is taking place here is just one example of how widely applied and deeply entrenched strategies to misuse public resources end up wrecking the country in this case, its architectural heritage. The tender process which prefers gundas [criminals] destroys heritage, said the observer. Its not at all new. The new feature is that there is no document, no work schedule, no cost estimate just nothing. It is obvious that with the best will in the world, appropriately restoring Nepals heritage will not be easy. There are plenty of funds available, but the finite amount of expertise which exists has never faced such a daunting task. However, the experts that I spoke to were unanimous that, as a first step, the lowest-bidder tendering process should be halted and reversed. Management processes will be needed that are both pragmatic enough to get the work done, and rigorous enough to uphold credible conservation standards. Meanwhile, the DoA is planning to soon increase the number of contracts awarded to nonspecialist builders from 49 to 104. Thomas Bell has reported on Nepal for over a decade. His new book of history and reportage Kathmandu is published this month in by Haus. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Bernie Sanders is the closest candidate to the aspirations of millions of decent Americans dreaming of a better future. The dramatic debate between Senator Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in Brooklyn on April 14, in anticipation of the New York primaries on April 19, notwithstanding, the national conversations about the US presidential campaign has become positively predictable, if not punishingly boring except for the grassroots mobilisation it has triggered that may one day change the shape of politics in this country. Today, I think of the possibility of democracy in the US in exactly the way Gandhi is reported to have thought of Western civilisation: It would be a great idea. On the Republican front, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are clean-shaven prehistoric cave-dwellers in business suits, while Hillary Clinton on the Democratic front is the dictionary definition of a chameleon like a corrupt politician changing colour depending on which way the political wind blows but consistently representing mega-donors, big banks, and Super PACs without any moral scruples, while feigning that she cares about the poor and the disenfranchised. Aspirations of decent Americans In this presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders is the closest candidate to the aspirations of millions of decent Americans dreaming of a better future for their children while refusing to lend their name to an imperial republic that systematically arms the rich tyrants around the world, supports Israel stealing Palestine and murdering Palestinians one settlement at a time, and helps to create monstrosities such as ISIL. READ MORE: Donald Trump is the real deal Come April 19 New York primary, like millions of other New Yorkers, I intend to exercise my very fragile rights as a US citizen and go and vote for Bernie Sanders, doing my share and hoping he will beat Clinton and win the Democratic nomination. Many Muslims would have sided with and voted for Bernie Sanders even if he were not Jewish. by I do so without any illusion that Bernie Sanders can alter the imperial DNA of this country, or that I am particularly enamoured by this liberal Zionist beating on the dead horse of a two-state delusion. I intend to vote for Bernie Sanders conscious of a crucial development in the US Muslim community. This year is the first time that I will vote in a presidential election conscious of being a Muslim, and that consciousness is a significant event in the make-up of the US Muslim community at a time of intense Islamophobia. I will not be the first nor the only Muslim voting for Sanders in the US. The fact that US Muslims are significantly siding with Senator Sanders has already made major headlines in the US. There is, in fact, an entire Facebook page dedicated to Muslims for Bernie Sanders 2016. Leading Muslim scholars and intellectuals like Zareena Grewal and Donna Auston have also written eloquently as to Why Muslim Americans should vote for Bernie Sanders. Reports indicate that in less than three weeks, Bernie Sanders, being a friend of the Arab and Muslim American communities, has become legendary, and the support from this community of Sanders voters has been growing online since his March 8 victory in Michigan. The significance of US Muslims rallying behind Sanders as the only Jewish candidate should neither be exaggerated nor misinterpreted. This is a crucial development, but we need to know why. Above all, this vote signifies the rise of Muslims as a self-conscious, engaged, and assertive community with pronounced political views. To be sure, this does not mean all Muslims are for Sanders. There are plenty of rich and powerful Muslims of all sorts, no doubt, rooting for Hillary Clinton or even voting Republican. The very idea of a Muslim vote is as flawed and misleading as that of the Jewish vote, or Christian vote. The making of a Muslim community Many Muslims would have sided with and voted for Bernie Sanders even if he were not Jewish. That he is a proud and progressive Jew from a poor immigrant background links him to the deepest layers of Jewish prophetic voices throughout the ages as well as to the Jewish intellectuals and activists vastly involved with the Civil Rights Movement in the US as he, in fact, exemplifies a particularly proud moment for Jewish Americans that Muslims must learn and update. READ MORE: Why Id vote for Trump, but you shouldnt The formation of this crucial political consciousness signals a historic formation that could and should bring Muslims into the forefront of a national awakening in active alliance with such crucial segments of US society as the budding Jewish liberation theology of a post-Zionist era, the Occupy Wall Street uprising, the Black Lives Matter movement, and even the nascent Democracy Spring rallies. Sanders is a significant catalyst in this historic moment, bringing significant layers of political consciousness in the US to the forefront of the US presidential election. His supporters are putting up a heroic effort to promote their preferred presidential candidate. These forces, however, must begin to think of the day after a dreadful Clinton nomination, and what would happen to the significant momentum that Sanders campaign has generated. In the formation of that momentum, I believe, Muslims have a significant role to play, not just as Muslims, but more importantly as a momentous gathering integral to progressive fronts joining ranks with equally committed segments of society determined to change the landscape of US politics with wide-ranging global consequences. Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Afghan forces and the Taliban both claim gains amid fierce battles after the armed groups offensive to seize key city. Both the Taliban and the Afghan government have claimed major advances as intense fighting continues for the strategic city of Kunduz. Battles erupted earlier this week in six districts in Kunduz province, a key northern stronghold close to the Tajikistan border, as well as around the provincial capital, which the Taliban captured and held for several days last year. The Taliban said on Sunday fighters were besieging Kunduz from three directions east, north and west and had made significant gains in their efforts to recapture it. READ MORE: Poor leadership blamed for Kunduz fall We have advanced in Khanabad and Imam-Saheb districts and have captured 55 government security forces, Mullah Hamidi, a Taliban member, told Al Jazeera. His claims could not independently be verified. Conversely, Afghan authorities said security forces had pushed back a recent Taliban attack and were advancing as heavy fighting continued around the province. Heavy casualties In a press release, the interior ministry said 54 Taliban fighters, including local commander Qhari Habib, had been killed in the battles. The enemy has sustained heavy casualties. Our forces are advancing in the direction of Dashti-Archi, Imam-Saheb and Khan Abad district, General Dawlat Waziri, the spokesperson for the Afghan defence ministry, told Al Jazeera on Sunday. Today, 38 Taliban have been killed and 13 injured among the dead is Mullah Mubashr, a field commander of the Taliban. READ MORE: Confessions of a former US Air Force drone technician Photos of dozens of bodies riddled with bullets or shrapnel were posted on Afghan social media on Sunday, with captions saying they were Taliban fighters, but those claims could not be independently verified. Kunduz city fell to the Taliban in September 2015 but was retaken by the government forces shortly after. Fighting has broken out in Qushtifa district of Jowzhan province, where the Taliban is also claiming gains that cannot be independently verified. Bangladeshs minister of law said on Sunday that the arrest of a prominent magazine editor for his suspected involvement in a conspiracy to kidnap and kill the son of the countrys prime minister was not politically motivated. Shafik Rahman, 82, was arrested at his home on Saturday by men who originally identified themselves as journalists from a local television station who wanted to interview him. Rahman is not formally a member of the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP), though he is closely associated with it and was recently appointed as the convenor of its international affairs committee. His arrest comes less than a week after a report published by the International Crisis Group criticised Bangladeshs criminal justice system for being deeply politicised and dysfunctional. It also claimed law enforcement authorities were concentrating their efforts on targeting the opposition, rather than curbing criminality. But Law Minister Anisul Huq told Al Jazeera that Rahmans arrest had nothing to do with politics. My question is whether someone who is a member of the opposition party should be immune from the legal system of this country? Huq said. If [a BNP member] commits an offence, is he to be exonerated? Here the investigating authority is saying that there is a specific case against Shafik Rahman, he added. It is necessary to look at whether there is enough material to support the allegation in this case not whether he supports the BNP. Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Mazharul Islam refused Rahman bail on Saturday and remanded the journalist into police custody for five days for interrogation. Rahman was for many years the editor of the mass circular Bengali newspaper Jai jai Din but now edits a monthly magazine called Mouchake Dhil. READ MORE: Bangladesh jails overburdened by political prisoners According to Rahmans wife, members of the polices detective branch entered their house early on Saturday pretending to be working for the private television company Boishakhi TV and seeking an interview with her husband. While my husband was getting ready, we gave the three men some tea and snacks downstairs, said Taleya Rahman, who runs a non-governmental organisation, Democracy Watch. Then the men came upstairs and met my husband who was coming down for what he thought was to be a TV interview, she added. The men then told my husband that they were from the detective branch and forcibly took him away. The law minister said that he was unaware of the exact circumstances of the arrest. Some others have mentioned this to me. I will have to look into that, Huq said. The conspiracy case was filed in August 2015 after Sajeeb Wazed, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, posted a Facebook message about a BNP activist who had pleaded guilty in the United States to paying for confidential FBI information concerning his financial affairs. The BNP had planned to kidnap me and kill me here in the US, Wazed claimed in the message. Taleya Rahman denied her husband had any involvement in the alleged crime. I think he was arrested as the government thought he had provided information to the US state department for its report on human rights, which was published a few days ago. The media has been under increasing pressure in Bangladesh over recent months. In February, ruling party activists filed 17 cases of sedition and 62 cases of criminal defamation against Mahfuz Anam, editor of the countrys leading English-language newspaper, after the prime ministers son claimed also in a Facebook post that Anam had admitted publishing false corruption stories against his mother in an attempt to remove her from politics. Anams paper the Daily Star along with its sister paper Prothom Alo have been subject to an unofficial advertising blockade since August 2015. Khaleda Zia, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has called for Rahmans unconditional release. Thousands of opponents and supporters of Brazils president await voting results outside Congress. Brazils lower house of Congress is voting on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff over charges of manipulating government accounts for political gains. The yes camp was leading by a wide margin after more than half of the legislators had cast their ballots on Sunday evening. To succeed and be sent to the Senate for approval, the motion needs a two-thirds majority or 342 votes. Thousands of pro and anti-impeachment protesters gathered in the capital Brasilia and other cities as the vote got under way. The 513 legislators voted one by one, with all MPs given time to speak before casting their votes. Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman, reporting from Brasilia, said protesters from rival sides were watching the voting process outside Congress. We are seeing very pessimistic faces among the pro-government protesters who are watching the vote on large television screens, she said. Pro-impeachment protesters are cheering every 10 seconds or so when the yes vote is cast. A dire moment certainly for Brazils embattled president. Analysis by Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman in Brasilia As Brazilians hold their breath awaiting a crucial Congress vote that will have profound consequences for the future of President Dilma Rousseff and their country, a nagging question remains. Is the embattled president facing possible impeachment for allegedly tampering with public accounts to hide a huge budget deficit ahead of her narrow re-election in 2014? Or, is she paying the price for presiding over the biggest economic crisis in Brazil since the Great Depression, coupled with the worst corruption scandal in the countrys history? Read the full analysis here The rival protesters were separated by a metal barrier and security forces searched them before letting them in either of the camps. In Rio de Janeiro, which is scrambling to organise the Olympics in August, the two sets of protesters demonstrated at separate time slots on Copacabana beach. There wont be a coup, therell be a fight, one woman dressed in the red of Rousseffs Workers Party shouted. READ MORE: Dilma Rousseff caught in media firestorm Rousseff, 68, is accused of illegal accounting manoeuvres to mask government shortfalls during her 2014 re-election. Many Brazilians also hold her responsible for tanking the economy and a corruption scandal centred on state oil company Petrobras a record that has left her government with 10 percent approval ratings. Rousseff accused her vice president, Michel Temer, and the house speaker of treachery and coup-plotting. She also pledged to fight until the last minute to foil this coup attempt. If the vote passes, the Senate will vote, probably in May, whether to open a trial. In case of a yes vote, which experts consider likely, then Rousseff would step down for 180 days. During this period she would be replaced by Temer. If the Senate then ended the trial with a two-thirds majority in favour of ejecting her, Temer would stay on until elections in 2018. Much of the region, including Thailand and Laos, struggling to cope with the severe weather conditions. China has been releasing water from a number of its dams in an attempt to help relieve the drought in Southeast Asia. Much of the region has been struggling to cope with the severe weather which is hotter and drier than usual because of strong El Nino. Thailand is experiencing its worst drought in more than a decade with 14 out of 76 provinces badly affected. The situation in Vietnam is not so good either with the country suffering its worst drought in 90 years. Rice crop has been decimated across central and southern parts of Vietnam and around 1.8 million people are facing water shortage. China has been partially responsible for the dire situation across the region. However, release of the water is having little or no discernible impact as it dissipates into the massive delta region that is home to almost 20 million people. At least 39 hydro-electric dams are currently under development in the region, most of them in southwest China. In addition, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos have plans to build 11 new dams, potentially affecting 82 percent of the Mekong Rivers water. IN PICTURES: Drought, suicide and Indias water train Thailand has also turned to its Royal Rainmakers for help they are the Thai Department of Royal Rainmaking and are responsible for seeding the clouds over the kingdom. As of now, there have not been enough clouds to make this an effective process. Environmentalists also observe that there is less fresh water for drinking and irrigation, thus endangering agriculture downstream. Nevertheless, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang insisted that the dams will remain open throughout this period of low water. Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar will all benefit, according to Kang. French president meets Egypts leader to boost military ties between the two countries. French President Francois Hollande has met his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo to boost military ties. The leaders are set to sign an arms deal worth more than $1bn following months of negotiations. Sisi said on Sunday the cooperation between the two countries in all international fields needs to be expanded, including on transportation, renewable energy and terrorist threats. As part of its deal with France, Egypt will receive fighter aircraft and navy vessels. In the past two years, the Egyptian government has spent billions of dollars on French weapons and other hardware as part of efforts to bolster its military. Hollande said the two countries needed to boost ties in the political field, in the economic and cultural fields, and even the tourism field. The French president said he and Sisi had discussed security issues in the Middle East and North Africa, including in Libya, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, as well as Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. We cannot hide the fact that the situation in the Middle East is serious and that terrorism has deep roots, he said. We must fight with determination and thats why we have signed security agreements for the region between France and Egypt. Military boost Christian Makarian, a leading French journalist, said what Sisi wants first and foremost from France is international legitimacy. Secondly, he wants military help and France is in a very good position to supply aircraft and ships, Makarian told Al Jazeera. Following the 2013 ousting of former president Mohamed Morsi, the US temporarily froze Egypts military aid, forcing the government to turn to Russia, Germany and France. In 2014, bilateral trade between Cairo and Paris was worth more than $1.4bn. The following year, that figure grew more than 10 percent, exceeding $1.6bn. Sisi also called for the international community to revamp negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as urging the world to help confront armed groups in Libya, Syria and Iraq. Government publicly discussing the massacre of half a million people for the first time in 50 years. The killings of at least half a million Indonesians who were accused of being communists is being publicly discussed for the first time in 50 years. Up until now, government leaders have not revealed exactly what happened during one of the darkest periods of Indonesian history. Researchers estimate that half a million or more communists, and people accused of supporting them, died in those years killed by soldiers and some religious groups that had an anti-communist agenda. Survivors have come from all over Indonesia for this historic opportunity. Never before have victims of the communist purge in the mid-1960s been asked to speak at a government symposium. READ MORE: Joshua Oppenheimer Indonesias regime of fear The government of Joko Widodo is reaching out to us and I happily accept the gesture as long as our main principle is upheld that the truth will be told and justice will be done, said Sri Sulistiawati, a former prisoner. Mass graves from the massacre are scattered across the country but Indonesians have always been kept in the dark over what really happened. The army ordered the killings after seven generals were murdered in what was seen as a failed coup in 1965, which was blamed on the communists. One of those killed was the father of Agus Widjojo, a retired general who told Al Jazeera it was about time the government dealt with its past. This case has been in our past for 50 years now, Widjojo said. We havent been able to solve it as a nation. Where are we going if the nation is still divided and doesnt want to make any effort to find a solution? The events of 1965 continue to be a sensitive subject. When survivors tried to hold a meeting to prepare for next weeks symposium, a conservative group known as the Islamic Defenders Front threatened to attack the gathering. Conservative groups often backed by the military have long resisted any discussion of the killings. The survivors are asking for a special court to be set up to hear those accused of the 1965 killings. However, the Indonesian government favours a process of national reconciliation, saying those who orchestrated the violence five decades ago have already died. Human rights groups have insisted that the truth about what happened must be told. Government orders almost 250,000 people out of their homes following two earthquakes that killed over 40 people. Nearly 250,000 people have been evacuated from their homes amid fears of further earthquakes as rescue officials continue their desperate search for survivors in the remains of buildings destroyed in Japan. A 7.3-magnitude tremor struck early on Saturday morning, killing at least 32 people, injuring about a thousand more and causing widespread damage to houses, roads and bridges. It was the second major quake to hit Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours. The first, late on Thursday, killed nine people. Rescuers on Sunday searched for dozens of people feared trapped or buried alive, while survivors queued for scarce supplies of food and water. Factories for companies including Sony, Honda and Toyota halted production as they assessed damage in the region, an important manufacturing hub in Japans south. In the village of Minamiaso, eight people remain out of contact, said public broadcaster NHK. Rescuers pulled 10 students out of a collapsed university apartment in the town of Minamiaso on Saturday. Overnight, rescuers digging with their bare hands dragged some elderly survivors, still in their pyjamas, out of the rubble and on to makeshift stretchers made of tatami mats. The Self Defence Force, police and firefighters have been working to rescue people but there are still missing people, Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, said. The government will further deploy all possible means by expanding the troop size to 25,000. He said he had accepted an offer from the United States of help with air transportation in the rescue efforts. Heavy rains prompted worries of more landslides and with hundreds of aftershocks and fears of more quakes, thousands spent the night in evacuation centres. The indiscriminate nature of the destruction saw some houses reduced to piles of splintered timber and smashed roof tiles while neighbouring homes were left standing. About 422,000 households were without water and 100,000 without electricity, the government said. NHK said around quarter of a million people had received evacuation orders across the affected region amid fears of landslides. On the other side of the Pacific, Ecuador was also struggling with the aftermath of a major 7.8 quake which hit on Saturday, killing at least 77 people. Both Japan and Ecuador are on the seismically active ring of fire around the Pacific Ocean. Worlds big oil producers fail to agree on output cap to stabilise prices after months of uncertainty. Doha, Qatar The worlds biggest oil producers have failed to reach agreement at a meeting aimed at freezing output and reassuring markets that a recent recovery in prices can be sustained. Sundays talks in Qatars capital saw the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and, unusually, other producers trying to agree that average daily crude oil production in the coming months would not exceed levels recorded in January. Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed Saleh al-Sada said after six hours of negotiations that consultations would continue between the parties until an OPEC meeting in June. All participating countries will consult among themselves and with others, he said. Omans Oil Minister Mohammed al-Rumhy said one reason a deal could not be reached was that not all OPEC members were present. Until this morning we thought there would be a deal. We didnt know Iran wasnt coming, he told Al Jazeera. After 6 hours of meeting, OPEC secretary general left without saying a word. Tired reporters pled: Just say anything pic.twitter.com/8EyriAq6b5 Basma Atassi | (@Basma_) April 17, 2016 The run-up to the summit saw months of disagreements about the impact any freeze would have on individual OPEC members. The position of Iran now ramping up production after Western sanctions were lifted as part of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers had proved a sticking point, with diplomats and officials at the talks telling Al Jazeera that Saudi Arabia was insisting that Tehran should sign up to any agreement. Iran, though, did not send a delegation to the meeting, saying it would not accept proposals to cap its production until it recovered a similar market share to that which it held before the sanctions were imposed. Uncertainty and volatility Countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela have been hardest hit by plummeting prices. Venezuela has seen its worst recession since the 1940s, and its economy is expected to shrink by 10 percent this year. Larger OPEC producers such as Saudi Arabia, though, have insisted on keeping production levels high, because they do not want to lose customers to non-OPEC producers such as the United States. Countries came to the summit with different interests and therefore the prospects of a deal were low, Abdurahim al-Hor, a Doha-based economist told Al Jazeera at the summit. He said that oil prices were expected to go down because of the failure to agree to any cap on output possibly down to $35 a barrel, compared with the current $40. The price has been fluctuating with a big margin before, between $20 and $40 in January, so the decrease now could also be big, he said. Despite tanking prices and a glut in global supplies, OPEC members had previously increased production levels as disagreement grew about which strategy to take. The bloc is made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Qatars government currently holds the OPEC presidency. Follow Basma Atassi on Twitter: @Basma_ Thousands demonstrate in West Bank and Gaza Strip to shed light on plight of 7,000 Palestinians incarcerated by Israel. Ramallah, occupied West Bank Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets across the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Sunday to mark Prisoners Day, to shed light on the plight of 7,000 compatriots who are incarcerated by Israel. Prisoners Day has been commemorated annually since 1974, after the first Palestinian detainee Mahmoud Hijazi was released in a swap deal with Israel. In the centre of the West Bank city of Ramallah, families gathered raising Palestinian flags and holding framed pictures and posters of their incarcerated loved ones: Faheem al-Khateeb, who has been in prison since 2015, Adeeb Mafarjeh, currently on hunger strike, and Marwan al-Barghouti, the Fatah leader and parliamentarian, who some refer to as the Palestinian Mandela. There are 750 administrative detainees, three of them women, and there are 700 sick prisoners, said Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation Commission for Prisoners Affairs. Administrative detainees can be held without trial or charge for extended periods of time. We will spare no effort to have them released by either turning to international bodies, like the International Criminal Court, or by continuing to shed light on their plight with events like these, Qaraqe added. READ MORE: Palestinian hunger strikes My husband is dying A tearful mother, who was carrying a picture of her son, said she is no longer allowed to visit him in prison. My visitation rights were taken away, because Israeli authorities claimed I was carrying a knife, said the mother of Eyad Fawaghreh, who has been on hunger strike for more than a month to protest against the denial of family visits. Fawaghreh, who has served 11 of a 27-year sentence, is refusing painkillers and vitamins until his visitation rights are restored, said Yousef al-Nasassra, a lawyer representing him. There are 30 prisoners who have been incarcerated since before the Oslo Peace Accords were signed in 1993 between the PLO and Israel, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club. Among the prisoners are six members of parliament and 18 journalists, the group said. In Jenin, high schools on Sunday dedicated one class to teaching about the prisoner population, which includes 75 students and 30 teachers, according to the PA Ministry of Education. Local radio stations aired stories about incarcerated Palestinians, churches tolled their bells, and mosques used their loudspeakers to pray for prisoners throughout the day. Outside the premises of the Red Cross, some gathered to sign a petition calling for the release of their loved ones. We call upon the international community to investigate the violations against our brothers and sisters inside Israeli prisons, said Mansour al-Saadi, Jenins deputy governor. Israel is even imprisoning 12-year-olds. Where is the outrage? he asked, referring to a Palestinian child currently being held by Israel and due to be released on April 24. READ MORE: Youngest prisoner in Israeli jail is a 12-year-old girl In Gaza City, members of the various political factions including warring parties Hamas and Fatah took part in a rally that ended outside the Red Cross premises. As party members used the occasion to highlight the need for ending the division between the two factions, the group slammed the PA, and its ruling party Fatah, which it said was doing an inadequate job supporting the prisoners. The prisoners case must be brought to the negotiating table, said Wasfi Qabha, a Hamas leader, and former minister of detainees. The PA signed a peace agreement with Israel without securing any guarantees to release our prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for the first time held his weekly cabinet meeting in the occupied Golan Heights, amid criticism from local Syrian activists. Speaking in the Jewish-only settlement of Maaleh Gamla on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that the 70 percent of the Golan, which Israeli forces occupied during the 1967 Middle East war, will always remain under Israeli control. I convened this celebratory meeting in the Golan Heights to send a clear message: The Golan will always remain in Israels hands. Israel will never withdraw from the Golan Heights, he said. Hezbollah fighters push towards Golan Heights The move came on the 70th anniversary of Syrias independence, marking the withdrawal of French colonial forces from the country in 1946. Mais Ibrahim, a Syrian human rights activist from the Golans Majdal Shams, criticised the decision to hold the meeting there but added that this did not come as a surprise. On the contrary, Id be more surprised if Netanyahu did not mention the Golan on Syrian Independence Day, she told Al Jazeera. We are Syrians and we were raised as Syrians. We grew up as Syrians. We will remain [Syrian] regardless of what Israel says or who controls Syria regardless of whether the war continues another 100 years or if were liberated tomorrow. READ MORE: Golan Heights New flashpoint in Syria war Netanyahus declaration comes at a time when Syria is engulfed in a civil war between Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government and opposition groups. Although it started as a largely unarmed uprising in March 2011, the United Nations estimates that more than 260,000 have been killed so far. Illegal annexation More than 131,000 Syrians Christians, Muslims and Druze were driven from the Golan when Israel occupied it 49 years ago, according to the Golan-based Al-Marsad Arab Human Rights Centre. About 20,000 indigenous Syrian Arabs mostly from the Druze religious community live in six villages still standing in the occupied territory. Meanwhile, upwards of 21,000 Israeli settlers live in 33 Jewish-only settlements subsidised and protected by the Israeli government. While local Syrians are split over the ongoing civil war, the vast majority oppose Israels occupation. They hold Israeli-issued travel documents, but most have rejected offers of Israeli citizenship and remain legally stateless. Israel claimed to have annexed the territory in 1981, but the move was rejected by the international community, including the United Nations. Syrian researcher and Golan-based analyst Salman Fakheraldeen accused Israel of attempting to take advantage of the fact that Syria is a collapsing state, referring to the ongoing civil war. But this doesnt erase or cancel the rights of Syrians from the Golan, he told Al Jazeera. The Al-Marsad Arab Human Rights Centre has also accused the Israeli government of a calculated effort to establish facts on the ground in order to solidify their illegal annexation of the Golan in the midst of a brutal and protracted conflict in Syria. READ MORE: Israels oil drilling in Golan criticised Afek Oil and Gas, an Israeli company, has been granted exclusive licence to conduct exploratory drilling for oil in the southern Golan. Afek is a subsidiary of Genie Energy Limited, a New Jersey-based company for which former US Vice President Dick Cheney is an adviser. Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict, the Netanyahu government has also invested millions of dollars in Israeli settlements in the Golan. My grandparents land Benedetta Berti, a security analyst and research fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, explained that the Netanyahu government views control of the Golan as essential to the countrys security. Speaking to Al Jazeera, she said that Israel is monitoring the Syrian-controlled side closely for activity by Iranian troops and Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group fighting alongside Assad. I think the Israeli security establishment still believes it is not in Israels interest to get directly involved in the internal battles between Assad and his opponents, said Berti. Nonetheless, she argued that big advances by pro-Assad forces could trigger some type of Israeli signalling operation, like the killing of Samir Kantar, a former prisoner and high-profile Hezbollah fighter. Kantar, who had served 29 years in Israeli prison, was killed in December by a suspected Israeli air strike in the Jaramana area of Damascus. In Quneitra, situated in the side of Golan still controlled by Syria, media activist Abu Omar al-Jolani said Syrians are united in their opposition to Israels occupation of the territory. The Syrian people are enduring the worst stage of their history, being killed every day by the regime, he told Al Jazeera by telephone. The most important thing is surviving, finding bread. But at the same time, that is my grandparents and parents land. The Golan is Syrian. The whole world knows this. Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_ General staff says PKK members targeted with warplanes and helicopters in countrys eastern and southeastern provinces. Turkeys armed forces have killed 23 Kurdish fighters in clashes in eastern Turkey and with air strikes, according to the general staff. Security sources said on Saturday that warplanes and attack helicopters fired on a mountainous, forested area in the eastern province of Tunceli after military drones spotted a group of about 20 PKK fighters there on Friday. The armed forces statement said three of the fighters were killed in the air strikes. INFOGRAPHICS: Major Kurdish factions Elsewhere, in the southeast of the country, the army killed eight PKK fighters in Silvan, six in Nusaybin and three each in the towns of Sirnak and Yuksekova on Friday, the statement said. Thousands of fighters and hundreds of civilians and soldiers have been killed since the PKK resumed its fight for Kurdish autonomy last summer, ending a two-year ceasefire and shattering peace efforts. Turkish fatalities Turkish warplanes have frequently struck PKK targets since the conflict revived, mainly hitting the groups bases in northern Iraq. Security sources said on Friday that four Turkish soldiers were killed and two wounded when a bomb hit a military vehicle travelling in the southeastern province of Mardin. OPINION: No to terrorism, no to double standards The government has ruled out any return to the negotiating table and has said it will crush the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies. The PKKs abandoning of a ceasefire prompted a conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 1984. The violence wrecked a peace process that was seen as the best chance at ending one of Europes longest-running conflicts. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly vowed to stamp out the conflict in southeastern Turkey once and for all. Various towns in the region have been under on and off curfews due to army operations against the PKK. Oil producers meet in Qatars capital to discuss a possible production freeze. Its in almost everything we use, from the screen youre watching this on to the toothbrush you used this morning. While consumers benefit through lower petrol prices and energy costs leading oil-producing nations are suffering from the dramatic fall in the price of oil. Ministers have been meeting in Doha to discuss a possible production freeze. They hope lower output will cause prices to rise and revive government budgets which rely on oil revenue. Ministers met against the backdrop of rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who dont see eye to eye on much, including oil production levels. Would a production freeze have the desired effect for oil producing nations? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Kamil Al Harami Independent oil analyst. Cornelia Meyer Oil and gas specialist and CEO of MRL Corporation. John Sfakianakis Director of Economics Research at the Gulf Research Center. 2005 .. POINT DE VUE Instead of UN instrument, Balochs should rely upon FSD-SAARC for Indian military support Alwihda Info | Par Hem Raj Jain - 17 Avril 2016 Bengaluru, India Sub:- (i)- Naela etc should be pragmatic and should depend upon open military support of India for Balochs (ii)- Instead of thinking about independent Islamic theocratic State Balochs should prefer to be part of secular federation --- Professor Naela Quadri Baloch has recently appeared in electronic media including on Indian TV channels where she has passionately appealed to India to intervene (like India did in Bangladesh in 1971) in order to bring independence to Balochistan which is facing genocide at the hands of Pakistan and especially by its military. Naela is not wrong on merit about genocide but is pursuing a wrong policy for getting relief and succor to Balochs in Pakistan especially when Naela suggest that India should invoke UN instrument about genocide for getting relief to Balochs. Naela should understand that merely moral / verbal / covert support of India will not solve the problems of Balochs and without military support / intervention of India the Balochs will not get any relief and towards this goal only Naela and other Balochs should work especially when India is entering in a new phase of becoming an economic super power. The last word on Indias partition is yet to be written and Pakistan will sooner than later will be assimilated in India (if not individually then through Federation of Secular Democratic SAARC countries). Given the harassment India is suffering at the hands of Pakistan sponsored terrorists (as is mentioned by Naela too during said interview) India will have to take POK sooner than later and it is bound to usher in FSDSAARC because world community (especially USA & Allies) will never allow free-for-all war between nuclear India and Pakistan. There is one more reason that the world-community will like to see FSDSAARC. Pakistan came in existence in 1947 on the basis of two nation theory based on religion. But in present time due to Jihadi terrorism (including of ISIS, Al-Qaeda etc) the theocratic Islamic States are not finding favor with world-community. India so far did not take POK militarily because India due to its economic hardship was afraid of China Pak military alliance. But now India is going to get $ ~ 15 Trillion tax money as mentioned at:- http://www.alwihdainfo.com/Now-India-bound-to-get-Rs--1000-Trillion-income-tax-as-Delhi-Police-steps-in_a31456.html This will make India an economic super power and it will be only a matter of time that India will start military preparations for retrieving POK (which is bound, as mentioned before, to culminate in FSDSAARC with international support). Therefore if Balochs want relief then they should forget about an independent Islamic theocratic country and instead should start thinking about being a part of FSD-SAARC in which like Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, India etc Balochistan can also be a member State. For this Balochs should start lobbying in India too (as they are doing in other countries) but not for independent Balochistan but as a part of to be realized FSDSAARC. Though Balochistan has no parallel with Bangladesh but Baloch refugees (being harassed and persecuted in Pakistan) in large number in India (as was the case with Bangladeshis in 1971) will certainly go a long way in lobbying India and the world-community in favor of highlighting urgent need to bring succor & relief to the people of Balochistan. It is expected that Naela and other Baloch activists will become pragmatic and work for FSDSAARC in the interest of bringing justice, peace and prosperity to Balochs. Regards Hem Raj Jain (Author of Betrayal of Americanism) Bengaluru, India Dans la meme rubrique : < > Tchad : "une cuisante defaite" pour "les pessimistes" du Dialogue national (Abdelmanane Khatab) Tchad : lechec de la politique de lemploi, une opportunite entrepreneuriale ? Tchad : aller au federalisme dans ce contexte, cest cautionner leclatement (Dr Oguelemi) Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) 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] In a version of "hit 'em while they're down,' the Obama administration has unleashed a slew of new regulations targeting U.S. oil and gas production. These include costly methane emission rules on all new and existing wells, reversals of promised offshore acreage leasing, a de facto freeze of leasing on federal lands, and burdensome EPA restrictions of fracking. Then there is Obama's recent budget proposal of a $10-per-barrel surtax on top of the high taxes and royalties already paid by oil companies. Just as low oil prices are driving hundreds of oil companies out of business, Obama is piling on in an apparent effort to drive even more into bankruptcy. Restrictions on drilling don't hurt consumers so much when the world is awash in oil, as it has been since 2014. The problem is that prices don't remain low for long. Low prices result in reduced investment, which results in less production. And less production results in higher prices. As every economist knows, commodities are cyclical businesses. A wise national energy policy would anticipate volatility by promoting lower production costs in both good times and bad, thereby reducing future price shocks. Obama's energy policy has pursued the opposite path. Oil prices appear to be at an inflection point, and the administration hasn't a clue as to how to respond. With cuts in non-OPEC production of 730,000 barrels per day in 2016, according to an OPEC report issued Wednesday, global surplus production is expected to end within two months. After that, stockpiles may begin to decline, unless global demand continues to lag, as it has of late. On the demand side, the OPEC report simply states that "there is great uncertainty." Obama's response to this uncertainty as to the clear evidence of declining production outside OPEC is politics as usual. When production is high, he attacks fossil fuels. When production is low, he continues to attack them. The most significant data in the OPEC report point to an increasing pace of decline in non-OPEC production. A 15% decline from recent highs, in and of itself, might not be that worrisome. But a 15% decline that becomes 20% and then 25% by the end of the year, as is possible, would most likely affect global oil prices and perhaps threaten the global economy. With so many regions already facing uncertainly, a global recession could easily unsettle world politics. It is in our interest to stabilize energy prices, but the administration seems intent on driving them up. No one can predict the future of the oil market, of course. Exogenous factors, including the potential collapse of a proposed OPEC production freeze or a global economic slowdown, not to mention the outbreak of war or regime change, could influence prices one way or the other. With hundreds of producers, an uncertain global economy, and political instability, predicting oil prices is a risky bet. The re-entry of Iran as a major producer is another factor in the mix. Nonetheless, it is possible to extrapolate from known facts and to make conservative predictions. Non-OPEC production is falling. If an agreement can be ironed out at the forthcoming Doha meeting of OPEC producers or at a subsequent meeting, OPEC production might be frozen at current levels. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has lowered its forecast for U.S. production for 2017 to 8 million barrels per day down from 9.4 million bpd for 2015. Despite having the world's largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela has seen its production continue to decline since 2005. The International Energy Agency recently downgraded projections for Brazil's production in 2016. Mexico, another major producer, has seen its production "steadily decreased since 2005," according to the IEA. The idea that U.S. production cuts, resulting partly from government policy, have no effect on global prices is mistaken. Given the effect of maturing fields and declines resulting from mismanagement in Latin America and elsewhere, there may not be enough slack to make up for falling U.S. production. Obama's assault on the U.S. oil industry has also contributed to job losses and losses to U.S. GDP. Just as his all-out war on coal has cost 31,000 good-paying jobs and $30 billion in market losses, at the end of 2015, job losses in oil and gas were estimated to be "250,000 and counting." Not all of these could have been prevented by government policy, but many of them could. If Obama had taken the opposite tack backing "all of the above," as he promised to do the oil and gas industry would have held up better, and Americans would be spared future price increases to some degree. Lowering regulation and opening up leasing on federal lands would have lowered the cost of production for U.S. companies. As it is, Obama has allowed Middle East producers to undercut U.S. producers and gain market share, resulting in fewer jobs for American workers and more U.S. dependence on foreign producers. Looking ahead, oil price forecasts for 2020 range from $68.50 (IMF) to $74.10 (World Bank). With WTI crude now going for just above $40 a barrel, those forecasts suggest a 75% increase above current prices and a 150% increase over recent lows. No one is suggesting that U.S. energy policy can control global oil prices, but it can lower U.S. production costs, make U.S. producers more competitive, and increase global supplies, thereby moderating price spikes. Obama understands none of this because he sees the world through eco-colored glasses. There is no evidence that Hillary Clinton would be at all different. She too supports the total ban on fracking in New York State and elsewhere. Killing the fossil fuel industry in the U.S. has been the unspoken agenda of the Obama administration for the past seven years. It is also the agenda of environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, whose executive director (Michael Brune) recently said that the club's goal is "to phase out coal as quickly as possible" and also to "use as little natural gas as we can in doing so." As for oil, environmentalists seem even more opposed to its use than natural gas, despite the fact that both are the only efficient and dependable sources of fuel available at affordable prices. Another voice in the anti-carbon crusade is U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (whose term, thankfully, expires in December). In an interview with Kimberley Strassel of the Wall Street Journal, the secretary general was quoted as saying that climate change "should not be a subject of political debate" in the U.S. He followed up by saying that if the U.S. Congress refuses to pass legislation supporting the Paris climate accord of 2016, President Obama "may not have to do all this legally[.] He also has executive power." Is Ban Ki-moon saying that the American people have no right to debate climate change and that the president should circumvent Congress to force his views on the people? That is what I hear him saying, and what many in the environmental movement appear to support. Now that the president and his environmental allies have partially succeeded in hampering oil production, the effects of that policy can be seen. Oil prices are rising, and gasoline prices are rising with them. Most Americans aren't happy about that, and, hopefully, they will make their displeasure known in the 2016 election. The choice between Hillary Clinton and a conservative opponent would give voters a chance to make their wishes known. As for Hillary Clinton, her intentions are painfully obvious. She has spoken of seizing the profits of oil companies and investing them in green energy schemes like Solyndra and SunEdison. Without profits, energy companies would have nothing to invest in new production. As existing wells became depleted, production would fall, ultimately to zero That, of course, is precisely what the environmental left wants. But it is not the future that most Americans would hope for. It is not too late to reverse policy, though the chance of this administration doing so is zero. A new administration, with a conservative in the White House, could unravel the punishing regulations imposed on the oil and gas (and coal) industries and thereby assure a long-term supply of cheap and efficient energy. That supply would help to assure long-term economic growth and prosperity and increased income equality for all Americans. Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture, including Heartland of the Imagination (2011). A people liberated from slavery. No wonder Passover is a time when advocates for a State of Palestine feel drawn to play a modern day Moses. Let the people go! Passover, many think, comes around for a melodramatic appeal to the conscience of Israel. Have pity. Remember that your people were enslaved in Egypt and so howled in torment that it galvanized the Almighty into action. Hear oh Israel the cry of people in bondage under you. Let the Palestinians go. Let them make unto themselves a nation. Thus entreats a devotee of human rights, one of a great multitude that makes a good living from his devotion. Listen carefully to him. In what he says and in what he believes lie the fatal flaws of the type: the modern day Moses. Uri Zaki, one-time the US Director of an Israeli human rights outfit named BTselem (in the image of), thought hed stir up American Jews with an impassioned Passover appeal. Let the Palestinians go free. What Zaki actually said was: Israeli settlements in the West Bank make it practically impossible for the Palestinians to realize their right to self-determination in an independent and viable state of their own. (Times of Israel, April 16, 2011) The fatal flaw in Zakis browned-off appeal lies where? Look for the duty of one party to give and the right of the other party to receive. Defrocked, this is human rights or, for do-gooders of the Jewish faith, tikkun olam mending the world. It all boils down to the right of Palestinians to want things and the duty of Israel to proffer them. One is owed, the other owes. A handful of billionaire thieves (Mahmoud Abbas at the head) have only to table demands and sit back while leaders of capricious conscience extort Israel to meet them more than half way. Theyre a people absolved from adult behavior. It seems to be the tale of a perennial spoilt kid, and it brings to mind a brilliant quip made by the famous Israeli ambassador, Abba Eban. I think it would be the first war in history that on the morrow the victors sued for peace and the vanquished called for unconditional surrender. It was a bittersweet joke. The Six-Day war had ended in a stunning victory for Israel and world leaders lined up to force bitter medicine down the victors throat: the remedy of land for peace. Today five decades later the remedy keeps Israel trying to keep Washington and Brussels keep boycotts at bay. One thing has changed: the stakes are higher. Today world leaders demand that Israel gives not land for peace but land for another failed Sharia state unless Israel wants Washington and Brussels to stop trying to keep boycotts at bay. Blackmail, if you like. Give the Palestinians what they want, for heaven sake. Never mind they lost wars they, or bigger brothers, started. Palestinians want everything, and they want it on their own terms, unconditionally. Possession may be 9/10th of the law, and Israel may have that possession, but who holds the Palestinians to law? Theyre defined by rights. Other claimants for independence (the Kurds for one example) must drool when they look upon the lucky Palestinians. And whose rights have to make room for these Chosen People? Who elses but the Un-Chosen people making do with an already too-small slip of hostile homeland. But who cares about the Jews? When it comes to human rights the Palestinians in bondage garner all the care. That was fatal floor one. Another fatal flaw in the modern day Moses is forgetting that a right to self-determination involves another and equal right: ownership. By all means let people make unto themselves a nation, but where shall they do that? On what land? On whose land? Other than the Kingdom of Jordan, no land west of the Jordan River ever belonged to a Palestinian people. Israel took the land in the Six-Day War when the Palestinian people as a collective were not yet born. Could Jordan ask for the West Bank back? No it couldnt because it was never Jordans to have. At the time Israel snapped up the territory Jordan had no right to be there. Not even the Arab league has tried to make a case for the West Bank to go back to Jordan. So the modern day Moses looks to Israel. At Passover time thoughts on bondage and liberation run riot. We must allow Palestinians to enjoy the same basic rights to self-government and independence that we, the Jewish State, have been privileged to enjoy since 1948. (Jerusalem Post, April 14, 2014) David Newman, a professor at Ben Gurion University, goes on to write of fundamental Jewish religious values as recounted at Passover. It is incumbent upon the Jews of today, Newman says, to ensure that other peoples are not oppressed, even more when they are under our own control and for whose wellbeing we have direct responsibility. (Jerusalem Post, April 14, 2014) After he weds rights to responsibilities, Newman pulls them asunder. Israel gets the responsibility and Palestinians get the rights. No modern day Moses recognizes reciprocity. The Jews are expected to part with more of their promised land, leaving enemies at liberty to rain down rockets on Israels metropolitan hub. Newmans fundamental Jewish values come with that sting in the tail. Diplomacy, having no truck with biblical appeals, comes with the sting on its own. Looking back on American brokered peace talks, its easy to forget who the rightful landowner is and who the supplicant is. American Secretary of State John Kerry hammered the Israeli side for not dangling carrots that Palestinian leaders found juicy enough. Not even the Israeli side stops to recall natural law: an owner of property needs do nothing until a person with an eye on it brings an offer. Should that person be unwilling to meet the owners terms, the owner may carry on with his life. Cornered, Zaki the Priest and Newman the Dean would have to admit that no law, or treaty, gives Palestinians a right to self-determination in a viable state of their own. There are only the Oslo Accords, trashed many times over. But even when the accords were in mint condition they conferred no rights to self-determination. The modern day Moses ignores principles of law while he scatters rights and responsibilities like confetti. Odder still, hes often the first to insist that Israel abides by international law. Unpacking the biblical thunder in Let Palestinian go free one discovers how fake it is. Responsibility comes without rights and rights without responsibility. The demand of the modern day Moses amounts to, Give Palestinians what they want, for heaven sake. Well why not, if only to satisfy some quirky view of fair play. The Jews got their state, why deprive the neighbors? It might even help Israels own security. So say do-gooders toying with real baddies. But look at the way they put their case. Palestinians have no responsibility to accept a Jewish state, a right firmly written into law. Again John Kerry, only thinking of Israel of course, scolds it for putting the spoilt kid out of temper by insisting it recognize the Jewish character of Israel. Other leaders throw up their hands with Kerry. Give the kid what it wants, for heaven sake. Problem is, no one can fathom what it wants. And thats another fatal flaw. Three times Israel offered what world leaders thought the Palestinians wanted. They were invited to establish a home that Palestinians could call their own. They were offered land to do it on. Yet they not just tore up three invitations but, launching Intifadas, threw the bits into Israels face. What of Gaza where Palestinians were in bondage before Gaza was given over, lock stock and barrel. All Palestinians had to do in Gaza was make unto themselves a nation. Youd think the modern day Moses would be happy. Think again. In 2005 Israel withdrew its forces from the Gaza Strip, which increased Palestinians' control over their livesHowever, Israel continues to hold decisive control over major aspects of people's lives. (Times of Israel, April 16, 2011) Here was Zaki the Priest prodding Pharaoh to let the people go, after Pharaoh already had. Everyone knows what they did with their freedom. But then, it is not for Gazas elect to uplift the lives of their people, or to build a nation. It is for Israel to do that for them. Zaki the Priest and Newman the Dean fall in behind other Moses figures, all wearing blinkers. None see the bottom line from giving land away. Let the Palestinians have the Temple Mount, half of Jerusalem and Judea-Samaria all parts in dispute and Jews will start looking the part of colonial intruders. After all, what historical connections do they have to Tel Aviv? Let the people go is all well and good. But at Passover time Jews ought to have their own freedom in mind. If they have to treat enemies with a strong hand and an outstretched arm so be it. Never again must the Jews be a footloose and powerless people begging other nations to let them in. As the firestorm ignited by Donald Trump regarding the structure and utility of NATO burns on, the freeloaders in the alliance continue to whine and ask for even greater levels of subsidization. Take Lithuania, whose defense minister recently claimed that "the harassment of an American warship [by Russian fighter jets] shows why the US should help build the region's missile defenses." A correct translation of "help build" is "have the Americans pay for." While Lithuania is apparently now on-target to reach the preferred NATO defense-spending target of just 2% of GDP within a few years, the Lithuanians have done nothing for the common defense since the small country on the alliance's volatile periphery joined in 2004. In fact, between 2004 and 2013, its military spending dropped from a puny 1.2% of GDP down to an irrelevant 0.8% of GDP. Since 2013, all Lithuania did is bring this back up to 1.1% by 2015. Even after the invasion of Ukraine, the best Lithuania could muster is this small increase. When the USA had to remobilize for the Korean War in the early 1950s, its defense expenditures instantaneously skyrocketed from 4.9% of GDP in 1950 to 9.7% in 1951 up to 13.3% in 1952. With Russia breathing down its neck in Central Europe, all these front line NATO members can do -- and Lithuania is certainly not alone -- is piddle around with post-Ukraine invasion annual increases to defense expenditures on the order of just a few tenths of a percent of GDP. Estonia's military budget remained unchanged between 2014 and 2015 at just 2.0% of GDP, Hungary's actually declined from 0.9% to 0.8%, Latvia's went from only 0.9% to 1.0%, Bulgaria's declined from 1.5% to 1.4%, Romania's was held constant at 1.4%, and Poland's increased very slightly from 1.9% to 2.2%. To say NATO's eastern front is unserious about defending itself is being kind. Mooching off the U.S. is what is actually taking place. If any of these countries were desirous of being a meaningful contributor and holding its own weight in the alliance, defense expenditures would have been at least doubled or tripled (or more) as a share of the economy during the past couple years. Given the low defense-spending base at which these nations are sitting, such efforts would not have greatly strained their respective economies nor involved levels of spending that would have been impossible to undertake without massive waste. This ridiculous situation is par for the course in NATO, and it was only inevitable that eventually a leading presidential candidate would call the bluff. The real question to be asked is why so many in the American pundit class and think tank universe support the freeloaders. Whose side are they on? Shifting our tinfoil hats around, this is a serious question. Don't underestimate the extent to which many -- if not most -- of the academic and think tank class is actually playing for the other side. In Canada, the infestation of the academic and federal government worlds by those who hold linkages to Russia, China, Iran, and others, and who don't see the world in traditional pro-American NATO-esque terms, is a serious problem. One suspects the issue is as great south of the 49th parallel. In terms of who built NATO, it was America -- of course. Cumulative military spending since each current member joined the alliance will undoubtedly be skewed heavily towards the founding members, but even among the founders it is an exclusively American club. The United States stands at US$30 trillion and counting, almost two-thirds of all expenditures by all NATO members since the founding of the alliance -- and nearly three-quarters of all spending by the twelve founding members. This almost sounds like real money. And even though the population ratio of the United States to Canada has been 10:1 for the entire period since 1949, the corresponding cumulative defense-spending ratio is 30:1 despite very similar per capita GDPs. Whoops, the biggest freeloader sits next door. Canada is US$2 trillion in cumulative NATO defense spending debt to the U.S. Good luck repaying that when your entire annual economy is only US$1.8 trillion. But Canada is really safe, the Canadian defense spending critics claim. Yes, and why is that? Could it be because the United States foots the bill for keeping it safe? Of course, perhaps Canadians who believe they live in a perpetually uncontested part of the world forget that the United States bought Alaska from Russia in the same year as Canada became a nation. For the historically challenged, that would be 1867. But the real dangers only exist in Eastern Europe, and Canada can still contribute effectively to NATO at defense spending levels far below the current 1.0% of GDP, the Canadian defense spending critics go on to claim. Excuse us while we take some time to roll on the floor in laughter. Canada's current military stacks up well against the 7th century barbarians fighting in the Middle East, but not so well against 21st century (or even most 20th century) forces. The best Canada could do to assist in a serious conflict between NATO and a major power would be to build giant catapults and launch our burning used submarines from the UK and some decrepit Sea King helicopters at the opponent. We all know the Sea Kings couldn't fly themselves to the front lines -- they would undoubtedly crash along the way -- and the submarines couldn't get there on their own, either, without self-igniting, melting, and then sinking. So we'd need to ask for help getting our junk to the theatre before launching it with the hopes that the mass of the metal falling from the sky will crush a nearby Russian tank or two. One can see the lazy nations in western continental Europe getting complacent about military spending in recent decades as the border between good and evil kept marching further east, but for those on the eastern front of the continent to start off unserious and only get less serious suggests they deserve some tough love. As do other front-line freeloaders such as Norway and Canada. Perhaps the U.S. should tell other NATO members that if they don't increase defense spending to match the American budget as a percent of GDP (currently at 3.3% for 2015) within three years -- a reasonable target -- that any mutual defense agreements are terminated immediately. With the exception of the UK and France, who each have a credible nuclear weapons deterrent, all other members of NATO are the proverbial "dead meat" up against Russia. No nukes, and you immediately lose a conventional war against a nuclear-armed opponent. The nuclear state need not even fire a shot, it could simply say, "surrender, or we will destroy you." Convenient such power is. But that would never happen, the naysayers shout. Of course not, because we have never before in history seen expansionary tendencies in the European theatre that could have been thwarted by a strong alliance of surrounding states? One seems to recall a conflagration a little over 70 years ago that followed this pattern of failure. The U.S. needs to start throwing some chairs around inside NATO meetings. It may get the desired results, but knowing the unseriousness of most member states, it may not. But without a tantrum, the freeloading will go on forever. Heather Hackman of the Hackman Consulting Group apparently is a big deal in educational circles concerned with denouncing white privilege. School districts all over the country spend big bucks sending teachers and administrators for indoctrination into White Privilege Theory. The St. Paul public schools, for instance, have spent millions of dollars on this mission. Blake Neff of the Daily Caller News Foundation has been attending the 17th Annual White Privilege Conference in Philadelphia, where Hackman enunciated a set of ideas that sound suspiciously close to white supremacy, and which made explicit the notion that teachers in government schools are now expected to be political indoctrinators more than teachers of any useful knowledge and skills. A professional education consultant and teacher trainer argued at the White Privilege Conference (WPC) in Philadelphia that great teachers must also be liberal activists, and described in detail her goal for destroying the white supremacist nature of modern education. (snip) On Friday, Hackman was given a platform at WPC to deliver a workshop with the lengthy title No Freedom Unless We Call Out the Wizard Behind The Curtain: Critically Addressing the Corrosive Effects of Whiteness in Teacher Education and Professional Development. The long title masked a simple thesis on Hackmans part: Modern education is hopelessly tainted by white supremacy and the white imperial gaze, and the solution is to train prospective teachers in college to be activists as well as pedagogues. In fact, Hackman argued teachers shouldnt even bother teaching if they arent committed to promoting social justice in school. Translation: Sign on the far left ideology or get out! Remember that this woman receives larges sums of money from educational administrators, who do the hiring. And grant tenure. Hackman went on the outline an explicitly racist policy that at it base contends that black people are not capable of, and should not be asked to master the same essential skills and knowledge as white poeple. [V]irtually everything associated with being a good student in modern education is actually just a tool of racist white supremacy. The racial narrative of White tends to be like this: Rugged individual, honest, hard-working, disciplined, rigorous, successful, she said. And so then, the narrative of U.S. public education: Individual assessments, competition, outcome over process (I care more about your grades than how youre doing), discipline where we care more about your attendance and making sure youre not tardy than we care about your relationships proper English must be spoken (which is just assimilation into standard U.S. dialect), hierarchical power structure, and heavy goal orientation. While the traits listed may simply be regarded as positive traits for success in the modern world, Hackman described them as specific cultural traits chosen and emphasized to favor whites to the detriment of non-white groups, who are forced to assimilate white traits such as good discipline and goal orientation or else be left behind. Hackmans natural solution, then, is to train teachers to move away from all these aspects of white privilege in education. She routinely touted the benefits of collective assessments (measuring student learning at the class level instead of determining whether each student knows the material), as well as eliminating all school grades entirely. East and Southeast Asia are full of students who believe that mastering the skills of showing up on time, staying to the end of the task, testing well on skills of math and written and verbal expression (including in English!), are not matters of white supremacy but rather of getting ahead in a competitive world that cares about results more than theory. Hackman had better get to work on a theory of Asian Privilege. Hackman would deny black students access to these skills. And she is openly and deeply committed to subverting the possibility of them acquiring them from other teachers who do not share her delusions. ...Hackman acknowledged in the current white supremacist system, there is some expectation that teachers will know conventional English and possess other basic knowledge. As a result, she admitted modern activist teachers should try to learn those things sufficiently to get a job, but only for the purpose of infiltrating schools to change them from within. My long game was, get you in, get you tenured, get you in that system and change that system, she said. Spot the racist. Hat tip: Clarice Feldman About a month ago, Kevin Williamson at National Review wrote an incindiary article attacking Donald Trump and his supporters. While the title of Williamson's article currently reads, "Chaos in the Family, Chaos in the State: The White Working Classs Dysfunction," the URL gives you the actual title: "Donald Trump & White Working Class Dysfunction: Real Opportunity Needed, Not Trump." Strong words, and the vitriol increases as you move into and through the main text. But there appear to be some problems in Williamson's analyses, such as the following claim about the state of American manufacturing: On the trade front, American manufacturing continues to expand and thrive an absolute economic fact that is, perversely, unknown to the great majority of Americans, who believe precisely the opposite to be the case. Well, it appears that "the great majority of Americans" are correct. American manufacturing is most certainly not thriving. The share of the American economy from manufacturing has declined steadily since the early 1950s. Back then, it was 28% of GDP. By 1980, that was down to 20%. In 2000, it hit just 15%. Since 2009, a new low of 12% has been the steady-state. Perhaps the argument for the thriving of American manufacturing is founded on the belief that even though the share of the U.S. economy from manufacturing continues to decline, since the economy itself has been growing, the manufacturing sector's absolute size in real terms may still be increasing. Nope. There has been no significant increase in the value of the manufacturing sector since 2000. It was growing up until that point, albeit at an ever-slowing pace since 1960, and then it stopped. There have been a couple oscillations over the past 15 years, but no overall net growth whatsoever. There are other problems in Williamson's article, such as the following characterization of where Trump's support is coming from, which is the most quoted and controversial part of the piece: [I]t perpetuates a lie: that the white working class that finds itself attracted to Trump has been victimized by outside forces[.] ... If you spend time in hardscrabble, white upstate New York, or eastern Kentucky, or my own native West Texas, and you take an honest look at the welfare dependency, the drug and alcohol addiction, the family anarchy which is to say, the whelping of human children with all the respect and wisdom of a stray dog you will come to an awful realization. It wasn't Beijing. It wasn't even Washington, as bad as Washington can be. It wasn't immigrants from Mexico, excessive and problematic as our current immigration levels are. It wasn't any of that. So Trump's support is driven dominantly by welfare-dependent drug- and alcohol-addicted white working-class trash in West Texas? Leaving aside all the polls conducted around the nation during the past couple months that repeatedly show Trump generally winning all income classes from the poor through to the wealthy, the voting data out of West Texas doesn't even support these wild claims. Ted Cruz, not Trump, clearly won West Texas as he did essentially all of Texas. Sure, Trump won two counties in West Texas (Terrell and Hudspeth) with just 41% of the vote, but he also won Sabine on the far eastern border of the state with 43%, Aransas on the Gulf Coast with 39%, and Webb and Zapata counties on the southern border with 35% and 40%, respectively. Now troll around the county-level results across the state, and it becomes clear that there is no pattern to the popular vote for Trump, which in itself debunks the theory. If Trump's national appeal, with him overwhelmingly winning the vast majority of states around the country and a much larger share of the total vote than any of his opponents, was due to West Texan-type crackheads, then why didn't he win West Texas? And why is his average share of the West Texas vote probably somewhere in the low to mid-30s much lower than his national polling averages, which are in the low 40s? So the narrative collapses, as do all superficial generalizations. This is much like the narratives that free trade and large-scale immigration lead to high rates of economic growth narratives that the conservative establishment has peddled for several decades and which have entirely failed to materialize. In his continuing quest to close the Guantanamo prison before the end of his term, President Obama has transferred nine more prisoners from Cuba to Saudi Arabia. The transfers leave 80 prisoners in the facility. Reuters: The United States on Saturday transferred nine Yemeni men to Saudi Arabia from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, including an inmate who had been on a hunger strike since 2007, under a long-sought diplomatic deal between Washington and Riyadh, U.S. officials said. The transfer, which took place just days before President Barack Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia for a summit of Gulf Arab allies, marked the latest step in his final push to close the controversial detention center at the U.S. naval base in Cuba before he leaves office in January 2017. The Saudis agreed, after lengthy negotiations that at one point involved Obama and Saudi King Salman, to take the nine Yemenis for resettlement and put them through a government-run rehabilitation program that seeks to reintegrate militants into society, the officials said. The group announced by the Pentagon was the largest shipped out of the Guantanamo Bay prison since Obama rolled out his plan in February aimed at shutting the facility. But he faces stiff opposition from many Republican lawmakers as well as some fellow Democrats. There are now 80 prisoners at Guantanamo, most held without charge or trial for more than a decade, drawing international condemnation. The most prominent of the transfers was Tariq Ba Odah, a 37-year-old Yemeni whom the military had been force-feeding daily since he went on a hunger strike in 2007. His legal team said he was down to 74 pounds, losing about half of his body weight. Ba Odah's lawyer, Omar Farah, said the U.S. government had "played Russian roulette" with his client's life and that his transfer "ends one of the most appalling chapters in Guantanamo's sordid history." His case was a source of legal wrangling between the U.S. Department of Justice and his lawyers, who had unsuccessfully sought his release on humanitarian and medical grounds, and also created divisions within the Obama administration. Irony of ironies, Bernie Sanders has championed climate change for his entire campaign, saying he will do more to address the issue than any other candidate. But an analysis of his energy policies at Foreign Policy magazine shows that if implemented, Sanders' plans would increase emissions substantially, contributing to an increase in global warming. His call to ban fracking and to phase out nuclear power, in particular, could throw U.S. progress on climate change into reverse. Wouldnt those proposals drive the country back to coal and oil, and actually undermine your fight against global warming? Errol Louis, one of the debate moderators, asked Sanders during Thursdays debate in Brooklyn, New York. No, they wouldnt, Sanders shot back. He called for a massive increase in the use of renewable energy, especially solar power, and said that if the United States took the climate threat as seriously as it did the Nazis in World War II, the country could in a few years radically transform its entire energy system. Energy analysts, if not Sanders supporters, view askance his proposals that could undermine the twin pillars of the progress that the United States has made. Fracking for natural gas has helped utilities mothball dirty coal plants. And nuclear power provides 20 percent of U.S. electricity and all of it is emissions free. Both energy sources would be targeted by Sanders, yet very hard to replace. There is a basic reality here, which is that nuclear energy is the single-largest source of zero-emissions electricity in the United States, Josh Freed, vice president of clean energy at Third Way, a centrist think tank, told Foreign Policy. If you care about climate change, that should be a very significant influence on your policy. Third Way crunched the numbers and found that getting rid of nuclear power means U.S. carbon emissions would go up dramatically, and in the worst-case scenario, could wipe out a decades worth of progress and return U.S. carbon emissions to levels last seen in 2005. Thats because retired nuclear plants would almost always be replaced by natural gas or coal. Freed said that when the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant was shuttered in 2014, the electricity shortfall was largely made up by burning more coal. So Sanders wants to spend "massive" amounts on "renewable" energy? Where have we heard that before? Candidate Obama in 2008 promised that 15% of US electrical output would come from solar, wind, and other renewable sources by 2020. To accomplish that, he spent $150 billion the last 5 years on loans and grants to green companies. Not "massive" enough for Bernie, I guess. Obama will fall dramatically short of that 15% goal, as solar's flaws as a way to generate electricity continue to impede its use on an industrial scale. Huge subsidies are necessary for these solar powered electrial generating plants to operate. That's not going to change in the near future. Sanders believes, like many liberals, in "vending machine science" where you put your money in and out comes whatever you desire. We can invest 10 times as much in solar power as we are spending today and still not make solar more efficient and cheaper than fossil fuels. And Bernie should recalibrate his positions on climate change and energy. Fifty-five years ago, my parents and lots of other Cubans woke up to "la invasion," or the invasion that most of us expected and were ready for. There were groups in Cuba who had been fighting Castro, from sabotage to confronting the regime block by block. This is about The Bay of Pigs, an event that most people have forgotten unless you're a Cuban of my parents' generation or someone like them who was impacted by it. The plans for the invasion were passed on to new president Kennedy by the outgoing Eisenhower administration. The men who invaded Cuba were primarily refugees trained by the CIA in Nicaragua. They adopted the name of Brigade 2506 in honor of a member killed accidentally during training exercises. The veterans of the brigade have a museum in Miami, a reminder to the young about the men who were willing to fight and remove communism from the island. The politically correct explanation is that the invasion failed because Cubans did not rise up against Castro. Actually, it failed because the total plan was never carried out, and the men were left stranded, as Michael Sullivan wrote: The invasion force, with four supply ships, landed at dawn, with a strength of 1,400 men. Initially things looked promising, American planes struck at Cuban air force bases and destroyed Cuban planes on the ground. However, the tide quickly turned on the insurgents. President Kennedy, anxious to cover up America's role, inexplicably called off all American air support, leaving the rebels stranded on the beach. Cuban army and militia units, organized by Castro himself, swarmed the invasion site to block the rebels from gaining the interior of the island. The Cuban Air Force rallied to strafe the landing site and the supply ships moored in the bay. One ship sank and the remaining three barely made it out to sea. Without resupply or air support, the men of 2506 Assault Brigade managed to hold out for two days, until nearly all were either killed or captured by pro-Castro forces. When the smoke cleared, 114 died and 1,189 languished in Cuban prisons. There they remained for 22 months, until the Kennedy administration paid more than $50 million in food, medicine and cash for their release. The accusations flew around Washington, as well as Havana, in the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs and an administration struggled to retain its credibility. It was a bad day, and many Cubans were thrown in jail after that. It was a worse day for the credibility of the Kennedy administration. He was confronted by Mr. Khrushchev in Vienna and challenged in Southeast Asia. He left Vienna a very frustrated man after being pushed around by the Soviet leader, as Frederick Kempe wrote: As he drove away from the Soviet embassy with Secretary of State Dean Rusk in his black limo, Kennedy banged the flat of his hand against the shelf beneath the rear window. Rusk had been shocked that Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev had used the word "war" during their acrimonious exchange about Berlin's future, a term diplomats invariably replaced with any number of less alarming synonyms. Despite all the president's pre-summit briefings, Rusk felt Kennedy had been unprepared for Khrushchev's brutality. The extent of Vienna Summit's failure would not be as easy to measure as the Bay of Pigs fiasco six weeks earlier. There would be no dead, CIA-supported exile combatants in a misbegotten landing area, who had risked their lives on the expectation that Kennedy and the United States would not abandon them. However, the consequences could have be even bloodier. A little more than two months after Vienna, the Soviet would oversee the construction of the Berlin Wall. That, in turn, would be followed in October 1962 by the Cuban Missile Crisis. Already in Vienna Kennedy was distraught that Khrushchev, assuming that he was weak and indecisive, might engage in the sort of "miscalculation" that could lead to the threat of nuclear war. He didn't know then that his prediction would become prophesy. Over the years, I have personally spoken to many of the veterans of Brigade 2506. Like my parents, they started their new lives in the U.S., and many served in the U.S. military. Every one of them tells me the mission would have succeeded if the plan had been carried out. The lesson of The Bay of Pigs is simple. Presidential weakness, and confusion, has consequences way beyond the event in question. God bless the men of Brigade 2506. They are heroes in my book. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. L'Arbre du Tenere, known in English as the Tree of Tenere, was a solitary acacia that was once considered the most isolated tree on Earth the only one for over 400 kilometers. Standing there in the Sahara Desert, it had once been part of a lush and populated forest, but as fortunes changed and other trees disappeared, it stood alone in a barren desert as an isolated landmark for caravan routes through the Tenere region of the Sahara in northeast Niger for hundreds of years. The tree was so well known that it and the Arbre Perdu or 'Lost Tree' to the north are the only trees to be shown on a map at a scale of 1:4,000,000. The tree survived hundreds of years of desertification, until one day in 1973, a drunk truck driver struck it down. The Tenere region was not always a desert. During the prehistoric Carboniferous period it was a sea floor and later a tropical forest. Dinosaur roamed the region and it was once the hunting ground of a crocodile-like reptile nicknamed the SuperCroc. Tenere was inhabited by modern humans as long ago as the Paleolithic period some 60,000 years ago. They hunted wild animals and left evidence of their presence in the form of stone tools. During the Neolithic period about 10,000 years ago, ancient hunters created rock engravings and paintings that can still be found across the region. But gradually, climate change reduced the area to a desert as the trees perished. The Tenere region became inhospitable with little vegetation and an average annual rainfall of only 2.5 cm. Water ended up being scarce even underground. By sometime around the early 20th century, a small group of the thorned, yellow-flowered acacias were all that remained of the trees of the Tenere. Over time, all but one died, leaving it as the only surviving tree in a 400 kilometer radius. When Commander of the Allied Military Mission, Michel Lesourd, saw the tree in 1939, he wrote: One must see the Tree to believe its existence. What is its secret? How can it still be living in spite of the multitudes of camels which trample at its sides. How at each azalai does not a lost camel eat its leaves and thorns? Why don't the numerous Touareg leading the salt caravans cut its branches to make fires to brew their tea? The only answer is that the tree is taboo and considered as such by the caravaniers. There is a kind of superstition, a tribal order which is always respected. Each year the azalai gather round the Tree before facing the crossing of the Tenere. The Acacia has become a living lighthouse; it is the first or the last landmark for the azalai leaving Agadez for Bilma, or returning. After the tree was struck down, the dead tree was moved to the Niger National Museum in the capital Niamey. It has since been replaced by a simple metal sculpture representing the tree. Tree of Tenere in 1939 Tree of Tenere in 1967 Tree of Tenere in 1970 Tree of Tenere in 1973 after it was hit Tree of Tenere in Government issued stamp in 1974 Tree of Tenere today Tree of Tenere National Museum in Niamey, Niger Sources: 1, 2, 3 Although Samsungs Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are still very much new devices, having just launched not too much more than a month ago, they are by no means Samsungs only major devices for the year. Alongside the popular and longstanding Galaxy S lineup is Samsungs Galaxy Note series, and this year is poised to bring the Galaxy Note 6 to consumers. Early rumors for the device pointed to a potential 6GB of RAM and a 12MP rear-facing camera, likely dual pixel setup) all the way back in February before the unveiling of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge devices. Today, a leaked screenshot from CPU-Z rumored to be taken on the Galaxy Note 6 lists off various details about the device. Among them is the rumored 6GB of RAM that was mentioned a couple of months ago, but the screenshot is also more telling, revealing other potential specifications alongside the phones memory. The Galaxy Note 6 according to the leak shows it will be powered by Samsungs own in-house Exynos 8890 processor that is also powering the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in some variants outside the U.S. The display size is also listed in the screenshot at 5.77-inches, pointing to a 5.8-inch display when the phone launches later on this year. Advertisement Much like on the two latest Galaxy S devices and last years Galaxy Note 5, the Galaxy Note 6 will allegedly come with a Quad HD display as the pixel count listed for the screen in this leak shows 1440 x 2560, and its detailed to be coming with 32GB of onboard storage. Although it isnt listed in the screenshot, its also likely that the Galaxy Note 6 will have expandable storage just like the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge as there would be no reason for Samsung to leave it out now that they have reintroduced it to their flagship device. Screen density will supposedly be 480 dpi and although not shown, the Galaxy Note 6 should be running Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Samsungs latest version of the TouchWiz UI layered on top. Also not pictured are a rumored IP68 certification and a 3700mAh battery for the device. Lastly, the model number for the Galaxy Note 6 is suggested to numerous variations of SM-N930F, which is listed at the top of the screenshot. Before we begin, can we stop referring to Wisconsin as Midwestern nice? Thats all weve heard since Ted Cruz beat Donald Trump there: Wisconsinites are just so nice, they couldnt abide Trumps rough style. Does anyone remember the whole taking over the capitol thing? How they nearly recalled a sitting governor a few years ago? Remember the protesters fighting with cops, rounds of arrests in the rotunda, the drum circles and chanting? How about the midnight raids on citizens for supporting the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill? Wisconsin is a lot of things, but nice is not one of them. Soviet is more like it. It was always a bad state for Trump because there are virtually no immigrants in Wisconsin, and peevish Wisconsinites refused to believe the rest of the country about the cultural mores were bringing in. (Like slavery! NBC, San Diego, April 9, 2016: Feds Rescue Trafficking Victim Locked in San Diego Home.) Another misconception sweeping the nation is that when state Republican parties disregard the voters and give all their delegates to Cruz, they are merely following THE RULES, and Trump is an idiot for not knowing THE RULES. Thats what the Colorado GOP did, what the Tennessee and Louisiana parties are trying to do and what many other states may do, all under the careful tutelage of Tracy Flick Cruz. I keep asking someone to send me a copy of THE RULES that direct state parties to ignore the voters and pick their own slate of delegates, but no one can cite such a rule. So I read through The Rules of the Republican Party myself and guess what? Theres no rule instructing state parties to ignore the voters! To the contrary, the rules were recently rewritten so that delegate selection would reflect the results of statewide presidential preference elections, according to a statement by Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus. (The nerds will tell us, thats legislative history, not THE RULES.) Apparently, what people mean by THE RULES is that there is no RNC rule specifically prohibiting a state party from giving all the delegates to a single nominee, even if that is demonstrably at odds with the will of the voters. The state parties are given a lot of discretion, so Cruz harasses and cajoles the local party until it awards all the states delegates to him. Trump keeps winning elections, and Cruz keeps winning sneaky procedural victories. Until Cruz won a primary in mean-as-a-snake Wisconsin, he hadnt won a single primary i.e., an election outside of his home state, a sister state and a state where Trump didnt campaign. In fact, until cantankerous Wisconsin, the only primary where Cruz managed to surpass 34 percent of the vote was his home state of Texas where he got 43.8 percent. (Contrary to lies you read in The New York Times, Trump has not complained about any of those races. And you know why? Because they were elections, not corrupt backroom maneuvering. Hey does anyone know if the general election is won by influence-peddling with tiny groups of insiders or is it by winning elections?) Its as if Cruz and Trump are playing different sports: Trump keeps belting home runs, while Cruz is berating the umpire until he calls a balk, then prances to home base, telling everyone he hit a grand slam. True, theres no rule explicitly disallowing a state party from rigging the delegate selection. Theres also no rule explicitly disallowing a state party from giving all its delegates to Kim Kardashian. By that logic, THE RULES also say that a majority of Supreme Court justices can discover a right to abortion, gay marriage or free unicorn rides in the Constitution. Theres nothing stopping them, because, as a procedural matter, they get the last word. Those are THE RULES. (And THE RULES have been known for centuries!) But thats very different from saying, See, here it is in black and white: the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Theres no way to appeal a Supreme Court ruling, just as theres no way to prohibit a state party from doing whatever it wants. But I wouldnt go around boasting, Its THE RULES! No, you found a procedural loophole. A blog post attacking Trump-supporter Larry Lindsey claimed it was Lindseys own damn fault that he wasnt allowed to participate in the Colorado convention last weekend. Remember, this comes from a post defending what the state GOP did: Early on in the saga, Lindsey wrote, This year, I decided that as important as this election is to the future of our nation, that I needed to be involved in the Colorado Caucus. I attended the Douglas County Assembly, and then the County Caucus and was elected as a delegate. OK, hold up right there. Lindsey would have had to first attend a precinct caucus before a county assembly AHA! Weve got you, Larry! Please get a life. Exactly how many assemblies and caucuses was Larry required to attend? Do you need to read more to know what a weaselly nerd Cruz is? Cruz is Tracy Flick in Election. He believes he deserves to win, God chose him to win and if he starts to lose, well, then hell cheat. Victory goes to the pushy. Dear Lord Jesus, I do not often speak with you and ask for things, but now,I really must insist that you help me win the election tomorrow because I deserve it and Donald Trump doesnt, as you well know. Imagine what nightmare a Cruz presidency would be! This is now the second time Cruz has forced me to research something his supporters were lying about the last time was on Cruzs alleged eligibility to be president, despite being born in Canada. (Hes not a natural born citizen, but I enjoyed reading all those Supreme Court opinions!) Instead of fun stuff like building a wall, bringing manufacturing home and getting tired of winning so much, well have to keep reading through centuries of British common law and RNC rulebooks until, out of exhaustion, we give in, and let Cruz run for student council president. COPYRIGHT 2016 ANN COULTER DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. BarcelonaOfficially the wheels began spinning last Tuesday when Josep Rius president Puigdemonts chief of staff emailed Jorge Moragas Mariano Rajoys right-hand man with a view to setting up a meeting between both presidents. The idea gained momentum, so much so that this newspaper has learned that the meeting will be held next Wednesday at 17.30 in Moncloa (Rajoys official residence in Madrid). This will be the very first meeting between the president of Catalonia and Spains PM since July 30, 2014 when then-president Artur Mas met Rajoy to discuss a list of twenty-three demands unrelated to the independence process which have not been addressed yet. Both teams are already working on the meetings agenda. Puigdemont and Rajoy met briefly three weeks ago at a memorial service for the victims of the Germanwings plane crash in 2015. Sources within the Catalan government claim that they are approaching the meeting without vetoes. In a way, circumstances in Spain have made it necessary for the meeting to take place this coming week: the following week will be taken up by a round of talks between King Felipe and Spains political leaders, in an attempt to avert fresh elections. We should be able to discuss anything, noted someone in Puigdemonts team and they gave assurances that the Catalan president will agree to Rajoys agenda for the meeting. Government sources indicated that they wont talk just about the independence process and they believe that Rajoy might bring up Mas 23 demands. The Catalan side has suggested an agenda that revolves around four issues: relations between Catalonia and Spain, securing social rights, abiding by the Catalan Statute (i.e. the need to protect Catalonias devolved powers) and taking the Catalan independence process out of court. In other words, a demand for the Spanish government to drop all legal action against members of the Catalan government, following the non-binding vote on November 9, 2014. Feeding Tube Records offered some swag at its exhibition of Claude Pelieus Bosch-derived collages. We made buttons as giveaways, Byron Coley says, and we featured a urine-colored cocktail called Norman Mailers Pocket. You can be sure that Pelieu is somewhere in Bosch heaven enjoying the joke. The little yellow buttons said, je pisse dans la poche de norman mailer. Because that is exactly what he did. When I first heard the piss-pocket story a long time ago, I nearly fell off my chair laughing. The tale went like this: Pelieu was standing in line behind Mailer at a booze-filled party. Both of them were tanked and waiting to take a piss. But the wait was so long that Claude got fed up. He simply unzipped his pants and relieved himself in Mailers jacket pocket without Mailer knowing. Now Claude and I had collaborated on a little magazine once upon a time in San Francisco and spent many drunken evenings together, so I knew he was entirely capable of what the story described especially if he was drunk. But its also the kind of tale he would have been happy to flog just for the hell of it. And there are several variations to the tale, which made it suspect. For example, his obit in Liberation, the French magazine, set the story at Andy Warhols Factory and quoted him directly: A New York, il frequente la Factory dAndy Warhol: Jy ai rencontre tous les gros calibres du pop-art avec qui jai vachement bosse. Je me rappelle les soirees avec Tennessee Williams, John Cage, Truman Capote. Et je me souviens dun jour ou jetais vraiment bourre et ou jai pisse dans la poche de Norman Mailer. But on page 363 of Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan the story is set at the Dakota: Claude worked in collage, wrote poetry, and translated the Beat writers into French. He gained a measure of notoriety in New York after he pissed in Norman Mailers pocket at a party in the Dakota. Laki Vazakas cited Miles telling the story of when Claude took a piss in Norman Mailers pocket at Panna Gradys party. And Gary Cummiskey elaborated: An often-repeated story about Pelieus antics concerns his drunkenly pissing in Norman Mailers pocket at a party, and thereafter Mailer made a point of putting his hands in his pockets whenever he saw Pelieu approaching. (Nice tail to the tale but frankly, I think Mailer would more likely have pasted Claude with a headbutt if he ever saw him again.) So I asked Pamela Beach Plymell to straighten me out. Shes in charge of Claudes estate (because Claude left it to his wife Mary Beach, her late mother). Pam is excellent at keeping track of things. She was also at the party. The story is true, she tells me, but the details are even funnier. Mailer and Claude were standing in front of a door in Panna Gradys apartment at the Dakota waiting for whoever was inside to come out, Pam says. Both were very drunk. The wait was so long because it turned out try topping this they were standing in front of a broom closet. For a look at some of Pelieus collages from a previous exhibition, get a load of this eyeful: The Claude and Mary Show. This blogpost has been crossposted at IT: International Times, The Newspaper of Resistance. They arrived with the pontiff from Lesbos. They join the two families already living inside the Vatican. Pope alights first from the plane bringing him back to Rome to shake hands with each of them. The reception and the maintenance of three families will be borne by the Vatican. The initial hospitality - said Father Lombardi - will be guaranteed by the Community of Sant'Egidio. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis has brought three more Syrian refugee families home to the Vatican. They are all Muslims and include six minors. The pontiff brought them to Rome from Lesbos refugee camp, where yesterday he went on a pastoral and ecumenical visit to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and the Archbishop of Athens Hieronymus. They are three families: one of five, another of four and finally a three member family. Their names were chosen by the Community of Sant'Egidio who along with the Waldensian Church in Italy are involved in marinating humanitarian corridors, among the thousands of people housed in the refugee camp of Kara Tepe in Militene (Lesbos). The twelve will be hosted at first just by the Community. When the plane arrived in Rome, the Pope waited for the Syrians to alight and then shook hands with each of them (see photo). The move was made after negotiations between the Holy See, Italy and Greece. The costs of housing the families will be covered by the Vatican. All members of the three families are Muslim. Two families come from Damascus, one from Deir Azzor (the area occupied by Daesh, the self-styled Islamic State). Their houses were bombed. Dispute over benefits of foreign law firms in Singapore The scheme which allows foreign law firms to operate in Singapore has been criticised for not creating enough benefits to locally-qualified lawyers. The managing partner of Morgan Lewis Stamford, Mrs Lee Suet Fern, spoke at a Law Society lecture and questioned why the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice scheme had led to the hire of only about 100 out of thousands of Singapore-qualified lawyers. According to theindependent.sg Mrs Lee, the sister-in-law of the Singaporean prime minister, said that foreign law firms had taken work away from local firms. The Law Ministry has rebutted the claims though and says that the QFLP scheme has helped the city state become a regional law centre with many of the foreign firms doing work that would otherwise have been done elsewhere. That work gave new experience to Singaporean lawyers working with those firms. The Ministry (MinLaw) also claimed that Mrs Lee has previously applied for a QFLP licence and sought an exception for the firm when advised that the application was outside of the specific application period. Failure for alternative business structures says law chief The aim of the UKs Solicitors Regulatory Authority to create professional services firms offering legal and accountancy services has not worked as planned. Paul Philip, CEO of the authority told the Law Society Risk and Compliance Conference that the alternative business structures introduced 5 years ago have failed to deliver on some of their objectives including allowing solicitors to offer legal services outside of law firms. Regulations have meant that while 450 alternative business structures are offering multiple services including accountancy and legal, solicitors have been unable to take advantage of this until a recent relaxation of a key SRA rule. Making a Murderer lawyers to tour Australia The lawyers who have become famous for their appearance in online documentary series Making a Murderer are to tour Australia. The show focuses on the case of Steven Avery, jailed for murder in Wisconsin in 2007 having spent 18 years in jail after being wrongly accused of rape. The Netflix docuseries has become a big hit and lawyers Dean Strang and Jerry Buting will be holding Q&A sessions in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne in November. Tickets go on sale this Tuesday. As we reported on Friday , Toyota and Nissan had to idle production at two plants, but the natural disaster affected other carmakers and suppliers as well.This time, Mitsubishi's Mizushima factory was idled, and an important supplier called Renesas Electronics Corporation had to stop production as well.Mitsubishi's plant will not be operational on Sunday, and it will function at half-output on Monday, while production will be suspended entirely on Tuesday.After the company analyzes the effects of the quake on its facility and regains contact with its suppliers, it will return to regular output. However, returning to full production will be an issue for more automakers, as the Renesas' Kawashiri plant, located in Kumamoto, was also affected.This company manufactures microcontrollers for the automotive industry, and they export the units to regions outside Japan. Because of this situation, other automakers might suffer delays and drops in production in the coming weeks.When asked about the gravity of the situation by Automotive News, a spokesperson from Renesas did not provide details regarding the affected customers, or how the output would be changed in percentages.After-effects of the earthquake have prevented workers from entering the facility to assess the damage. Without this critical information, which is expected to be obtained in the coming days, the factory's managers have not been able to provide an answer to the pressing issue.Since Renesas manufactures microchips and microcontrollers, it has a special clean room. The latter is fragile and contains toxic materials, which must be approached and handled with care. Furthermore, every person who comes into contact with the room must wear protective clothing.The procedure described is standard for manufacturers of sensitive electronic equipment, as any speck of dust on the smallest component could cause the microchips to fail in time, especially if they get embedded into units.Other suppliers, like Aisin Seiki Corporation, have halted operations. One of its facilities provides parts for the Toyota Group, while its second plant manufactures die-cast engine components for several brands. The mentioned suppliers are in the Kumamoto city, located in the Kyushu quake zone. XIO Group, a London-based buyout firm, has signed the papers to acquire J.D. Power for $1.1 billion. The company has major ties to Chinese investors, as it also has offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and has $5 billion under management.As Automotive News notes, the J.D. Power deal marks another iconic American brand acquired by Chinese investors. Once the acquisition is approved by regulators, the deal is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of this year.The new owners will not disrupt the activities of the American brand, and the representatives of J.D. Power have announced plans to increase their insights across a broader spectrum of consumer interaction.In other words, J.D. Power will focus on more areas of global industry with its famous customer satisfaction and initial quality surveys. The release mentions focusing on the digital, connected and mobile society, so the tech industry might be the next big thing to be under the spotlight for J.D. Power's researchers.Considering the billions involved in this industry, and the flops which hit even major players, it will be interesting to follow J.D. Power's future surveys on the matter. After all, if one can use the reputable studies to select a new car, there is no reason not to use the same company's research when picking your next laptop.As someone who has acquired a laptop and discovered that its keyboard was a major disappointment, I would have appreciated a trusted source to inform me of this issue beforehand.J.D. Power is considered an iconic brand for its history and unbiased research. The company was started in 1968 by J.D. Power and his wife, Julie. At first, it was a business operated out of the owner's home, but it eventually became an important industry player, which now has 12 global offices.According to Automotive News, the company employs 700 analysts, statisticians, consultants, and other experts on a global scale. The automotive industry is not its sole focus, as it measures a broad range of industries, from hotel loyalty programs and cable companies to credit cards, all in the name of customer satisfaction. Environmental groups have filed suit (PDF) against the EPA to try and force the agency to set emissions limits for all aircraft. The suit was filed by Earthjustice (on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity) and Friends of the Earth on Thursday, saying the EPA has delayed unreasonably coming up with rules for aircraft pollution. The EPA has dawdled for almost a decade, even as airplane emissions are on track to spiral out of control, said Vera Pardee, a senior attorney with the Centers Climate Law Institute, in a statement. However, the suit might be somewhat redundant since the issue is already being addressed at the global level. In February, the International Civil Aviation organization proposed carbon limits for commercial aircraft that would take effect on new aircraft produced after 2020 and on existing models still in production after 2023. Any aircraft that dont meet the emissions caps would end production by 2028. Details of the standards still havent been released but since the U.S. is a charter member of ICAO its expected to adopt the new rules. The EPA says its also working on the issue and expects to issue an endangerment finding on the effects of aircraft emissions later this year. Such a declaration is a fundamental step in the process to establish limits on the emissions. 17 April 2016 09:59 (UTC+04:00) Armenia's disrespect to decisions and resolutions of the international organizations in connection with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict shows that the country is far from the civilized world, Hikmet Hajiyev, the spokesperson of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said in connection with the statement of Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan about the decision taken unanimously at the level of heads of state and government of the member countries of the OIC at the XIII Summit of the organization in Istanbul. He noted that this omment of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, which is far from diplomatic etiquette, firstly should be assessed as disrespect to the member countries of the OIC. "OIC member countries, on the basis of norms and principles of international law and the UN Charter, have a unambiguous and fair position on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. This position has found its categorical reflection respectively in the 16th and 17th paragraphs of the communique accepted unanimously at the level of heads of state and government of the member countries of the OIC at the XIII Summit of the organization in Istanbul", Hajiyev said. Foreign Ministry's spokesperson said that the position of the member countries of the OIC regarding the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, requires Armenia's execution of UN Security Council resolutions number 822, 853, 874 and 884 and complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and other surrounding regions of Azerbaijan. "Also in the final communique member countries categorically condemn Armenia's successive attacks in the occupied territories, which lead to damage of the civilian population, social and economic infrastructure, as well as other objects", he added. He also added that according to the decision taken at the summit of the OIC the Contact Group on aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan at the level of foreign ministers was established. Hajiyev said that the next Armenian provocation on the night of April 2 on the contact line of troops, which led to the death and injury of civilians, the country's disrespect to decisions and resolutions of the international organizations in connection with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict show that Armenia is far from the civilized world and Yerevan's regime poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability. "There is a need for serious and effective steps of the international community to put an end to Armenia's lawlessness and impunity", Hajiyev stressed. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 17 April 2016 10:30 (UTC+04:00) The draft agreement of oil-producing countries, which is expected to be signed on April 17 in Doha, involves "freezing" of production until October at the level of January 2016, Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijani energy minister, told TASS. "The draft agreement is small. It sounds as follows: the countries, gathered in Doha, came to the conclusion that with an eye to bring the price of oil in order, they agreed to keep production until October at the level of January 2016", the minister said. Aliyev also said, that Azerbaijan is set to sign an agreement to freeze oil output along with other participants in the meeting. He said, that an agreement in Doha to freeze oil output will be "gentlemen-like" as the draft stipulates no control mechanisms. "The agreement is gentlemen-like as the countries realize that the maintained norms of output will suit the joint interests. It does not envisage any control mechanisms and each country should observe its implementation," Aliyev said. "There is no need in a supervisory body," he said. "No proposals have come since it will have no influence on the countries". The minister also said, that the oil price will be climbing up slowly and consistently to $50 per barrel by the end of 2016 after big oil producer countries seal a deal in Doha. "The higher is the price the better," Aliyev said. "But we expect that it will be slowly and gradually increasing towards $50 per barrel by the year's end. The next year we will be satisfied with the price of $60 per barrel". -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 17 April 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has given instructions regarding the development of hydrocarbon resources in the country's Caspian Sea shelf, read a message from Turkmenistan's government. This issue was discussed during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Yagshygeldi Kakaev was tasked to take measures for attracting foreign investments in this sphere. The resources of Turkmenistan's offshore fields are estimated at 12 billion tons of oil and 6.5 trillion cubic meters of gas excluding the contracted blocks. Currently, Petronas, Dragon Oil, Buried Hill, RWE Dea AG, Itera and Eni have been involved in developing the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea. Turkmenistan's Oil and Gas Ministry earlier said that Turkmenoil state concern will start to implement the plans for developing the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3.0 ( - - ): editor [at] bahrainmirror.com Related Info Oilfield to farm There are three oilfield-to-farm projects in Kern County. Cawelo Water District has been taking about 24,000 acre feet of recycled oilfield water from Chevron and California Resource Corporation since the late 1980s. It pays about $30 per acre foot for that water. The North Kern Water Storage District received its permit late last year from the Regional Water Quality Control Board to take up to 21,000 acre feet a year of produced water from California Resource Corporation. The district expects to receive only about 9,600 acre feet this year because low oil prices have stymied production, according to North Kern General Manager Dick Diamond. Cost to North Kern is about $83 an acre foot. Farmers in the Kern-Tulare Water District have taken about 200 acre feet a year of water produced from wells owned by the Hathaway Oil Company for the past 30 years, according to Kern-Tulare General Manager Steve Dalke. Owner Chad Hathaway is hoping to increase that to about 2,000 acre feet a year, Dalke said. The district is also in talks with other oil producers in the Mount Poso area and may take up to 3,000 acre feet a year from those producers, bringing the total to 5,000 acre feet a year. Kern-Tulare doesnt have a permit for those increased amounts of produced water yet and has recently completed its draft environmental documents for the project. Both Diamond and Dalke said they are closely watching the Food Safety panel process as it studies food grown in Cawelo. Yeah, were hiding behind Dave, Diamond joked. But thats OK because hes a big guy. Seventy-two veterans from Polk County and surrounding Florida counties got a chance to visit memorials erected in their honor in Washington D.C. for free this past week, thanks to a Polk County-based organization. The Polk County Veterans Council launched its second "Flight to Honor Polk Florida" mission from Lakeland Linder Airport on April 7. The veterans returned from the mission on Saturday. According to the Polk County Veterans Council website, Flight to Honor Polk Florida was established in January 2015. Any eligible veteran is welcome to apply for a Flight to Honor flight. Priority is given to those with severe medical conditions, followed by World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans. The next Flight to Honor Polk Florida mission will launch from Lakeland Linder Airport on May 19. Clamming, Crabbing and Poetry Collide at Central Oregon Coast Venue Published 04/16/2016 at 6:11 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) Poetry and the outdoors mix in an intoxicating way on the central Oregon coast in April and May, as Lincoln City's Driftwood Public Library hosts a major poet and not only lectures on crabbing and clamming but field trips as well. (Photo: Clamming in Lincoln City). On April 23, the Driftwood Public Library ends its National Poetry Month festivities with a visit from poet Patrick Ryan Frank on that Saturday. Frank will teach a poetry workshop at 10 a.m., followed by a reading at 3 p.m. Pre-registration is requested for the workshop; those who are interested should contact Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney at [email protected] to register. The reading is open to the general public and will take place in the Distad Reading Room at Driftwood Public Library. May begins the library's eleventh year of its Coastal Encounters series of lectures. Each year the library invites a group of speakers and experts to present programs on their areas of interest. These presentations share a focus on coastal living, and presenters talk on a range of subjects from local history to activities both residents and visitors can enjoy on the Oregon coast. Bill Lackner, who does regular presentations on clamming and crabbing, will visit the library on Tuesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. to speak about clamming on the Oregon coast. The clamming presentation will be followed by a trip with Bill to Siletz Bay to hunt purple varnish clams on Wednesday, May 11. Bill will return with his annual presentation on crabbing on Tuesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m., followed by a field trip to the North Shore of Siletz Bay to go crabbing on Wednesday, May 25. On Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m., Doug Bradstreet, owner of Lincoln City store Prehistoric, will talk about fossils and dinosaurs. The series will conclude on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. with a visit from Kay Myers, co-author of the perennially popular pocket guide Agates of the Oregon Coast. Myers will talk about agates and how to find and identify them. While all four programs at the library are free, those interested in taking part in the clamming or crabbing field trips must purchase a harvesters license from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. For the clamming trip, you will also need a clam bag and a clamming shovel. Shovels are available from Bill for $28 the night of the clamming lecture. For the crabbing field trip, Bill recommends the Crab Max folding crab traps, which can be purchased from local retailers or directly from him for $30 each (cash please) at the lecture. Crabbers should also bring a crab measure and a large packet of chicken legs for bait. Those taking part in either of Bills field trips should also wear layered clothing, gloves, sturdy shoes (no sandals or flip-flops), be prepared for rain with appropriate gear, and bring a five-gallon bucket. Lincoln City Hotels/Lodgings for this event - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour Driftwood Public Library: second floor of the Lincoln City Civic Center at 801 SW Highway 101. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-996-1242. More about the area below, and at the Lincoln City Virtual Tour, Map. More About Lincoln City 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 foremost issue for voters in the Assembly election is education - pushing ahead of health for the first time, a poll has shown. A 'tracker' exercise by polling firm LucidTalk revealed most people put education on top of health, which usually tends to be the main concern. It comes after the DUP dropped a strong hint it could take up the Education Ministry for the first time following the May 5 poll. Usually the party gives first preference to the Department of Finance - controlling the Stormont purse strings - but leader Arlene Foster indicated this time could be different. In the UTV leaders' debate broadcast on Wednesday she said she was "listening very carefully" to what her candidates and party activists are being told on the doorsteps. And Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt has also reiterated his party's interest in taking the education portfolio, although he admitted the UUP might "reluctantly" go into opposition. The emphasis on education is now reaffirmed in the Lucidtalk survey, which concluded: "Whether it's the thorny issue of the future of grammar schools and selection tests, tuition fees or integration, what is happening in the classroom and the lecture hall is now at the top of the agenda." The key research - commissioned by the firm Chambre Public Affairs - asked those surveyed to list their four top issues and education came first with others including the economy, the environment and abortion also featuring. Coming in just behind these are marriage equality, the environment, abortion, and infrastructure "in that order," Chambre managing director Will Chambre said. Sam Fitzsimmons, communications director of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF), said the result was not surprising. "We regularly liaise with local communities across Northern Ireland regarding education issues," he said. "Through our community engagement projects the IEF are increasingly finding that more and more people are becoming involved with education issues in their local areas. "There are also many local developments currently happening in education that are engaging people, like school merger plans." Bill White of LucidTalk added the polls are also researching political party preference, party leader ratings, EU referendum views and other issues. Debris after the teen party in south Belfast's Lagan Meadows. Picture by Rachel Martin Belfast children - some as young as 12 - were discovered partying in a field in the south of the city by police. Both the PSNI and the fire service were alerted to the incident in Lagan Meadows around 9pm on Saturday evening as up to 100 youngsters aged between 12 - 16 were discovered drinking and dancing. Some of the young revellers were discovered 'the worse for wear with drink', the police said. And the fire service had to put out some gorse fires that had broken out. The PSNI in south Belfast reminded parents to be aware of where their children at all times following the incident. In a Facebook post, Constable McCoy cautioned: "This area is very dark, has barbed wire fences, and is beside the river. "Listen I don't want to be a killjoy, but equally I don't fancy pulling someone out of the river, and I am sure you agree fire service have more important calls to attend." The Mourne mountain rescue team which helped a female hill walker with a suspected lower leg fracture to safety. Picture by MRT/MCAULEY MULTIMEDIA A female hill walker is believed to have sustained a leg fracture after getting helped off a mountain by Mourne Rescue. The adult woman got into difficulty while walking down Slieve Commedagh in Co Down on Saturday afternoon. Her friend alerted the rescue team just after 3pm who met the couple trying to make their way down the mountain. After an initial assessment, the woman was treated for a suspected lower leg fracture, packaged and stretchered to Donard Forest. She was then handed over to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for further treatment and transferred onto hospital. A total of 14 members responded and the team stood down at 6.10pm. The team are a voluntary organisation who relies predominantly on donations from the public. Donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/mournemrt. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has urged the British and Irish governments to directly intervene in the Stormont power-sharing executive. Furthermore, he has called for an overhaul in the North-South bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement. Speaking at his party's annual commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising, Mr Martin attacked the DUP/Sinn Fein-led adminstration for wreaking "immense damage" on Northern Ireland's post-peace process institutions. "We need direct engagement by both the Irish and British governments to end the stranglehold in Stormont by two parties," he said. "This is doing immense damage to public support for the institutions and public engagement in politics." Mr Martin has previously accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of pandering only to their own communities while failing to build bridges between them. Pointing out his own party's "central role" in the 1998 peace accord, Mr Martin said the Good Friday Agreement provided an opportunity to build "not just an absence of war but also lasting reconciliation and development". "This opportunity is being wasted," he said. "We need a new beginning in the concept of North-South bodies, which have an enormous potential to deliver services and sustained development on both sides of the border." The North-South bodies include Waterways Ireland, Food Safety Promotion Board, Trade and Business Development Body (known as InterTrade Ireland), Special EU Programmes Body, North/South Language Body, Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and Tourism Ireland. Two bodies have been found as Garda searched for two missing men in Galway Two bodies have been recovered in Galway this weekend, as searches got underway for two missing men. Gardai have confirmed that the body of one man was recovered from the water in the Galway docks area, not far from Galway lifeboat station, this morning after being spotted by a passerby. While the body of another man was recovered at Costello Bay yesterday morning. Post mortems are due to take place at University Hospital Galway. The identities of the men have not yet been confirmed. Two major searches were being conducted for Roscommon man Anthony Henehan (38) and soldier Ben Garrett (21), originally from Mayo. Anthony Henehan was last seen on March 10. While Private Garrett in the 1st Battalion in Galway was last seen leaving the popular Carbon nightclub on Galway's Eglington Street at around 1.45am on March 31. Families and friends of both men had been involved in extensive appeals on social media in a bid to trace them. Gardai in Galway say it will be Monday at earliest before the bodies are positively identified. Irish Independent Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose will join AC/DC for the rest of their Rock or Bust tour to replace singer Brian Johnson, the rockers have confirmed. Johnson has been warned he will suffer total hearing loss if he continues performing. AC/DC said they "understand, respect and support" Johnson's decision to bow out of the tour. In a statement posted on their website, the band said: "AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures. "As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian's decision to stop touring and save his hearing. "We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfil this commitment. "AC/DC will resume their Rock Or Bust World Tour with Axl Rose joining on vocals." The band kick off the European leg of their tour on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal, before arriving in the UK on June 4 to play The Stadium at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on June 9. The European leg will conclude in Denmark on June 12 and Rose will then return to Guns N' Roses for the Not In This Lifetime summer stadium tour. AC/DC were forced to postpone the North American leg of the tour between March 8 and April 4 because of Johnson's hearing issues. Those 10 shows will now be rescheduled with Rose, the band said. The case will be reviewed by Court of Appeal judges A woman whose son was taken from her care after she failed one in a series of drug tests is to have her case reviewed by Court of Appeal judges. The woman - who is in her thirties - has questioned the validity of a test carried out on a strand of her hair. She insists that she has stopped taking drugs and says more than 40 random tests were clear. Now a senior judge has raised concerns about the case. Lady Justice King - who sits in the Court of Appeal - says three appeal judges should reconsider the case. She gave directions after analysing the woman's case at a preliminary appeal court hearing in London. The judge said the woman had a history of drug taking, social workers were concerned about her ability to care for the youngster and wanted to be sure that she had stopped. A local family court judge in London had overseen and monitored the case. Lady Justice King said the woman had been co-operating with social services staff and the little boy, now nearly 18 months old, had been doing well in her care. The woman had been randomly drug tested more than 40 times and all results were clear, said the judge. But one test had been positive and a local judge had ruled that the little boy should go into local authority care and be placed for adoption. The woman insisted that she had stopped taking drugs and has questioned the accuracy of the test. She says a report by an independent expert backs her case. Lady Justice King said she was "very concerned" about the case and said three appeal judges should examine evidence. She said the little boy could not be identified. Gonorrhoea bacteria - the highly drug-resistant strain of the sexually transmitted superbug is at risk of becoming untreatable, experts believe A highly drug-resistant type of "super-gonorrhoea" is spreading across the country, with senior medics warning it may become untreatable. A powerful strain of the sexually transmitted superbug first seen in the north of England has now been found in the West Midlands and the South East, Public Health England (PHE) said. The strain is "highly resistant" to the antibiotic azithromycin, meaning medics are relying on a second drug, ceftriaxone, to treat it. But there are no other effective drugs to tackle it, raising the prospect of it becoming untreatable if it builds further resistance. PHE urged people to use condoms with new or casual partners to cut the risk of catching the disease. If untreated, gonorrhoea can result in severe complications and lead to infertility or septicaemia in rare cases. Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of PHE's Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) section, said: "Fortunately, the current outbreak strain can still be treated with ceftriaxone. "Nonetheless, we know that the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea can rapidly develop resistance to other antibiotics that are used for treatment, so we cannot afford to be complacent. "If strains of gonorrhoea emerge that are resistant to both azithromycin and ceftriaxone treatment options would be limited as there is currently no new antibiotic available to treat the infection." PHE said on Sunday there had been 34 confirmed cases since November 2014. Since September 2015, 11 cases have been confirmed in the West Midlands and in the South of England, five of them in London. At least 16 cases were first detected in northern England, including 12 in Leeds where the mutated strand was first recorded, Public Health England (PHE) said in September. The strain, which is resistant to first-line antibiotic azithromycin, spread from Leeds to patients in Macclesfield, Oldham and Scunthorpe. Cases have been found in heterosexual men and women, and men who sleep with men (MSMs), PHE said. The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV issued an alert to clinicians urging them to follow up cases of high-level drug-resistant gonorrhoea and trace their sexual partners. Its president, Dr Elizabeth Carlin, told the BBC: "The spread of high-level azithromycin-resistant gonorrhoea is a huge concern and it is essential that every effort is made to contain further spread. "Failure to respond appropriately will jeopardise our ability to treat gonorrhoea effectively and will lead to poorer health outcomes for individuals and society as a whole." There were almost 35,000 cases of gonorrhoea reported in England in 2014 and it is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK after chlamydia, with the majority of cases affecting people under the age of 25. Infected patients may experience discharge or pain while urinating, but around 10% of men and almost half of women do not suffer any symptoms. Concerns have been growing over ''untreatable'' strains of gonorrhoea, and in 2012, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned that drug-resistant forms of the STI were spreading across Europe. Update 11.42pm: The fire at an ESB substation in Bluebell has now been extinguished, Dublin Fire Brigade has confirmed. Update 10.04pm: The ESB say they have now made safe the 220 voltage substation on Jamestown Road in Inchicore aftter it caught fire this evening. The blaze is understood to have started just after 7.30pm this evening - when a transformer caught fire. Along with @ESBNetworks crews we remain on scene at the #Bluebell sub station #fire. Foam in use at present #Dublin pic.twitter.com/YXn3L4kilq Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) April 17, 2016 Update 9.23pm: Gardai have advised residents living near the fire at the ESB substation in Bluebell to keep windows and doors shut and remain indoors. Members of the public are advised to avoid the fumes emanating from this fire. A safety cordon has been put in place. Units from Tallaght, Dolphins Barn and HQ are at a sub station fire on Bluebell Ave. @ESBNetworks on way to scene pic.twitter.com/cB1dOQVsU4 Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) April 17, 2016 Earlier: Thousands of ESB customers were without power for a time this evening as emergency services deal with a large blaze in South Dublin. Dublin Fire Brigade say six units are battling the fire at a 220 voltage substation on Jamestown Rd in Inchicore. As a result 15,000 homes and businesses in the area are currently without power. We have a cordon in place & awaiting confirmation frm @ESBNetworks that power is off before firefighting takes place pic.twitter.com/HKQ52dkVBE Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) April 17, 2016 ESB crews have been dispatched and an ESB spokesperson said that the power is being restored. Detectives investigating the paramilitary-style murder of a man in Northern Ireland have arrested a suspect. The 34-year-old man is being quizzed about the shooting of taxi driver and father-of-four Michael McGibbon in north Belfast over the weekend. The victim, 33, was shot several times in the leg in an alleyway on Friday night in the predominantly nationalist and republican Ardoyne area. His wife Joanne, a nurse, tried to save him before he was taken to the city's Royal Victoria Hospital where he later died after undergoing surgery. Detective Superintendent John McVea confirmed the suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder. "He will be questioned at Musgrave police station in Belfast," he added. Two young men dressed in hoodies and baseball caps called at Mr McGibbon's house in the Crumlin Road area, close to where he was shot, the night before he was attacked and demanded he come out to meet them. But he refused to do so and reported the incident to police the next morning. Investigators said it was too early to say if Mr McGibbon went to the alleyway later that day by appointment for a beating. He was blasted three times in the leg at Butler Place shortly after 10pm on Friday. Mr McVea said the killing had all the hallmarks of a paramilitary-style murder that "robbed a family of a treasured husband and father". He added that the victim had no criminal convictions and "no apparent criminal connections or associations". The elder of the men who went to his house was described by detectives as aged in his early twenties with a slim build and wearing a red hoodie, a baseball cap and a scarf over his face. The second was described as in his late teens, wearing a grey hoodie, a baseball cap and a scarf over his face. Mr McVea said: "I am also aware that other people in the area may also have been visited in a similar manner in recent days and I am asking for these people to make contact with police." Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This callous and shocking murder appears to have the hallmarks of the paramilitary-style assaults which too often ruin lives and scar Northern Ireland. My sympathy is with Mr McGibbon's young family." Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said the killing has shocked the local community in north Belfast. "This is the second such killing carried out in this area in the last six months by an armed gang which is clearly at war with the local community," he added. Nichola Mallon, SDLP councillor for the area, said the community had been left "reeling". "North Belfast has shouldered this kind of savagery in the past. There can be no justification for it. It was wrong then and it is wrong today," she said. Nuala McAllister, Alliance Party councillor for North Belfast, said: "Our entire community must unite against those who seek to drag us back to the bloody days of the past." Update 10.12pm: Gardai have confirmed that one of two bodies recovered from the sea in Co Galway this weekend is that of missing Private Ben Garrett. The 21-year-old's body was taken from the water at Galway Docks this morning. Tournament host Sergio Garcia was one of 15 players separated by just five shots as the Spanish Open headed for a thrilling finish at Valderrama on Sunday. Garcia began the final round six shots off the lead held by France's Michael Lorenzo-Vera, but took advantage of the calm, overcast conditions to birdie the third, fourth and eighth to reach the turn in 32. And when the world number 16 also holed from 18 feet for another birdie on the 12th, he was just two behind leaders Andrew Johnston and Joost Luiten on a course where he won the Andalucia Masters in 2011. With Lorenzo-Vera quickly dropping down the leaderboard with three bogeys in the first four holes, two-time major winner Martin Kaymer briefly enjoyed a two-shot lead when he holed from five feet for a birdie on the third. However, playing partner Luiten then birdied the fourth and fifth to get on level terms before Kaymer bogeyed the seventh after a wild drive meant he had to chip out sideways from the trees. Johnston had dropped a shot on the first but then picked up shots on the seventh and eighth to join Luiten at the top of the leaderboard, with Kaymer and halfway leader Pablo Larrazabal a shot behind. Larrazabal had followed birdies on the first two holes with a bogey on the third, but then holed out from a greenside bunker on the seventh to reignite his bid to win his national Open for the first time. Update 5:11pm: At least 233 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake hit Ecuador. The magnitude 7.8 quake struck yesterday evening and was felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa Has declared a state of emergency and has called on his country to be "calm and united". Update1.45pm: The Ecuadorian Government is sending almost 15,000 troops and police to the northwest of the country to assist in earthquake relief efforts there. At least 77 people have been killed and almost 600 injured in the powerful quake. Hundreds of medical staff are travelling to the affected region, and two field hospitals have been set up. The country is in a state of emergency and hundreds of rescue workers are coming in from Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico. The country's president, who was abroad when the quake hit, is now returning to Ecuador. A massive brawl appears to have broken out at a makeshift migrant camp in Paris. Video footage shows hundreds of people attacking each other with metal bars, planks of wood and other debris near a metro station. It is thought migrants and "anti-crime protesters" clashed on Thursday night, around 9pm, before police arrived to disperse them. It is reported that at least four people have been seriously injured in the incident. Police told local media that the brawl subsided only after gas canisters were fired by police and further incidents occurred later that evening around 11.30pm. Around 1,000 migrants from Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan have set up camp in Paris after the demolition of the Calais Jungle camp. TOKYO: Japan intervened in the foreign exchange market on Friday to buy yen for the second time in a month after the... TEHRAN: Iran has once again rejected allegations that it has supplied Russia with weapons "to be used in the war in... Air New Zealand's failed attempt to oust Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti could have the ironic result of the airline boss receiving a payout of around $8 million if Singapore Airlines makes a successful takeover bid. Air New Zealand last month said it would look to sell all or part of its 25.9 per cent stake in Virgin after the decision by the Kiwi carrier's boss, Christopher Luxon, to resign from the board. Virgin boss John Borghetti could reap around $8 million if a takeover were successful. Credit:Daniel Munoz Mr Luxon did so after failing to receive support to replace Mr Borghetti from other directors, including chairman Elizabeth Bryan and representatives of Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group. Singapore Airlines is viewed by aviation industry experts as the most likely party to make a full takeover offer for Virgin given its long-standing strategic interest in the Australian market, its strong balance sheet and desire to ensure a Chinese rival doesn't join the Virgin register. The great Australian property crash of 2016 has come a little early for those who parked their cash in John McGrath's real estate IPO, McGrath Ltd. The real estate groupies who walked into McGrath's front door with $130 million cash in December, probably should have noted the fact that Mr McGrath was walking out the back door with roughly $37.4 million of that cash. Never mind, he still owned more than 36 million shares worth more than $75 million at the $2.10 IPO price, right? After Monday's crash, the shares plunged as low as 85c after the profit downgrade, McGrath's shares in McGrath had shed $49 million in value in less than four months. And to think the company founder sniffed out a bargain last month, snatching up another 317,000 shares at $1.35 each. So, to prepare myself for Monday's special sitting of Parliament, I went to the circus over the weekend. (Actually, friends with a wry sense of humour bought me a ticket.) "Democracy" said satirist H. L. Mencken "is the art and science of running the circus cage". The multi-trick ponies, camels, alpacas, a buffalo and a Macaw did their routines on cue with a precision and timing that the whips of the major parties could only dream of. But it was the bare-chested young Vladimir Putin lookalikes and exquisite ballerina performers who most wowed the crowd with their near death-defying trapeze and high-wire routines. The circus metaphor for Monday's events in Canberra is both obvious and obtuse. It's obvious because Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's out of the blue decision to prorogue parliament and call MPs and senators back for a special sitting is a risky political high-wire act of the first order. Not only did Turnbull blindside his political opponents and the Canberra press gallery, he surprised and delighted supporters with the sort of hither-to absent bold decisiveness that defined his extraordinary success in the corporate world. Turnbull to use his own catchwords was being both innovative and agile by pulling out the prorogation tightrope. But maybe there is a less obvious politics/circus metaphor at play here as well. Parliaments are generally (almost always) prorogued to signify the end of the previous parliament; to usher in the newly elected government, reinvigorated with a fresh agenda. Written when Noel Coward was just 24 and already the talk of London's West End, Hay Fever is a masterful exercise in flippancy. As such, it is one of Coward's lighter pieces. The playwright admitted as much himself. But Hay Fever is far from frothy. It speaks of the anxieties of its age: class, of course, and certainly sex. It also reflects a society intrigued by the erosion of Victorian manners and the rise of a new smart set unencumbered by old rules. It's tempting to imagine some in the 1925 audience would have found it as train-wreck titillating as Geordie Shore. In that, perhaps, lies some of Hay Fever's enduring appeal. Coward's set up is farcical, with each member of the determinedly bohemian Bliss family inviting a guest to their rambling Berkshire home for the weekend. None has seen fit to inform anyone else of the arrangements. Judith Bliss, a retired but far from retiring actress (played by Heather Mitchell) has brought a besotted young sportsman Sandy (Josh McConville) down from London. Judith's novelist husband David (Tony Llewellyn-Jones), meanwhile, has invited the clueless-seeming Jackie (Briallen Clarke) to the house for "research purposes". Daughter Sorel (Harriet Dyer) has invited an older man, the "diplomatist" Richard (Alan Dukes) to stay, while sibling Simon (Tom Conroy), currently affecting an unwashed artist persona, is expecting the vampy Myra (Helen Thomson). Over three acts, we observe each guest fall victim to the Bliss's haphazard hospitality and ardent self-regard. On one level, Hay Fever is a skimpily plotted situation comedy. Play it as such and there are easy laughs to be had. But glittering shallows will only sustain interest for so long. To make the play really sing, the uneasy laughter has to be found, too, and Imara Savage's handsome production for the Sydney Theatre Company, locates much of that buried material. It will find the rest as the cast relaxes and allows more of the underlying tensions and awkwardness to the surface. THEATRE ROMEO AND JULIET Bell Shakespeare Company Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre, until May 1 With its turbulent youth and pesky old folks, its brawls and parties and earworm lines, Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare's populism at its most brilliant. Peter Evans' effective version is old-fashioned and meta-theatrical, and looks as if we were peering through a wormhole at an evening at a Victorian Shakespeare production. The rich, lovely costumes by Anna Cordingly are 16th century, while her set design puts a 19th-century theatre on stage: a proscenium arch overlooked by an embossed and curved balcony. Alex Williams and Kelly Paterniti in Bell Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Credit:Daniel Boud It's an apt frame for a story that begins, humorously, with its hero playing at lovesickness and ends with its heroine disastrously playing dead, but the conceit doesn't overshadow the action. In the earlier, lighter parts of the play, Evans' own populism tends to the obvious in its boisterousness, resorting a bit too often to hip-thrusting and naughty glances. But as the machinery of fate begins to grind the change in mood is managed well. He said few in his experience have asked more questions on more complex subject matters than Brown. "Tara is a friend. She is a colleague. She is a mother. She is a brilliant journalist. She has asked those questions over and over again. She has consistently broken stories, and forensically exposed wrong doing in society all around the world. She has religiously and without favour fought for the truth." In recent years, he says, Brown's stories for 60 Minutes have highlighted the plight of female soldiers in Syria, exposed the hypocrisy of Cardinal George Pell, and followed notorious paedophile Peter Scully into the most dangerous parts of the Philippines to help bring him to justice. "Tara won a Walkley for that story," he says. "But in my opinion Tara's most incredible story of recent years involved the four daughters of an Italian father and Australian mother, who were sent home to Italy. You might remember at the time all of the public sympathy was with the Australian mother as she used the protection of anonymity afforded by the Family Court to convince an entire country she was being wronged," he said. "It took Tara's tenacious investigative journalism to expose the mother, grandmother and great grandmother for the people they were, and show all of Australia that in fact the Italian father was in the right, and should have custody of his children. It was a complex story that Tara was determined to tell, and in doing so she revealed the truth of the matter." The Turnbull government faces a divided crossbench as it prepares to present its building construction commission bill to Monday's special sitting of parliament, the crunch period that will determine whether Australians are sent to the polls early in July. Senators Glenn Lazarus, Bob Day and David Leyonhjelm have given markedly different assessments of the chances of success for the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill when asked on Sunday. While Senator Day said he would support the bill and he believes it will pass, Senator Lazarus has hardened his opposition to the re-establishment of the construction watchdog - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's likely trigger for a double dissolution election if the bill is voted down. Sitting at his desk at work, Oliver Shawyer would get so anxious he thought he was having a heart attack. "I'd get uncontrollable perspiration, an increased heart rate and then horrible chest pain," the 30-year-old Sydney advertising executive said. "The only way I could deal with it at the time was by inflicting pain to distract my mind. To stop myself from crying, I would just dig my fingers right into my legs". Mr Shawyer is one of up to 2 million Australians who have anxiety, the most common mental health condition in the country. This article was first published in The Sydney Morning Herald on May 8, 1945 LONDON, April 7: Unconditional surrender of all German fighting forces at noon today was ordered by the new German Fuhrer, Admiral Doenitz, and conveyed to the German people over Flensburg Radio by the new German Foreign Minister, Count Schwerin von Krosigk, who declared: "After almost six years of struggle we have succumbed to the overwhelming power of our enemies." The surrender document was signed early this morning in a schoolhouse at Reims (France), headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander in the West, General Eisenhower, according to the correspondent of Associated Press of America. Bushwalkers on one of Australia's most famous tracks have been exposed to "significant risk" from a nearby firing range for decades, according to documents released under freedom-of-information laws. Documents show the recent controversial closure of a section of the Great North Walk came after NSW Police were presented with a decades-old study that found bushwalkers were at "unacceptable" risk from bullets fired at the nearby Hornsby Rifle Range. Police also discovered that the safety the range's "danger area" exceeded its boundaries and impinged on adjacent National Parkland. Alan Miller says some locals are defying the ban. Credit:Sarah Keayes That 1995 assessment was apparently lost in a bureaucratic void; police say it was not presented to them when they assumed authority for approving ranges from the defence department three years later. "It was assumed this [firing] range met the required standards," NSW Police firing range inspector Dick Oakley writes in internal letters obtained by the Greens. The mayor of Oberon, Kathy Sajowitz, said Sydney barrister, and former Liberal MP, Peter King had offered to act for Walcha and associated rural councils. "As a result legal costs for Oberon to join will be minimal," she said. Oberon, which is part of Mr Toole's seat of Bathurst is challenging its proposed merger with Bathurst. Two other small councils Walcha and Carbonne are also part of the challenge, which is expected to run in the Land and Environment Court. The rebellion over forced council amalgamations has spread to the bush, including to Minister for Local Government Paul Toole's own seat, after several small rural councils banded together to go to court to block their mergers. "Given the reticence of our local member being the Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole, to either speak to council or visit Oberon to discuss why he thinks a merger with Bathurst Regional Council would have any benefit for Oberon, we feel we are left with few options. The concerns of the Oberon community are neither being heard nor acknowledged, to be treated with such distain by our elected representatives is demeaning," she said. NSW Premier Mike Baird, centre, Deputy Premier Troy Grant, left, and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole announcing proposals late last year. Credit:Dallas Kilponen Former mayor Marge Armstrong said the two councils had little in common and there was 47 kilometres between the two towns, with little in between. She said Oberon residents were strongly in favour of standing alone, particularly as Bathurst had significant debt levels. A spokesman for Mr Toole said that, to date, he had not received any formal notification of legal action from these councils. Meanwhile Ku-ring-gai Council was in the Supreme Court on Friday, asking for the report by the delegate of the Boundaries Commission, on its merger with Hornsby to be released publicly along with a crucial KPMG report which is being used by the NSW government to justify the savings from the 35 merger proposals. A family is begging for answers after a Sydney man was assaulted and left to die in the stairwell of a unit block seven years ago. Hugo Fifi, 48, was found dead inside a Wentworthville unit block on April 18, 2009. Unsolved: death of Hugo Fifi. "Hugo was a loving son, a husband, a brother, an uncle and a great friend to many," the family said in a statement. "There is not a day that goes by that we do not think, 'Why did this happen to Hugo? What could we have done differently so this did not happen?'" Commuters will be able to use credit and debit cards to tap on and off Sydney's trains, buses and ferries if a trial next year is successful. Transport Minister Andrew Constance will announce the government's commitment to the trial on Monday when he opens its Future Transport summit in Sydney. Mr Constance said a "contactless payment" with credit and debit cards would give commuters another "easy to use and convenient" option for using the public transport system. The actress plans to contest three charges of breaching the Australian quarantine act, setting the scene for perhaps the highest profile case in Southport Magistrates Court history. The 52-year-old has accompanied his 29-year-old wife Amber Heard - perhaps the country's most infamous alleged quarantine criminal - back to the scene of her alleged biosecurity crimes. Johnny Depp, Hollywood superstar and arch nemesis of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, is back on Australian soil. Depp and Heard were aboard a private Gulf Stream V that touched down at Coolangatta Airport following a nine hour flight from Honolulu, just before 9am Sunday. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are reportedly on the Gold Coast for Heard's high profile case. Credit:7 News Queensland Though there are yet to be any confirmed sightings of the glamorous couple, it is the only private jet scheduled to arrive at the Gold Coast airport on Sunday. Ms Heard, who will celebrate her 30th birthday on Friday, faces three charges stemming from the alleged illegal importation of her two Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, into the country last May. The Commonwealth alleges she hid the pampered pooches and falsified her arrival card to conceal their presence from customs officers, when she returned to Australia by private jet with her husband. Well, the celebrity juggernaut has departed Southport courthouse but not before Johnny Depp and Amber Heard had to fight their way through a massive crowd of mostly his fans by the sounds of it. There seemed a lot of relief in the very tight hug the couple shared after Ms Heard's sentence was imposed, perhaps not so much for the outcome but more they can put the whole saga behind them. No doubt there will be a private Gulf Stream V leaving Coolangatta Airport imminently this afternoon. That's it for our blog and if you haven't already, please go and watch the couple's public service announcement video that was played in court. You probably thought I was exaggerating when I described it as awful earlier, right? Well, I hate to say I told you so but seriously, watching that, you cannot deny Amber Heard has been punished. Shattered friends of a young woman who died in hospital after she was found unconscious in her Windsor apartment have described her as a "vibrant, infectious personality" who made everyone feel like her best friend. Melanie Floyd, 28, succumbed to severe head injuries in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Saturday, after her family made the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support. Her death came four days after her 24-year-old boyfriend called emergency services to her home, saying he woke up to find her unconscious on her bed. The man has since refused to co-operate with police, who are now treating the case as a murder investigation. Police investigating the suspected murder of Brisbane woman Melanie Floyd say they are keeping an open mind as to how she suffered her fatal head injuries, as her boyfriend continues to maintain his silence. Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Mulcahy has urged any members of the public with information about the 28-year-old's final days to come forward, saying it could hold the key to solving the crime. The hospitality worker was found unconscious in her Windsor apartment about 1.30pm on Wednesday, after her 24-year-old boyfriend called emergency services for help. He told police he woke to find her in that state but has subsequently refused to co-operate with the investigation. A Queensland police officer accused of raping and choking a woman he met on a dating website has been released on bail. The 23-year-old male constable appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with two counts of rape and one count of assault. A police officer has been charged with two counts of rape and count of assault. Credit:Tom Threadingham The court heard the pair met after first making contact on the dating website Plenty of Fish last week. It's alleged the officer from the Northern Police Region sexually assaulted the woman before grabbing her by the throat. A dangerous police pursuit ended after more than two and a half hours early Sunday morning. A 24-year-old Munruben man has been charged with a raft of driving offences include dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. A 21-year-old was also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle following the chase that went through Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich and ended near Peak Crossing. It will be alleged the car was stolen on February 25 at Sunnybank Hills and the police attempted to pull them over for that reason on Saturday night. A police chase ended after suspects led police through three cities Credit:Queensland Police The police helicopter started tracking the suspected stolen car at 10.45pm and those on-board allegedly observed the vehicle driving wildly through south-east Queensland. The car was allegedly seen driving at high speeds, through red lights and on the wrong side of major streets and motorways. Roads spikes were deployed in the Yamanto area about 12.50am and successfully deflated the vehicles tyres, but the drivers kept travelling on the rims. About 1.15am police vehicles were able to stop the car. Hobart envisaged a classic flat shoe handmade out of soft leather which she could produce in a variety of colours. She started Hobes with $13,000 in savings, using the cash to pay for stock and getting a website designed. Annie Abbott created Habbot to address a gap in the market between cheap, mass-produced shoes and high-end designer shoes. Credit:Andrew Wuttke "I made 100 shoes in my first run and I thought, 'if no one else wants these I have my footwear needs covered for a while'," she says. That first order sold out within three weeks and Hobart knew she was on to something. She worked out of her home and did the sales and public relations herself, down to packing all the orders. The turning point for Annie Abbott's business came when she opened a pop-up shop. Credit:Armelle Habib "I remember saying, 'I will check with the warehouse department', and 'I will check with accounts', but it was just me for the first year and it was a slog," she says. "I said to myself at the time, 'if I can earn this back and then make enough money for me to survive I will keep going. If I can't, nothing ventured, nothing gained, then I don't have to keep doing it.'" Hobart kept her costs down by selling only online and focusing on building a recognisable brand. We have so much choice now that people have seen it all so they have wised up to what really good quality is through design. Annie Abbott "I know if I did go into it with financial pressure then my key goal wouldn't have been to put the brand first; it would have been about the bottom line," she says. "As a brand control freak it scared me to go to retailers and I also didn't build a wholesale margin into the product," she says. "[Hobes are] basically like a sock with a sole on it. They will fit any foot so it's an easy online buy." Hobart says her business picked up when she started to receive online orders from overseas, particularly from New York. "I was getting a lot of orders, I hadn't actively sought press but we just started getting press," she says. "It was very natural and organic." Hobart moved to New York last year and returns to Australia every three months with more than half her sales generated outside Australia. "Brand Australia is having a pretty incredible moment in the fashion industry and arts and culture and hospitality," she says. "In New York you could be selling Australian toilet paper and people would buy it. There is certainly an appeal for Australian brands in the United States particularly in fashion and lifestyle. Hobes epitomises Australian culture as it is very laid-back and beachy." Quality that is accessible and interesting Like Hobart, Annie Abbott couldn't find the type of shoe that she wanted to wear. Abbott was working as a footwear buyer and her regular travel in Europe led her to spot a gap in the market in Australia. "I thought we had great mainstream and sufficient luxury brands but not so much in between," she says. "I wanted to introduce something that was really good quality but still accessible and interesting." That something was Habbot, a fledgling business which Abbott self-funded with $150,000 to buy stock and establish a website. "We placed orders we didn't really have homes for so we definitely took a risk there," Abbott says. "Even though my manufacturers are small and boutique they still have minimums." Abbott started Habbot with a wholesale model with a small amount of retail sales through the business' website, but found it "very challenging" to introduce a new brand at a premium price point to the wholesale market. "I got to a point where I thought I needed to touch the consumer directly through retail or let it go," she says. Abbott secured a site for a six-week pop-up shop which was a turning point for the business. She had discovered bricks and mortar retail stores were needed in addition to online and Habbot now sells from two stores in Melbourne and turns over in excess of $1 million. "The nature of the products, because of the materials we use, they come up much better in real life than they do online," she says. "The two work really well together." Abbott says retailing in Australia is tough with lots of discounting. Funding the Koala Hospital Koala Mattress is another Australian start-up doing social good. Dany Milham, co-founder of Koala Mattress, has a background in social enterprise. "We launched in late November," says Dany Milham, one of the company's founders. "My background is in setting up social enterprises." While starting the company, the founders looked at what causes to back and settled on the koala. "It just worked so well with our branding. It went hand in hand." When someone buys a mattress, they get a certificate of adoption from the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie and that goes towards 12 months of food and care for a sick koala. It covers the koala's rehab process and release back into the wild. Milham says the Australian-made mattress is "very breathable" and ideal for hot summers. We think it's about building a sustainable business that is able to raise the profile of some really important causes Australians care about, like the Great Barrier Reef. James Grugeon People who order a mattress in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane can get it within four hours. Milham says Koala Mattress is growing month by month. "We are on track to make $12 million in 12 months." The mattress is available all over the country. Koala Mattress is now setting its sights on international markets, including China and Japan. "But we don't want to bite off more than we can chew." Milham says, as the company grows, it is looking at other native animals it can help in Australia. The good beer movement The Good Beer Co's Grugeon says the business plans to partner with at least five craft beer companies for future ventures. "We are looking to have a range of five different beers and, over a period of three years, we will raise at least $100,000 for each one of those five causes. "We think it's about building a sustainable business that is able to raise the profile of some really important causes Australians care about, like the Great Barrier Reef. But also raise a good, long-term sustainable income stream for our cause partners." Grugeon, who has a background in corporate social responsibility, aims to build what he calls the "good beer movement". His company is building a database of people who are interested in investing in his new products. Key to the strategy is compelling and interactive digital marketing and social media, plus offline events like the Sounds Good beer and music festival. "We're looking, in our first year, for at least $500,000 worth of beer sales. Now we may exceed that, and we haven't actually finalised the plan for this financial year at this stage because we are just bringing on board our second beer," Grugeon says. Doing good by doing business Steven Bowman, managing director of Conscious Governance, says the notion of social ventures or social enterprises has been developed by people who want to do good by doing business, or do business by doing good. "These are not mutually exclusive. Corporate social responsibility as a philosophy has given way to a more visceral understanding that we are all connected, and if we wish to do great business and create a difference in the world, then we need to create this as part of our business." A heritage building in Lonsdale Street in need of a massive overhaul instead will be demolished and replaced with a 34-level office tower. The Princess Mary Club, which is next to the Wesley Church, was built in 1926. The Princess Mary Club building in Lonsdale Street will be demolished. Credit:Luis Ascui It provided accommodation in the city for young women who would otherwise be unable to receive a tertiary education. The Uniting Church website said it continued in this role until about 1970. That's it for Melbourne Express today. Remember to check in for our live blog coverage of the war on terriers (that line was there for the taking) when actor Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard front court today over alleged quarantine breaches. Handing over now to Melbourne Express Facebook page and www.theage.com.au for breaking news. Before we go, a lovely photograph from Joe Armao from this morning of the sunrise over Flinders Street. Taiwan angered Beijing on Saturday by freeing 20 suspects in a telecom fraud case linked to China that has put more pressure on the sensitive relationship between the two countries. Malaysia had deported the 20 people, who were part of a group of 53 Taiwanese arrested there in March on suspicion of fraud, according to the Taipei foreign ministry. In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese suspects involved in wire fraud are escorted off a plane upon arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Wednesday. Credit:Yin Gang Taiwan's executive yuan spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said there was no legal reason to detain them. "The evidence is not with us. It is with China," he said, noting that Taipei has been talking to Chinese counterparts on the matter so investigations can begin on the self-ruled island. The neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "She was a lovely lady, very friendly and I knew her quite well. "She was quite well-known because she worked at a primary school and what has happened is just unbelievable. Katie was lovely too, but very quiet." Several bunches of flowers and a teddy bear had been placed on the front lawn of the house by friends of the family, as forensic experts continued to examine the inside of the house. Ms Edwards' partner, Graham Green, wrote on Facebook: "My babe has gone but you will always [be] in my heart forever and ever and ever. The lady meant the world to me she was my rock. Katie so young lots of good times in front of us been taken away r.i.p." Ms Edwards' eldest daughter Mary said: "I love you both so. Still in shock, can't believe they're gone. I love them so much. I need my mum." Her ex-partner, Peter Edwards, who is the father of Katie and her two sisters, said: "The loved ones around us will keep us strong every step of the way." A message left by a teenage friend of Katie described her as being "like a sister" and Ms Edwards as a second mother. One note from neighbours left at the scene read: "In the blink of an eye we never got to say good bye, like a shooting star flying across the room so fast so far, you were taken to soon, and though we may feel empty our hearts know what to do." Police officers could be seen guarding the front of the house and a forensics van was parked outside on Friday. A broken window which stood at the front of the semi-detached property has been removed. Neighbours said Ms Edwards worked at a nearby primary school as a lunch lady and lived at the house with her two daughters. It is believed she also has a third grown up daughter. Devon Baxter, 18, who has known the family for most of her life, said: "I used to talk to the mum because she was a lunch lady at my old school. She was a very nice lady and I have never seen her do anything wrong. "As far as I know she has always lived at the house on her own with the two girls. "One of the girls went to a local comprehensive school and the other girl was a bit younger. Ms Baxter added: "I knew both girls really well, it is such a shock. "A few years ago the local PCSO came down and asked if we would be junior wardens for the day. Katie and her older sister both did it with me. "The PCSO brought down some speed cameras for traffic calming and it was all about respecting your neighbourhood. "Both Katie and her older sister were really quiet, they never went out on the streets or hung around with their friends." Detective Chief Inspector Martin Holvey, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said post-mortem examinations had not yet taken place to determine the cause of their deaths. He added: "I still need to speak to anyone with any information that might be relevant from around noon on Wednesday April 13 to noon on Friday April 15. Gelato, smoothies, pizza and more: Check out the newest in Bucks' eats These new Bucks County dining spots are serving up everything from gelato, pastries and pizza to green smoothies, cold-pressed juices and acai bowls. 5 changes to you, your seafood and the Shore from warming Atlantic The warming Atlantic is beginning to cause a unique set of changes for fishermen, albeit subtly. They have to adjust to catch new kinds of sea life. A steady flow of visitors headed into Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday (April 16th) when 48 live theatre performances were held in town centre shops to promote small businesses. The unique day of shows was organised by Show of Strength theatre company with the help of Burnham-On-Sea Community Theatre Group as 12 original plays, written by people from the area, were performed in 15 shops. The 10-minute shows attracted positive feedback from the audiences of between 20-60 people at each performance around the town. Professional actors William Bateman, Corrinne Curtis, Kim Hicks, David Reakes, Lynda Rooke and Dee Sadler performed the shows, written by Richard Baum, Ian Bussell, Anita Comerford, Kim Cook, Brian Humphreys, Selina Keedwell, Jane Lee, Kim Lewis, Rebecca Stickland, Jacqui Strong and Lucy Thomas. I was really impressed this is a great for Burnham and I would like to see events like this held more often, visitor Lin Lester told Burnham-On-Sea.com. The shows were very emotive and well written. I loved the seagull-themed performance outside the Bay View Cafe where we had gulls swooping over our heads on the seafront, added visitor Georgina Ough. Traders welcomed the visitors. Ron Bashford at Truckles farm shop told Burnham-On-Sea.com: The event had no impact on our sales, but it certainly filled our shop with people and drew attention to what we offer. Several people said they didnt know we had a butcher like us in Burnham. Seafoods Ryan Mount added: It was a very different event that actually worked well for us. It raised awareness of what we offer and it was great that people stayed around to talk to us after each show. Sarah Fisher at The Pet Shop said: It was nice to see lots of extra people in the town the showings we hosted here were crammed. Profit-wise, it made no difference to our normal Saturday sales, but its nice to see different events like this being held in the town. Lyn Lawrence at Sweet Shack, another of the venues, said: Weve been busy during the shows, but theres been little increase in trade seen. It all helps, though, and its nice to see a new event increasing footfall. The events producer, Sheila Hannon, said: Its gone really well. As Ive wandered around the town Ive seen many of the shops busy with extra visitors and its been great to welcome people from as far afield as Bristol, London, Milton Keynes and Dawlish. Wed definitely like to run more events like this across Somerset and more in Burnham. The events project manager, Jacqui Strong, said: This project has brought together schools, communities and the town centre we already have plans for the next project! It was great to see people taking the time to visit and see some of the work that has been created by the talented local people of our area. The Town Council gave funding of 7,000 towards the project, and the other supporters were Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset Community Foundation, Co-Op Funeral Care, Police Community Trust Fund, Take Art and Burnham Chamber of Trade. Town Centre Manager Bev Milner Simonds said: Trading Local brought some different people into the town centre some new faces are welcome for the town. A lot of people have been doing the trail around the venues in the town centre and theres been positive feedback from traders. Its also really encouraging that Jacqui and the rest of the team have been so thorough in their evaluation Im looking forward to seeing the results of their survey. Iqbal loves nothing more than putting on a helmet and zooming away on his motorcycle. When he was looking for a job and was not sure whether he would get one within his salary requirement, he came across aasaanjobs.com. The portal not only connected him with potential employers; it also helped him combine his love and work by getting him a job as a delivery boy.Aasaanjobs, an online marketplace for entry-level jobs, provides a platform where recruiters meet job seekers. The company's advanced, two-way matchmaking algorithm scans its database to only connect candidates whose profiles and job expectations meet client requirements, says Dinesh Goel, co-founder and chief executive officer.Goel, an IIT Bombay alumnus, recalls conceiving it as early as 2013, along with Gaurav Toshniwal and Kunal Jadhav, also from IIT Bombay. They recognised two recurring problems in the job market - restricted access to a trustworthy database of candidates in the entry-level and blue-collar job segments, and a highly unorganised hiring process. Goel says this prompted them to explore creating a repository of data containing information about jobs and candidates in this segment.Founded in November 2014, Aasaanjobs is based out of Mumbai and has around 150 people. The start-up has received funding from IDG Ventures and Inventus Capital Partners. The platform has 180,000 candidates, with about 3,000 companies.Employers have to purchase credits, based on which they can shortlist and interview candidates through a digital portal. They can choose to hire employees permanently by purchasing interview credits and shortlist candidates from a list of recommended job seekers, based on needed skills. This means they only pay per valid interview, which reduces in-house spending on recruitment.Its data plan, which includes unlimited job postings with a contact unlock feature, enables recruiters to access contact details of candidates and reach them directly.Personnel agencies partnering with Aasaanjobs get special incentives to source candidates for client requirements. Candidates can upload their CV on the website free of cost and get access to relevant jobs. Goel says their model uses technology to make hiring hassle-free and job seeking an easy and convenient process - through its website, mobile app and WAP website. Aasaanjobs recently raised $5 million in a Series-A round of funding, led by Aspada Advisors, with participation from the existing investors. This was a follow-up from the seed round of $1.5 million, led by IDG Ventures and Inventus Capital, in January 2015. Over the next two years, it plans to expand to Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It is now present in Mumbai, Pune and the Delhi-National Capital Region. At the time of the funding, Kartik Srivatsa, co- founder and managing partner, Aspada Advisors, had said it would be exciting to see how the team managed to mould a workplace of the future by leveraging technology. "The unstructured nature of recruitment as a space means there is an opportunity for disruption," he had said. Future focus Using the cloud for human resource services will be its focus in the near future. While funds have been received for the purpose, experts say scaling up faster would be a challenge in a market where the unorganised workforce does not have access to the internet. "For a company like theirs, which is online, attracting offline customers is necessary. While building physical offices in smaller towns is not feasible, they need to figure out a way to reach out to this population," says a Mumbai-based angel investor dealing with skills and personnel. While there are many recruitment firms online, there is nobody catering particularly to blue-collar workers. There is also an issue of gestation period as achieving break-even takes quite a long time. However, Goel says while this is regular part of their discussions, they have accordingly structured all the allocated budgets keeping in mind the return on investment of any suggested activity or campaign. Reaching out to the blue-collar workforce faster and being able to engage them to refer friends and acquaintances would be crucial for it to reach deeper into the market. How quickly they are able to move from metros to Tier-II and III towns and generate value will be key to growth prospects. FACT BOX EXPERT TAKE Growth in the economy is influencing the buying power of consumers and a large population base has been facing a mismatch of labour requirement vs resource availability. Strong collaboration tools are needed to bring the blue-collar job seekers, as well as companies and SMEs together, to fulfil the need and requirements, largely controlled and monitored by unstructured contractors and petty vendors from small cities and villages. The major challenges for hiring these skills are the availability of resources, willingness and skills to execute the job and continuity of the employment as poaching continues due to less availability vs demand of these resources. At the same time, job seekers get exploited by contractors as they hardly know whom to approach and where for jobs. A strong authentication process of the job seekers and employment meeting the minimum payout and compliance criteria's checks will be required to increase the authenticity of the platform. The approach needs to be different, as most of these categories are still not very handy with internet-based tools and technologies. But, there is a huge potential with millions of population in this segment and it is at least 20 times bigger than the professional job market. Sunil Goel is MD GlobalHunt November 2014Platform offering entry-level, blue-collar jobs$5 million in Series-A, led by Aspada Advisors, with participation from the existing investorsSeed round of $1.5 million, led by IDG Ventures and Inventus Capital, in January 2015. .Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR The right place to build aluminium smelters is where bauxite, coal and capital are available, Vedanta Resources Chief Executive Officer Tom Albanese tells Kunal Bose. Ideally, there should also be an expanding local market for the metal. Albanese says India has it all. Edited excerpts: Your chairman, Anil Agarwal, says India has abundant natural resources and demand potential to lift annual aluminium smelting capacity to 20 mt from 4.1 mt. Is he not too optimistic, since a lot of local capacity now remains idle? The question is, will demand be there in future to support that kind of capacity build-up? For local demand of 20 mt, we have to have a very long-term perspective, pitched on multiple decades of eight per cent annual gross domestic product growth. Now, the issue is: From where will India get that big a volume of aluminium? Will it buy the white metal from China, which has around 50 per cent share of world production or will there be big enough indigenous capacity to take care of growing demand? I will say local aluminium demand growth stands to get a major boost from the Make in India programme and the renewed emphasis on infrastructure development. What gives you confidence that India could build that big a capacity? You require bauxite, cheap energy and capital to build smelters - all in large volumes. India is rich in geological endowments of coal, which, if properly harnessed, becomes a cheap source of electricity and bauxite that is refined into alumina for smelter use. What you don't have often here is social sanction to open mines and build alumina refineries and smelters. So, the challenge is to break that logjam by upholding the best practices from social and environment perspectives. India has bauxite resources of 3.5 billion tonnes (bt). But, as Vedanta itself has experienced, a reserve is identified for you by the state and then when you go to open the mine, you meet with resistance from indigenous people and non-government organisations , resulting in project abandonment. Will you agree a precondition to bringing natural resources into the production stream requires a time-consuming exercise to bring all stakeholders on the same platform? Most bauxite reserves are near the local areas and not on the local areas. So, that's no different from iron ore or copper ore reserves. The point is, you have to find social solutions to open new mines. Unfortunately, bauxite mining in the country has been politicised. What I would like to do is to break that jinx. NGOs want social and economic development of communities living around mine sites. So, you judge the miners by social programmes embracing health care and education and local infrastructure development that we fund and support. What about NGOs with a non-development agenda? Whatever they may be up to, we have to engage with all NGOs. Whether you are in India or in Belarus, you will come up against walls when you try to do a project. Aluminium smelters here are all run on coal-fired electricity. Environmentalists find burning of coal to produce the metal nature-degrading. Can you prove them wrong? India is very strong on coal with resources of around 300 bt. I would not rule out coal in any way from the country's energy space. At the same time, mining has got to be of world-class and thermal power plants will have to go on reducing their carbon footprints. Transformation has to come by way of technology induction on a continuous basis and use of best practices. A lot of power is needed to make aluminium, often described as 'frozen electricity'. We need low-cost power to be a competitive aluminium producer. For the sake of the environment, power and its use have got to be clean. How can aluminium in its present depressed state attract new capital? Let me give an example. Vedanta now has 1.3 mt of unused smelting capacity in India. To attract further new capital, we have to first start using that capacity and also make money on the investment. To give a shot to white metal demand and make fabrication cost-effective, I want to build aluminium parks around our smelters in Odisha's Jharsuguda and Chhattisgarh's Korba. My experience is that the most efficient fabricators are located next to smelters. Since the molten metal from smelters is transported to the next-door aluminium parks, fabricators are spared the big reheating cost. Should India build smelters in West Asia? In some countries, you get the right combination of low-cost power and access to capital. But, the first thing you miss there is bauxite. You also don't have any significant local market for aluminium. So, if you are a producer there, you have to bring bauxite from West Africa or somewhere else and find major export outlets. West Asia is now facing a net heavy oversupply of aluminium. Ideally, a smelter should be next to bauxite and coal mines and the market. India fits that bill. After Mumbai Central, RailTel, the telecom arm of the Indian Railways today launched high-speed public free WiFi service at Bhubaneswar railway station in partnership with . Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu accompanied by Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha, launched the WiFi service which will benefit 1.4 lakh visitors at Bhubaneswar station daily. The Minister also announced that similar service will be made available at Puri Railway Station ahead of Lord Jagannth's annual Rath Yatra in July this year. On Congress protest outside the station against the reported move to shift the proposed rail wagon repair factory from Narla in Kalahandi district, both the ministers were critical of the UPA government for having announced the project without making the requisite budget allocations for it. "We do, what we say. But, earlier, they (UPA government) announced the project without making budgetary provision. There was no mention of Narla project in the pink book. The announcement was made on political consideration," Sinha said. "We are committed to the announcements made by us. This time during budget presentation, I have placed facts before Parliament on the work done by us as regard the announcements made in the previous budget," said Prabhu during his speech here. Stressing that no factory can be made by simply making announcements without required provisions, Prabhu said "we have said 100 stations will get WiFi service this year and we will do it. We do not make false announcements". Noting that Odisha got a meagre Rs 719 crore in 2012-13 rail budget and Rs 812 crore in 2013-14, the Railway Minister said the amount for the state was substantially raised by NDA government and this year it is Rs 6,000 crore. On the proposed Narla wagon repair factory, Prabhu had yesterday announced that a joint working group will be formed to decide how to set up projects in Kalahandi and Ganjam districts, announcements for which were made by previous UPA government. The group will decide what kind of projects could come up at Narla and Sitapalli of Ganjam if wagon repair factories are not economically viable in those places. Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has directed the Deputy Registrar of Trademarks, Mumbai, to submit entire original records related to the trademarks of Rallifan to proceed with a trademarks litigation between Kolkata-based Rallifan Ltd and Bengaluru-based Mahavir Home Appliances. The Madras High Court had earlier assigned the matter to to consider it afresh, quashing the tribunal's order which removed the latters' Rally trademark, finding new facts related to the dispute. IPAB, while reconsidering the matter afresh, on March 23, 2016, directed the Deputy Registrar of Trademarks, Mumabi, seeking certain documents related to the dispute. While the official sent a report with a covering letter in the same month, enclosing certified copies of the documents, the tribunal said there is no signature of any officer in the endorsement. When the issue came up for hearing, Chairman Justice K N Basha and Technical Member Sanjeev Kumar Chaswal said the is constrained to call for further report in respect of the endorsement related to one of the trademarks and the entire original records relating to three trademarks in connection with the dispute. "It is made clear that the said report and the entire documents shall be reached before the registry of the IPAB bench on or before April 30," said Justice Basha. The dispute is in connection with the trademarks of Rallifan, and two associate trademarks. Both Rallifan and Mahavir Home Appliances have earlier filed rectification applications with the IPAB to remove the other party's trademarks, according to reports. Earlier reports suggest that the IPAB, based on these applications, issued an order removing the mark Rally from the registry, which came in favour of Rallifan. Mahavir Home Appliances filed an appeal with the Madras High Court. The division bench observed that the matter has to be re-examined in the backdrop of the new factual position emerged before the bench, as one of the basis of the order itself was found to be different from what was persuaded by the IPAB. The court ordered the tribunal to consider the matter afresh, based on this finding. Mahavir Home Appliances alleged that while Rallifan submitted to the IPAB that the associated trademarks of Rallifan were allowed to be lapsed without renewal and it is fighting only for one trademarks of Rallifan, which the tribunal has observed in its order. Meanwhile, the associated marks were renewed till 2002. It argued since there three marks, the company cannot claim rights on one mark alone, it alleged. Rallifan argued that it has earlier submitted application to cancel the two associated trademarks. It is to clarify these and other details, the tribunal has called for documents from the Deputy Registrar of Trademarks, Mumbai. Gurgaon-based mobile wallet firm expects to turn profitable by mid-2017 and plans to diversify revenue streams by offering financial products like loans and mutual funds, a senior executive said. "We are looking at diversifying our revenue streams and our first goal is to be profitable on a monthly basis by middle of 2017," founder and chief executive Bipin Preet Singh told PTI. The firm looks to expand its financial services offerings and has started entering into partnerships with banks and financial institutions for the same. is partnering with non-banking finance (NBFCs) to offer micro-lending to its users, and is also looking at launching a mutual fund portfolio going forward, he added. The company is also focussing on the offline category, and is looking to expand the merchants on board from 50,000 currently to nearly five million by next year, Singh said. Last year, MobiKwik activated mobile payments for brick-and-mortar stores such as Big Bazaar and Domino's Pizza, and claims to have over 10,000 retail stores, and restaurants that accept MobiKwik payments. On the customer acquisition front Mobikwik currently claims to have 30 million, and expects to double this to about 70 million users by 2017. Singh indicated that the company is not keen on becoming a payments bank, as of yet, and is more interested in building "strong offerings to support the ecosystem, through digitalisation." The company raised USD 25 million via Series B funding from Tree Line Asia, Cisco Investment, American Express and Sequoia Capital among its investors, last April and is currently well funded, he said. Ratan Tata-backed home rental start-up has raised $30 million in Series-C funding led by Tiger Global, Russian billionaire Yuri Milner and the Indian arm of IDG Ventures, apart from Sujeet Kumar, the former head of operations at Flipkart. The company, which is now present in four cities - Bengaluru, Delhi national capital region (NCR), Pune and Hyderabad - manages homes on the owners behalf and charges a percentage of the monthly rent generated from the house as a fee. While started off as a platform for bachelors to find affordable rental homes, it has also begun offering entire homes to families. NestAways customised strategy has demonstrated the potential to transform Indias rental housing market by leveraging a long-term view of the owner-tenant relationship. By emphasising the highest quality of customer service and satisfaction, is developing an annuity-based e-commerce model at scale, Lee Fixel, partner at Tiger Global, stated. Tiger Global, the biggest backer of Indian e-commerce companies, had invested $2.58 billion across 34 deals in the country during 2015. However, the investment in NestAway is almost as if the giant has woken from slumber after being out of action for months. It is to be seen if Tiger picks up its investment pace, or continues to be skeptical of the market. While Tiger and IDG are existing investors, Milner's fund - DST Global - is the latest backer of NestAway. DST has also invested Practo, Ola and Flipkart. While NestAway claims to have 10,000 tenants on its platform at the moment, it hasnt disclosed whether it will use the newly-raised capital to expand into more cities in India. NestAway's mission is to make city housing available and affordable at scale. This is akin to solving for good roads or water in a city that requires partners who are equally inclined to help build a fundamental social infrastructure in India. We are truly excited to see participation of our existing investors and welcome Yuri to the tribe, said Amarendra Sahu, co-founder and CEO of NestAway. Including the $30 million raised in the most recent round, NestAway has so far raised $43 million, including an undisclosed sum from the Tata Group chairman emeritus. The firm has also received funds from Flipkart and InMobi founder Naveen Tewari. Finnish communications and information technology company is going all out to showcase its Internet of Things (IoT)-based products, so it can be seen as a serious contender once the government starts the tendering process for its smart city projects. The company plans to come out with a host of solutions for smart cities such as smart metering, active waste management, smart parking and various other sensor technology-enabled products. is at present working in four non-telecom areas which includes providing various technology-based solutions for transportation (highways, railways, Metros), energy (oil and gas, mining, utilities), public sector (defence, public safety, smart government) and large enterprises. It also helps them with cloud-based initiatives. "IoT is the next big thing happening globally. We will see a lot of man-to-machine and vice-versa type of technology coming in. For us smart city is a great opportunity as every time the basic infrastructure needs to be built, it is a chance for us to come in," said Osvaldo H Di Campli, president, global enterprise and public sector. He added that though the Indian government had the basic framework in place, such as would be looking for some more in-depth answers to certain questions. "What would be the business model, how would these projects would be funded, these are the key questions few of us are trying to find answers for," Di Campli said. The company showcased as many as 19 IoT-based products at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Some of these would fit in a smart city environment. "Any IoT architecture, connectivity management through device management solutions and analytics on top we are looking at all these spaces in the smart city initiative," said Sandeep Girotra, vice-president and region head, India. The company has been in talks with various state and central government and might soon bid for various projects. "We are in continuous dialogue with the government in various projects. We continue to engage on all opportunities as and when they emerge," Girotra added. SMART MOVES Nokia To make solutions such as smart metering, active waste management, smart parking and various other sensor technology-enabled products Working now in sectors of transportation, energy, public sector and large enterprises In talks with state and central government for projects Tech Mahindra Plans to get into designing smart cities and providing design solutions in various sectors To focus on providing design ideas for To provide design ideas and concepts in housing and construction In an effort to have a steady revenue stream, Nokia has been working in areas such as 5G networking, cloud and IoT. Many other have been working round the clock to be ready for smart city projects. After acquiring a controlling stake in Italian design firm Pininfarina, Tech Mahindra plans to branch out into designing smart cities as well as providing different design solutions in various sectors. On the back of a Pininfarina buy, the leading provider of IT, networks, engineering solutions and BPO services is keen to make a dent is providing design ideas and concepts in the housing and construction space. Also, in India, the company would focus on providing design ideas for the upcoming smart city projects. The Union Cabinet had in April 2015 cleared a proposal for a Rs 50,000-crore investment by the Centre into the 100 smart city project. According to the plan, Rs 500 crore per city would be spent by the Centre, and that would have to be equally matched by a consortia of state governments and city municipalities. While the Centre would fund Rs 200 crore per city in the first phase, it would subsequently pump in Rs 100 crore a year for three years. Online mobile wallet major has led the Series-B round of funding for on-demand auto-rickshaw aggregator, Jugnoo, for $10 million (Rs 66.65 crore). Last October, Chandigarh-based Jugnoo had received funding of $10 million from the Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led company. This is the Series-B2 round of investment in the company. "The auto-rickshaw hailing and hyperlocal delivery mobile app receives $5 million from and the remaining from existing investor Snow Leopard and a new one named Rocketship.vc. At present, the auto-rickshaw aggregator and hyperlocal delivery service provider operates in 30 cities and 11 villages across the country," said. Jugnoo plans to spend the money on its expansion plans and also invest on providing more benefits to auto-rickshaw drivers so that they stick with the company. "We have been receiving a phenomenal response from drivers who are now readily adopting technology as a means of increasing their daily earnings. We will invest these funds in improving our driver efficiency and increasing our numbers in cities where we are currently in the growing phase. And with the kind of impact we have been able to make at the grass roots, I am sure we have a long way to go," said Samar Singla, chief executive officer and co-founder, Jugnoo. The company currently has a network of around 10,000 auto-rickshaw drivers across the country which is growing at a steady rate. They also have women auto drivers in Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Noida. According to industry numbers, in 2016 year-to-date (YTD), there have been 22 venture capital (VC) funding rounds in India's internet market, of which only five rounds have been Series-A/B. "The rest have been either seed/venture stage or big-ticket late-stage funding rounds in more established . There were no Series-A/B rounds in the month of March. The quantum of money that has flowed in YTD still remains strong at a billion dollars, helped by large $100-million plus funding rounds, each for CarTrade, Shopclues, Snapdeal and Bigbasket," Morgan Stanley said in a recent report. "Jugnoo's auto hailing service has picked up phenomenally well and they are witnessing incredible growth month-on-month basis. With further infusion of funds, Jugnoo will be equipped to scale up its operations across the country and Paytm is happy to be a part of its growth story," Kiran Vasireddy, senior vice-president, Paytm, said. Surats diamond sector, reeling under slowdown blues since July 2014, has started to see green shoots. After picking up in January-February, trade again plummeted in March due to the nationwide jewellers' strike that dented the domestic demand for . Domestic demand accounts for around 15 per cent of Surat's business. Traders are hopeful that international demand will bail them out. With the strike over, domestic demand too is likely to pick up now. Read more from our special coverage on "DIAMONDS" Credit extension period to ease operational difficulties for diamond processors The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) figures for February showed that the gems and jewellery sector had done well, picking up 33.1 per cent. Kirti Shah, a diamond unit owner in Surat said, this was the worst period of slowdown in the past 10 years or so. It is worse than the 2008 slowdown, when recovery was relatively quicker. On top of that, the jewellers' strike has taken off further sheen from the diamond market here," he said. Of the 300 units that had shut shop during the slump, many have re-opened. Dinesh Navadia, president of the Surat Diamond Association, said there was now a labour shortage of 20-25 per cent. This was because several thousands of workers were rendered jobless owing to the slowdown around Diwali and Christmas last year and these people had shifted to other jobs. Surat, which accounted for 90 per cent of the worlds rough diamond polishing, had employed over 600,000 people in around 5,000 workshops. Hardly 350,000 were working by the end of 2015, and many on reduced wages. Several workers took to embroidery work, or returned to their villages. "Finding skilled workmen is now a challenge in Surat," Navadia said. "Demand from US and China are up compared to the pre-Diwali situation, and we hope that things would only move up from here." The inventory situation too had improved from a 6-month inventory around September-October last year to around a months inventory with units now. Traders are mostly relieved as the prices of rough and polished are now more or less balanced. "Earlier, while polished diamond prices had gone down drastically, the rough had gotten costly due to high demand since 2011-12. This made trade unviable. Now, the prices are more or less balanced," Navadia said. In fresh trouble for gangster Chhota Rajan, CBI has registered two new cases of alleged extortion and attempt to murder under the stringenet MCOCA. CBI sources said agency has taken over investigation in the alleged attempt to murder of builder Ajay Gosalia and Arshad Shekh in 2013 by the gang members of 55-year-old Rajan. It is alleged that two shooters had fired at Gosalia outside a mall in Malad in which Gosalia was seriously injured. It was believed to be handiwork of alleged gang members of Rajan with several of them arrested by Mumbai police. Another case related to alleged extortion of Rs 20 lakh from one Nilesh by the gang members of Rajan and his henchman Bharat Nepali, now dead. Nilesh alleged he was given life threats after which he agreed to shell out Rs 20 lakh, the sources said. When asked, CBI Spokesperson RK Gaur confirmed that the agency has taken over investigation in two more cases referred by Maharashtra government. CBI FIR does not name Rajan because according to rules, the agency takes over the report registered by the local police. After the probe, the agency may add or delete names of suspects in its final report submitted to the court. Both these cases have been registered by the agency under stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) besides IPC sections and Arms Act. The agency has so far registered five cases including these two. Earlier, it had registered the case relating to the murder of journalist J Dey, who was allegedly shot dead on the instructions of Rajan. The state government had referred 71 cases against Rajan to CBI after the gangster was nabbed in Bali, Indonesia on October 25, 2015 travelling on fake passport. Rajan was detained by Indonesian Police in Bali on 25 October last year on his arrival from Australia following a Red Corner Notice by the Interpol. He was later deported to India on November 6, 2015. He was in CBI custody for a fortnight and after that lodged in Tihar jail. CBI has also charge-sheeted him for allegedly using a fake passport which he used to dodge enforcement agencies. Nearly half the Muslim population in the age group of 5-29 years is not enrolled anywhere for education in urban areas, according to the 71st round of the survey on education by the Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted between January and June 2014. This is the highest among various religious groups. While 50.4 per cent of were not enrolled anywhere for education in this age group during the survey period, 48.2 per cent were enrolled and attended their classes. However, 0.6 per cent of were enrolled but did not attend their classes. There has, however, been an improvement in the enrolment of in the age group of 5-29 years in various kinds of education, compared to the previous such survey conducted between July 2007 and June 2008. There were 53.6 per cent of Muslims who were not enrolled in the previous round. At that time, 44.7 per cent of Muslims were enrolled and attended their classes. In 2014, while Muslims were the largest religious community in terms of number of people not being enrolled in education in urban areas, in rural areas, 53.1 per cent population of the community enrolled and attended classes in various courses. Between the two rounds of survey, there has been improvement in terms of education enrolment among various religious communities. Besides Muslims, Buddhists also had a higher number of population - 51.5 per cent - not getting enrolled for education in 2007-08 in urban areas. Similarly, 47.7 per cent of Sikhs also fell in this category. The category of Buddhists were merged into other religions in the latest round. Taking enrolment and attendance as the criteria of the educated people, Christians were the foremost in terms of education, followed by Hindus. With the Patidar community rally in Mehsana, part of a resurgent jail bharo andolan (fill the jails) in several cities, turning violent on Sunday afternoon after a clash with police, curfew was imposed in the home district of Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel. Considered a centre of the Patidar (Patel community) agitation for reservations, Mehsana saw mobile, internet and SMS services being suspended, along with those in other cities such as Surat, Rajkot and Sabarkantha, besides parts of Ahmedabad. The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, spearheading the stir, called for a state-wide bandh on Monday. The fill-the-jails campaign on Sunday was to demand the release from custody of 22-year-old Hardik Patel, face of the Patel quota stir that has gained momentum since August last year. He is currently under arrest on a charge of sedition. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the rally was headed towards the district police headquarters in Mehsana when the force tried to stop it, resulting in a lathi charge and clashes. Around 400 agitators were detained, including Lalji Patel, leader of another Patidar agitating group, Sardar Patel Group. Lalji Patel also suffered injuries. The detention of some community leaders saw Patidar youths vandalising public property such as state transport buses and police vehicles. Curfew in Mehsana continues till Monday morning. Earlier, Lalji Patel had alleged the BJP followed "double standards" on reservation. It had accepted the demand for Jat reservation in Haryana but rejected it for Patidars in Gujarat. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday launched 'Fast For All'service at the Bhubaneswar railway station. The Bhubaneswar station is the second to be covered under the free project after Mumbai Central in January this year. Google and RailTel, under the Digital India initiative, have collaborated to make network available across 100 stations to deliver high-speed Internet to 10 million Indians a day by the end of this year. The Railway Minister, who is on a two-day visit to the state, had yesterday told media that Odisha will figure as one of the most developed state in the country in next three-four years and the railways would contribute a lot towards this. He said there are plans to set up two rail projects in Odisha, one of which is at Narla in Kalahandi district. Prabhu also said that a joint venture company would be formed to maintain coordination between the Centre and the State for speeding up various ongoing railway projects in Odisha. South Block is currently busy balancing its West Asia strategy that could pave the way for the first ever visit by an Indian prime minister to Israel by as early as next month. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today concluded a two-day visit to Riyadhs rival, Tehran. Swaraj discussed recent developments in the region with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, particularly the events in Syria, and talked about expediting work on the Chabahar Port and deepening trade ties now that Tehran was no longer under economic sanctions. Read more from our special coverage on "SUSHMA SWARAJ" This West Asian tightrope is important not just for geostrategic reasons but also for Indias energy needs. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran who dont see eye to eye on most issues and most recently have supported opposing sides in the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars are two of the biggest suppliers of crude oil to India. After years under sanctions, Iran is now ramping up its oil production. Swaraj, before leaving for Moscow, also called on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. He said New Delhi could look at Tehran as a reliable partner for its energy needs and termed the cooperation on Chabahar as a defining partnership between India and Iran. In 2002, New Delhi and Tehran had signed an agreement to develop Chabahar into a deep sea port. Once connected to Irans railway network, the port will allow India greater trade not just with Iran but also give it a sea route to Afghanistan, and eventually access to Europe through the North South Transport Corridor (NSTC). The Indian side said it was keen to sign the commercial contract and extend $150 million credit for Chabahar Port in the very near future. The union cabinet has already approved $400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India. New Delhi considers the project a strategic bulwark in the region given that China is developing the Gwadar port, a key location in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. At the meeting, the Indian side also welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad-B oilfield outside the auction basket. Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan had recently visited Iran to discuss the issue. Indian companies had pulled out of the project after the economic sanctions imposed on Tehran, but the contract has been revived. The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner. Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The two sides reviewed the progress on the NSTC, and IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar Zahedan railway link. Swaraj and Zarif agreed that lifting of sanctions has opened the potential for expanding trade ties and pending agreements like Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, Preferential Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded. India is looking at increasing its oil imports from Iran from the current 350,000 barrels a day. Iran has recently come out of years of crippling economic sanctions and is preparing to increase production. India is also preparing to invest $20 billion in the Iranian oil and gas, petrochemical and fertilizer sectors. In a related development, the second meeting of experts from India, Afghanistan and Iran to finalize the trilateral agreement on Chabahar was held in New Delhi on April 11, the MEA said today. National airports operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to report an all-time high revenue of Rs 10,000 crore, with an estimated flat profit growth in FY16. The estimated eight per cent growth in the topline which stood at Rs 9,285 crore in 2014-15, is driven by the surge in passenger traffic as well as aircraft movement, particularly from Ahmedabad and Leh airports, a senior official said. The state-run was accorded Miniratna status in 2008, granting it the right to exercise its powers of autonomy in terms of investment in projects and forming joint ventures. Of the 125 airports, currently 95 are operational, with 70 of them having scheduled flights. "While the accounts are still being finalised, we estimate the revenue to touch an all-time high of Rs 10,000 crore in FY16. The net profit during this period is also estimated at Rs 2,000 crore," an AAI official said. The public sector firm had posted a net profit of Rs 1,959 crore in the April-March financial year of 2014-15. Attributing the estimated eight per cent jump in topline to the surge in both passenger traffic and aircraft movement across airports, the official said, "Ahmedabad and Leh airports, in particular, fuelled this growth. Growth in February was much more than our expectations where March numbers are being culled out," the official said. According to International Air Transport Association, India's domestic air passenger traffic grew by a whopping 20.2 per cent in 2015 over the previous year, aided by higher economic growth and increase in number of flights across domestic airlines network. Industry estimates suggest that passenger traffic at Indian airports is expected to grow to 421 million from 190.1 million in 2015. The growth in domestic air traffic was over three-folds of the global average of 6.3 per cent. Of the total 475 airports or airstrips in the country, 125 are owned and managed by AAI and the draft civil aviation policy, expected to be finalised soon, envisages revival of un-served and under-served airstrips by AAI, state governments or through public-private partnership mode depending on feasibility. "The growth in revenue has come despite the combined share from Mumbai and Delhi airports remaining flat at around Rs 2,500 crore in the last two financial years," the official added. The GMR and GVK-run Delhi and Mumbai airports, in which AAI owns 26 per cent stake, account for almost 60 per cent of AAI's total revenue. AAI gets a revenue share of 45.99 per cent and 38.7 per cent, respectively, from Delhi and Mumbai airports. As global headwinds continue to hit Indian and other markets, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has asked advanced economies to be mindful of the spillover effect of their policies on the rest of the world. He also asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to beef up its resources to ensure future-proofing of the global economy against recurrence of financial crisis. Speaking here at the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) on Saturday night, Jaitley said Indias balanced macroeconomic environment and strong growth prospects make it a bright spot in the global scenario. Jaitley said the Indian economy has managed to put across a credible performance with an estimated growth rate of 7.6 per cent in the just concluded fiscal 2015-16, as against 7.2 per cent in the previous year. The growth performance is more credible given that it has been achieved despite contraction in our exports due to slowdown in global economy and two consecutive years of monsoon shortfall, he said. However, there are concerns about export growth which is declining consecutively for more than a year due to slowdown in global demand, Jaitley said. The minister said subdued growth and low productivity in advanced economies (AEs) and elevated risks faced by emerging market economies (EMEs), as also risks of instability of financial system, are hurting global recovery. Flagging trade volumes, softening commodity prices, idle capacities and anemic economic fundamentals, particularly in a number of large EMEs are increasingly impairing their ability to sustain economic and financial resilience against rising risk premiums and credit risks. Moreover, there are the risks of exogenous shocks from asynchronous normalisation of unconventional monetary polices (UMPs) that can produce disorderly adjustments in exchange and volatile capital flows increasing the cost of managing external exposures and balance of payments. Flagging "under-recognition" of bad loans by as a concern, ratings agency Moody's said asset quality of the 11 rated PSU may face further stress as restructured loans may eventually turn into NPAs. " still have meaningful under-recognition in loans to some large corporate groups, operating primarily in the steel and power sectors. In addition, we expect that around 40% of standard restructured loans would ultimately slip into non-performing loans (NPLs)," Moody's Investors Service VP (Financial Institutions Group) Alka Anbarasu said. Banks have started classifying non-viable loans as bad assets as per RBI norms, which has started impacting their balance sheet. "From a timing perspective, the front-ending of problem loans recognition and provisioning requirement has up fronted the capital requirements of the Indian public banks. Hence, unless the government revises upwards its capital infusion plan, there will be negative pressure on the credit profiles of these banks," Anbarasu told PTI. She said that the problem relating to the banks' exposure to the large corporate groups is spread across the public and private sector banks. "Nevertheless, given the relatively weak capitalisation and earnings profile of some of our rated banks like Indian Overseas Banks, Central Bank of India, IDBI Bank, we expect these banks are more vulnerable to further asset quality stress," Anbarasu said. The other PSU banks rated by Moody's are State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India and EXIM Bank. Moody's said private sector banks can absorb a fair degree of asset quality stress because of their relatively strong core operating earnings capacity and capitalisation levels. "The fully recognised NPL ratio for the 11 rated public sector banks could be about 10.5-12% as compared to the 7.2% reported at the end of December 2015," Anbarasu said. Minister Arun Jaitley has said the government has been trying to address the problem of NPAs in sectors such as steel, textile, highways and infrastructure, which are on account of economic slowdown. "I think the NPA resolution process will now begin. The sectors which have caused distress... I have always said that there are two kinds of NPAs. One is because of economic environment, the losses in certain categories of industry. Now those areas we are trying to address," he had said. FM: Calls for the need to further strengthen the role of IMF by increased access to resources to enable it to play an effective role in fostering global economic and financial stability; Participates in International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the Plenary Session of World Economic Leaders (IMFC Plenary) and Plenary Meeting of the Development Committee (DC) in Washington D.C. yesterday . The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley stressed that the policy adjustments should be managed in a manner that minimizes the negative spill-overs on other countries. He highlighted the various steps taken by Government of India with respect to structural reforms, Investment promotion and tax reforms. Shri Jaitley brought-out the need to further strengthen the role of IMF by increased access to resources to enable it to play an effective role in fostering global economic and financial stability. . . The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking in the Restricted Session of the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the Plenary Session of World Economic Leaders (IMFC Plenary) in Washington D.C. yesterday i.e. on April 16, 2016. In the IMFC Plenary, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley also spoke about the Global Economy, Indian Economy and the role of IMF. IMFC is a key body providing strategic direction to the work and policies of the IMF. The event was attended by select Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. The closed door discussions centered on prolonged period of subdued global growth, financial market volatility, impact of lower commodity prices and other geopolitical risks and their spillover on global economy. . . Later participating in the Plenary Meeting of the Development Committee (DC), the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley emphasized that the unfinished task of eliminating extreme poverty, achieving development ambitions enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and meeting the enormous challenge of reconstruction posed by conflicts and fragility calls for the Bank Group to expand its annual lending to 100 billion dollars. Development Committee is the ministerial-level forum of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the IMF for inter-governmental consensus building on development issues. The meeting focused on the Forward Look exercise carried-out by the World Bank, issues of migration, forced displacement, Interim progress report on Dynamic Formula of Shareholding review and Disaster Risk Management. . . The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that the World Bank Group must undertake the General Capital Increase (GCI) and Selective Capital Increase (SCI) in a timely manner to maintain leadership position in the development landscape. . . The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said that the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) discussions are extremely important for the borrowing countries and desired that the Bank team should take into consideration the feedback received during the consultation process and would now propose the right kind of standards for consideration of the member countries. . . Mr Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), also held bilateral meetings with United Kingdoms Permanent Secretary Mr Mark Lowcock and Mr K V Kamat, President of BRICSs New Development Bank (NDB). . . The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley is currently on official tour to Washington to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and other associated meetings. He is accompanied by Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Governor, RBI, Mr Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) and other officials. . . National Mission for Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Water Resources,,River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) announced the formal launch of Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (CGRBMS) in New Delhi today. The Ministry signed a 10 year Memorandum of Agreement with IITK for provision of continual scientific support in the implementation and dynamic evolution of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan. . . Delivering the keynote address on the occasion, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation explained in detail why the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies is needed for the mission and how important is this collaboration. She said, We are trying to make a framework where opinions from all the people across the globe who are interested in our rivers should be invited." The Minister said we are focusing on cleaning the Ganga by setting up Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Sushri Bharti said, These are the issues which can be solved by procuring the technologies around the world. But what is important here is how to ensure continuous flow in the rivers." To solve this, efforts needs to be done by each and every one which includes government authorities, academicians, researchers etc, the Minister added. . Shri Shashi Shekhar, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources said that government has decided to implement Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) using a specific Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework called hybrid annuity model. The government shall be technology agnostic and neutral but it doesnt have the capacity to evaluate the technologies. The Centre must take this up as one of its task " he added. . . Dr. Vinod Tare, Professor IITK said, the program has been aptly named as Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies. He said , The Centre will act as a think-tank to the government as well as knowledge hub to coordinate all activities within the Ganga river basin and these activities will include science, technology, research, innovation, social, economics, finance and investment related aspects." He said that centre will collaborate with many national and international bodies. Prof.Tare said the Ganga River Basin Management Plan 2015 by IIT Consortiums has provided strategic action plans, some policy interventions and management action along with financial implications. These plans shall be further detailed by the centre with financial, social, economical and environment implications, he added. . . samir/ The Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi will inaugurate tomorrow a major One Day Regional Conference with North Eastern States in Shillong on the issues relating to Child Adoption. The Ministers In-charge of Social Welfare and Women & Child Development in the North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura will participate in the conference. . . About 400 delegates are expected to attend the Conference, including the stakeholders from the State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) and Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the North Eastern States, besides the senior officers from the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and the concerned Department of the State Governments in the region. . . The conference has been organised with a view to: . . (i) Familiarise the stakeholders with the adoption programme in North Eastern States about the provisions relating to adoption under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 ; and. . (ii) Orient them about the provisions of Adoption Guidelines - 2015 as well as the online adoption process through Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS). . . The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development issued revised Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children 2015 which became effective from August last year. The 2015 Guidelines issued by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) replaced the 2011 Adoption Guidelines. . . These Guidelines are intended to provide for more effective regulation for adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children and would bring more transparency and efficiency in the adoption system. Simultaneously, Central Adoption Resource Information Guidance System (CARINGS), as an e-governance measure created for the purpose of facilitating adoption of children, has also been revamped. For hassle-free adoption, CARINGS will contain a centralized data bank of adoptable children and Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs). Clear cut timelines for domestic and inter-country adoption have been laid down. . . The revised guidelines coupled with the new IT enabled adoption system CARINGS, provide a transparent process of adoption under which all the child care institutions of the country have been brought into an integrated system. . . The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 came into force from 15th January, 2016 and repeals the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Act contains a separate new chapter on Adoption to streamline adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children. It gives the existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) the status of a statutory body to enable it to perform its function more effectively. Separate chapter (VIII) on Adoption provides for detailed provisions relating to adoption and punishments for not complying with the laid down procedure. Processes have been streamlined with timelines for both in-country and inter-country adoption including declaring a child legally free for adoption. . . Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas is visiting Bangladesh from 17 to 19 April, 2016. The visit is aimed at following up on the ambitious agenda set between India and Bangladesh during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June, 2015. . . On arrival in Dhaka, Sh Pradhan called on Prime Minister Ms Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. He conveyed that the India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has become pragmatic and mature over the last few years. He discussed all bilateral issues pertaining to hydrocarbon sector between the two countries. Sh Pradhan referred to the supply of 2200 MT High Speed Diesel (HSD) to Bangladesh from Siliguri Marketing Terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur Depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Bangladesh, and said that India was planning to continue supply of HSD in a sustainable manner. He noted the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services. Sh Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Sheik Hasina for the encouraging support received from her government. He shared the details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides. Sh Pradhan also discussed the Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline and called it as an important project for both countries. . . During his stay in Bangladesh, Sh Pradhan will meet Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Adviser on Energy, Power and Mineral Resources to the Prime Minister and Mr Nasrul Hamid, Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh. On 18th April, Sh Pradhan will witness signing of an MoU on broad aspects of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and BPC. He will also visit Chittagong on 19th April to witness award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited (EIL) as Project Management and Consultant for its 3 MMTPA refinery expansion project. . . Shri Pradhan is accompanied by CEOs of major Public Sector oil and gas companies and senior officials of his Ministry. . . In his 1946 essay "Politics and the English Language," George Orwell wrote that "the whole tendency of modern prose is away from concreteness." He could have been writing about World Bank reports, it turns out. A computer analysis of more than 65 years of the bank's annual reports found a sharp decline in factual precision, replaced by what the researchers call management discourse, a bureaucratic gobbledygook whose meaning is hard to decipher. The trend is probably not a surprise to anyone with a glancing interaction with international institutions. But the numbers and examples are amusing. Dominique Pestre, a historian at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in France, and Franco Moretti, co-director of the Stanford Literary Lab, conducted the analysis. They used the lab's techniques to map changes in the bank's language, syntax and grammar over time, revealing unspoken patterns, priorities and politics. The unusual collaboration was hatched in the spring of 2013 when Pestre and Moretti, a literary critic by trade, met while working in Berlin. The result is titled "Bankspeak," a play on doublespeak, referring to language that is intentionally ambiguous, meant to obscure or confuse. The most striking discovery, Pestre said, speaking from his home in Geneva, was the emergence of a language that "does not offer specificities, it remains at a more abstract level." In the early decades, for example, bank reports consistently referred to specific places, projects, equipment, tools and activities. Past and present tense verbs were common, marking completed activities and allowing for comparisons. In the last 20 years, that kind of nuts-and-bolts language disappears, Pestre said. Verbs are turned into nouns - something that linguists have argued converts specific actions taken by named actors into "abstract objects." (People and countries no longer "cooperate," for example; there is just "cooperation.") At the same time, the use of adverbs that refer to a particular time frame (such as "now," "recently" or "later") declined by more than 50 percent. Past tense verbs grew rarer, while jargon and acronyms proliferated. The pamphlet, which was published by the Stanford Literary Lab and appeared in the New Left Review, will be translated into Italian and German later this year. In it, the authors offer a side-by-side comparison. "Here is how the bank's report described the world in 1958: The Congo's present transport system is geared mainly to the export trade, and is based on river navigation and on railroads which lead from river ports into regions producing minerals and agricultural commodities. Most of the roads radiate short distances from cities, providing farm-to-market communications. In recent years road traffic has increased rapidly with the growth of the internal market and the improvement of farming methods. And here is the report from a half-century later, in 2008: Countries in the region are emerging as key players on issues of global concern, and the Bank's role has been to support their efforts by partnering through innovative platforms for an enlightened dialogue and action on the ground, as well as by supporting South-South cooperation." The 2012 report does not refer to preventing hunger but rather to "food security." Perhaps most intriguing, though, is the series of graphs mapping the specific changes in word usage. As one might expect, some reflect the World Bank's changing priorities and concerns as well as historical events. For instance, in the late 1960s, when Robert McNamara becomes president and made "the war on poverty" a central mission, references to "families," "farmers," "education" and later, "women," become more noticeable. In the 1980s, when many countries in the developing world are at risk of defaulting on loans, the language of debt becomes omnipresent, and there are frequent references to "expanding trade," "expanding the private sector" and "raising competitiveness." The word "governance" makes its first appearance in 1990, signaling a new preoccupation with ethics, responsibility and rectitude. The language of finance replaces the language of agriculture and industry. In the previous decade, the word "portfolio" is used 10 times as frequently as it was throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s. There are other quirks. In 66 years of reports, the verb "disagree" never appears (though disagreement is used twice.) The implication, the authors said, is that "there is only one way to do things" - no alternative policies are possible. And "superlatives are de rigueur," the essay notes. "People, behaviour and results are 'outstanding,' 'significant,' 'relevant,' 'consistent,' strong,' 'good' (and 'better')." The analysis did not necessarily produce conclusions startlingly different from what Pestre had suspected merely through his regular reading, but the statistical confirmation was comforting. Peculiar usages and clusters of words also prompted him to take a closer look at certain phenomena - like the decrease in past tense - that he otherwise might have missed. Pestre noted that "the World Bank is not alone in speaking this way." A similar kind of discourse can be found in most organisations involved in global business, whether the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, or the World Wildlife Fund, he added. "We are not saying it was good, and it's now bad," Mr. Pestre said of the evolution in the World Bank's language. "We are saying that the level of structural change is profound. When that happens, it means: Be aware!" 2016 The New York Times News Service A meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC producers on an agreement to freeze output ran into last-minute trouble in Qatar on Sunday due to a new request by OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia, sources told Reuters. ministers were heading into a meeting with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - who was instrumental in promoting output stability in recent months - in an attempt to rescue the deal designed to bolster the flagging price of crude. "There is an issue. Experts are discussing how to find an acceptable solution. I'm confident they will come up with a solution," one of the sources said. According to another source, Saudi Arabia said it wanted all OPEC members to participate in the talks, despite insisting earlier on excluding Iran because Tehran does not want to freeze production. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to have refused to participate in the freeze. Tehran says it needs to regain market share after the lifting of sanctions against it in January. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom would restrain its output only if all other major producers, including Iran, agreed to freeze production. More than a dozen nations inside and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have officially confirmed they would attend the meeting in Doha but the role of Iran has been the key issue overhanging the talks. "We have told some OPEC and non-OPEC members like Russia that they should accept the reality of Iran's return to the market," Iran's oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh, was quoted as saying by his ministry's news agency SHANA on Saturday. "If Iran freezes its oil production it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions," he added. A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador, killing 77 people and injuring nearly 600, the authorities said on Sunday. Vice President Jorge Glas said the quake hit at 6.58 p.m. on Saturday (11.58 GMT) near the northern coastal town of Muisne. When he earlier put the death toll at 41, Glas warned that the toll would "unfortunately rise in the coming hours". BBC reported widespread severe damage, with a bridge destroyed as far south as Guayaquil, about 300 km away from the capital Quito. A state of emergency was declared in six provinces. The earthquake, the country's worst in decades, shook buildings in Quito. There were a number of aftershocks, the biggest at 5.4. President Rafael Correa cut short his trip to Italy to return home. BBC quoted Glas as saying that at least 77 people had been killed and 588 injured. The quake was centred just off the country's northwest coast at a shallow depth of 19 km, Xinhua news agency quoted the the US Geological Survey (USGS) as saying. The USGS first put the quake at a magnitude of 7.4 and then raised it to 7.8. Ecuador's Institute of Geophysics put the magnitude at 6.5 and the depth at 10 km. In Quito, the quake was felt for about 40 seconds, forcing people to flee to the streets in panic. In the biggest port city of Guayaquil, a bridge collapsed on top of a car and the roof of a supermarket buckled, Xinhua reported. In the coastal city of Manta, the airport was closed after the control tower suffered severe damages. Residents in Manta said that many streets had cracked, power lines had snapped and telephone connections were down. Reports say a big oil refinery had been temporarily shut as a precaution, BBC said. Neighbouring Peru also issued a tsunami alert for its northern coastline. The quake was felt in Colombia, where patients in a clinic in the city of Cali were evacuated from the building as a precaution. is located in a region with frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Saudi Arabia demanded on Sunday that Iran join a global deal on freezing oil output, jeopardising the chances of an agreement between Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers that was supposed to prop up the price of crude. Some 18 countries, including Russia, had been due to meet on Sunday morning in the Qatari capital of Doha to rubber-stamp a deal in the making since February to stabilise output at January levels until October 2016. But the meeting was postponed after OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all OPEC members to take part in the freeze, according to OPEC sources. Riyadh had earlier insisted on excluding Iran from the talks because Tehran had refused to stabilise production, seeking to regain market share after the lifting of Western sanctions against it in January. After the deal ran into trouble, oil ministers in Doha met with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - who was instrumental in promoting output stability in recent months. Following that meeting, a new draft communique emerged containing none of the binding points of the previous outline, sources said. The document said producers in and outside the OPEC should agree to freeze oil production at "an agreeable level" as long as all OPEC countries and major exporting nations participated. Ministers started talks after 1230 GMT and were still debating the draft almost five hours later, according to sources. The Saudi and Russian delegations disagreed on the wording, the sources said, dimming the prospects of what would be the first production deal between OPEC and non-OPEC countries in 15 years. "I am not sure you can call it a freeze," one OPEC source said. A senior oil industry source said: "The problem now is to come up with something that excludes Iran, makes the Saudis happy and doesn't upset Russia." Failure to reach a global deal would signal the resumption of a battle for market share between key producers and likely halt a recent recovery in prices. "If there is no deal today, it will be more than just Iran that Saudi Arabia will be targeting. If there is no freeze, that would directly affect North American production going forward, perhaps something Saudis might like to see," said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande. Supply glut Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to refuse to participate in the freeze. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday OPEC and non-OPEC should simply accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market: "If Iran freezes its oil production ... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." Although a freeze would be a significant step for oil producers, it would have only a limited impact on global supply and the market is unlikely to rebalance before 2017, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. My biggest learning has been the importance of marketing. All brands need a story, but it's really very hard for every brand to have a different story, Vikas Kapur tells Alokananda Chakraborty Some of the oldest and the best known family-owned businesses across the world have one thing in common - they owe their success to visionary founders and pioneers in their time. But as they go through the generations, what are the common challenges they face? I would imagine that challenges include the founder's willingness to change and the subsequent generations' drive, ability and interest in the business. Another obvious challenge is the relationship between the founder and subsequent generation, and the relationship among the subsequent generations. The family-owned-and-run business model can be superior to the structure followed by listed companies, says John Davis, lecturer at Harvard Business School. Do you subscribe to the view? It depends on the individual case. The "family" might bring in greater passion and dedication, I would like to think. The "family" would have grown up with the business as part of their childhood, and that would bring a greater level of attachment to the business. As for myself, I have amazing childhood memories of Hidesign: falling asleep in the back of a van piled high with leather after our trips to the Chennai tanneries; being awed and scared by the large tannery machines, among many others. Above everything else, "families" might also have a greater interest in the long-term sustainability of the brand and the business. What challenges do family businesses face as the ownership passes from one generation to the other? What has been your own experience? In our case, the has not transitioned. I am involved in the business, but it's a little early as we are not even sure that should transition to a member of the family or if we would be looking at professional . In one of his interviews, Hidesign founder Dilip Kapur had admitted to three hurdles he faced early on - he didn't know the Indian customer well; he didn't know how to deal with foreign distributors; and he picked up the ropes of pricing quite late into his journey. What lessons have you learnt from your father's early experiences? I don't know that I can relate very strongly to any of these early challenges. We complement each other in terms of interests and personality, and so often he is skilled at something at which I don't have a natural ability. I have learned other lessons from him along the way. What new marketing lessons have you picked up in these three-four months since the launch of Hidesign America? I have learned foremost the enormous importance of marketing. A brand needs a story, and it's really very hard to have a different story among all the brands competing for attention. As a host of international footwear and accessories players set up shop in India and Indians get a taste of global brands, what are the three key ways in which Indian customers appear to have changed? First, Indian consumers appear to be much more aware of global fashion trends. Second, Indian consumers are increasingly aware of the value of original design, and can identify which products merely knock off Chinese imports. Third, Indian consumers may start moving towards a cleaner, less detailed aesthetic. Is Hidesign still perceived to be a premium product in India? Has the perception issue helped or hindered your growth trajectory in India in any way? Many international luxury brands have entered India, but that has not changed Hidesign's market positioning as a premium brand. We still use some of the best leathers in the market. Our brand still carries immediate credibility among customers, and stands for fashion and quality. Customers and the media understand that our brand is an original brand with a unique brand story and a true heritage. Our heritage adds to the premium perception of the brand, and our marketing, for instance, the Art of Re-Use, the Icon Collection and the ongoing Green Story marketing campaigns, are really among the best and most interesting marketing initiatives. When it comes to family-run businesses, there's a common saying that the first generation creates a business, the second builds it and the third squanders it away. Do you subscribe to that view? How do you visualise the future of Hidesign? We do need to be aware and careful of this possibility. In our case, we still do not know if in the future the business will be managed day to day by the family or if it will be run by professional management. At least 77 people were killed and hundreds injured as Ecuador's Pacific coast witnessed a 7.8-magnitude tremor today. Declaring a national emergency, President Rafael Correa urged the country's 16 million people to stay calm. More than 570 people are believed to have been injured in the quake. "Our infinite love to the families of the dead," he said on Twitter, while cutting short a trip to Italy to return home, reports the Guardian. The government has asked the citizens to leave coastal areas following concerns of rising tide after the quake and also said the death toll would likely rise as the damage was serious, especially in the western coastal areas nearest the quake and in Guayaquil. Vice-President Jorge Glas has said that it was the strongest quake to hit Ecuador since 1979, adding that 16 people had died in the city of Poroviejo, 10 in Manta and others in the province of Guayas. Meanwhile, the country's Geophysics Institute in a bulletin described "considerable damage" in the area of the epicentre and in Guayaquil. No further details have been provided. After the quake, at least 36 aftershocks have followed, one as strong as six on the Richter scale. The quake resulted in damage to some buildings and many areas have lost power. The residents have been warned about further aftershocks in the coming hours. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one metre (one to three feet) above tide level were possible for some coastal areas of Ecuador. Following the quake, neighbouring Peru has issued a tsunami alert for the north of the country. Earlier on Saturday, across the pacific in Japan, a 7.3-magnitude tremor struck Kumamoto province killing at least 32 people and injuring thousands. Scores of people took to the streets in Uttar Pradesh's Noida city today to vent their ire over the death of 20-year-old Gulfam Ali, who was run over by a speeding BMW on Saturday. The protestors were seen on the streets with the dead body of Gulfam, who died in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital this morning. They said that they would not bury the body till they get justice. "It has been 24 hours and the police is not doing any work. We want justice," said Gulfam's father. Gulfam's mother said that her son died because no one cared for him, adding that he could have been saved had he been taken to hospital on time. Out of the three people, who were injured in the BMW hit-and-run case in Noida, one man Gulfam Ali succumbed to his injuries last night at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital. The condition of two others is said to be stable. The accident took place at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday near gate number 7 of Noida stadium in Sector 24. The driver of the BMW fled immediately, leaving his car at the accident spot. Expressing disagreement with RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's statement, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the 'one-eyed king' of the present Indian economy. "I don't agree with him. The original expression is 'in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'. And in Mr. Modi, we have a one-eyed man," Aiyar told ANI. "The fact is it is the economy, which is the kingdom of the blind, because nothing has happened to promote in reality the 'acche din' which was promised. All that has been exposed is that Modi was deliberately cheating the people when during the election, he promised with credibility that 'acche din' were around the corner," he added. The Congress leader also said that there is so much disillusionment across every segment of the economy, including the RBI that even Raghuram Rajan, who is otherwise a very affluent speaker, is stumbling at the old expression. "It is not the economy that is blind. It is the king, the Prime Minister of India, who is actually blind," he said. With India being often described as 'the bright spot in the global economy', Rajan sees this as a case of "the one-eyed man" being king in the land of the blind. When asked for his take on the 'bright spot' theory and what was his 'secret sauce' to ensure this positioning, the RBI Governor yesterday said, "I think we have still to get to a place where we feel satisfied. We have this saying, 'In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'. We are a little bit that way. Nepal's UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal met Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel at his residence in Lazimpat today during which the duo discussed implementation of the Constitution. As the implementation of Constitution was a challenging task, Dahal stressed that all the political parties should work together for the same, The Himalayan Times quoted Dahal's secretariat as saying. Paudel, who is the leader of the main opposition party, echoed Dahal's view on the same. Actor/director George Clooney, though a supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, supported presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders by condemning the "obscene" sums of money in the US politics. This remark came in an interview after he, with his wife Amal, hosted a fundraiser on Democratic Party hopeful Clinton's behalf on April 15 night with a price tag of up to 353,400 dollar per couple, reports News.com.au. The 54-year-old actor said that the protestors "were absolutely right" as the fund they raised was "an obscene amount of money." Adding on to it, Clooney said that he agrees to the fact that "it is ridiculous" to have "this kind of money in politics." Sanders supporters and Republican political operatives criticized the high price tags attached to the fund raising events and released an ad running in local markets which built around the controversy. After an unknown person allegedly set off a minor explosion at a Gurdwara in Germany injuring three people, India on Sunday expressed concern over the development and asserted that they were in touch with the local authorities on the ground situation. "Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situation," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. A 60-year-old man was critically injured in the explosion which blew out several windows of the gurdwara, in the northwestern city of Essen. A 47-year-old man and a 56-year-old man also sustained minor injuries. The local police claim that a masked person was seen fleeing the area shortly after the explosion, however, they added that there was no evidence so far that the attack had any links to terrorism. Three people were detained, but were released later as the investigation continued, police said. Photos were shared on social media showing the damaged temple and broken glass amid the decorations as a wedding was hosted at the gurdwara earlier. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Goel on Sunday said the people of Delhi are suffering due to the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme and alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government is spending public money in advertisements. He said he is totally against the 'Delhi bole dil se Odd Even phir se' poster of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government and said that the slogan should instead be 'Delhi bole di se loot maar kyun phir se'. "The people, who have CNG and two cars are happy, but those who have only one car is suffering in the heat. The Aam Aadmi Party is using public money in their advertisements not in Delhi, but in the entire country. I oppose this heavy challan of two thousand rupees" he told ANI. "Everyone does not know how to ride bike. So, it is difficult for the general public to drop their children to school," he added. Goel had on Friday announced that he would violate the Odd-Even rule on Monday as a mark of protest which he alleged is a 'publicity stunt' by Kejriwal. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on India to implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and expressed concern at the 'gross violations' of human rights allegedly committed in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) by the Indian security forces. According to a release by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the OIC affirmed its support to the Kashmir struggle, at the 13th OIC Summit, held in Istanbul from April 10-15 and also called upon the United Nations for implementation of the Security Council's relevant Resolutions on Kashmir which call for the resolution of the dispute and guarantee Kashmiris' (inalienable) right to self-determination through a UN supervised plebiscite. In the Joint communique issued by the Summit, the Conference reaffirmed its principled support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for realization of their legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir was the core dispute between India and Pakistan and its resolution was imperative for bringing peace in South Asia. The Conference called on New Delhi to implement numerous UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, which declared that final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. It further reminded the international community of its obligations to ensure implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir and fulfill the promise made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir 68 years ago. Affirming its support to the wide-spread indigenous movement of the people of India Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for their right to self-determination, the Conference urged that freedom struggle must not be equated with terrorism. Welcoming the establishment of a standing mechanism by the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) for monitoring the human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir(IOK), it called upon India to allow the OIC Fact Finding Mission and the international human rights groups and humanitarian organizations access to IOK. Endorsing the recommendations of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, the conference took note of the Memorandum presented by the True Representatives of the Kashmiri People to the Secretary General in Contact group meeting of April 12, 2016. The Conference called on the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) to undertake activities to protect holy sites in Kashmir and preserve cultural rights and Islamic heritage. It also appealed to the Member States and Muslim Institutions to grant scholarships to Kashmiri students in different Universities and institutions in OIC Countries. The OIC Secretary General presented a report to the Summit in which he highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir issue remains unresolved and affirmed OIC's continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for realization of their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions. He requested OIC member states, particularly those having good relations with India, to urge India to respect the rights and aspirations of the Kashmiri people in accordance with relevant resolutions. Meanwhile, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, highlighted the Kashmir dispute and reiterated Pakistan's principled position on Kashmir in their respective statements in Summit and Council of Foreign Ministers. Pakistan's Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Sunday said the Haj applications will be accepted from April 18 to April 26. Yousaf said that under the Government Haj Scheme, designated branches of scheduled banks will begin receiving applications on Monday and balloting will be held on April 29, reports dawn. Announcing that over 1, 43,000 Pakistanis were expected to make the pilgrimage this year, he said that 60 percent of these will perform Haj under the government scheme while the rest would opt for private Haj organizers. Asserting that Haj package will cost Rs. 2, 61,941 for pilgrims from the 'south region' and Rs. 2,70,941 for pilgrims from the 'north region', Yousaf said that no one would be allowed to perform Haj on the government expenditure. Last year's pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia witnessed two fatal incidents: a crane accidents and a stampede in which 2,000 people were killed. Section 144 (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger) of the Code Of Criminal Procedure imposed and Internet services suspended till April 19 in Gujarat's Mehsana on Sunday after a clash broke out between police and members of Patidar community during their 'Jail Bharo Andolan', demanding release of their leader Hardik Patel. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who apprised him of the situation. Sardar Patel Group leader Lalji Patel said, "We had written to the administration 10 days ago, informing them about our 'Jail Bharo Andolan' on Sunday. People injured in today's police action will file FIRs against them." Meanwhile, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) has called for a Gujarat bandh on Monday. Mehsana Collector Lochan Sehra told ANI, "Section 144 has been imposed and Internet services suspended till April 19 in Mehsana. Protesters attempted to set two government properties on fire, pelted stones and set an SDM's vehicle on fire, which prompted police to use tear gas shells. The situation is, however, under control now." He said the district administration had not granted their permission and a rejection letter was also sent on time. "As many as 435 people have been detained and we are carrying out further investigating. Situation is normal now," Surat Police Commissioner Ashish Bhatia, warning that strict action would be taken against people who will try to disrupt peace in state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met ailing Swami Atmasthananda Maharaj, president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission Order, whom he considers his 'guru'. This was Prime Minister Modi's second visit after May 9 last year to the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan here, where the 98-year-old monk is recovering from age-related illness. Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan secretary Swami Satyadevananda Maharaj said the Prime Minister spent about 15 minutes at the hospital. The two asked about each other's well-being during the short exchange, as the senior monk was not in a condition to talk much. Modi used to get spiritual guidance from Swami Atmasthanand when both of them were in Rajkot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday address two rallies in Krishnanagar and Kolkata in poll-bound West Bengal. The Prime Minister's first address will be at Nadia district's Krishnanagar, which is likely to begin at around 3.30 p.m., while the second one will be in West Bengal's capital city. Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to convey this information. "Leaving for WB. Will campaign in Krishnanagar, Kolkata. Do join in large numbers. You can also watch on your mobiles http://nm4.in/dnldapp," he tweeted. The Prime Minister had during a rally on April 7 in West Bengal's Madarihat launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on several issues, including the collapse of an under construction flyover in North Kolkata's Girish Park area. He also took a jibe at Banerjee for failing to attend meetings called by the Centre, saying the TMC supremo does not attend important meetings, but definitely visits Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her visit to Delhi. Meanwhile, the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections began today amid tight security arrangements. 383 candidates, including 33 women, are in the fray for the 56 seats spread in seven districts. Polling for the third phase is scheduled for April 21, fourth on April 25 and the fifth and six phases on April 30 and May 5 respectively. The counting of votes will take place on May 19. Ahead of addressing rallies in poll-bound West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited his ailing guru Swami Atmasthananda Maharaj, the president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission Order, in Kolkata today. The Prime Minister's guru, who is suffering from age-related health complications, is presently undergoing treatment at the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan - Shisumangal. The senior monk had congratulated Prime Minister Modi after he won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and invited him to visit the Math. The 97-year old Swami is the president of the order started by Swami Vivekananda. After his visit, the Prime Minister's first address will be at Nadia district's Krishnanagar, which is likely to begin at around 3.30 p.m., while the second one will be in West Bengal's capital city. When 10-year-old girl Aditi from Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur city wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lauding him for the initiatives taken, little did she know that she would receive a reply from the much-liked politician. Proudly flaunting the letter which thanks her 'positive and hopeful' views, Aditi said that she would continue writing to the Prime Minister to express her views on the works done by him. "I had thanked him for the schemes launched for the nation. These schemes are making a difference. I got this letter on April 11th and am feeling happy about it," Aditi told ANI. When asked if she feels Prime Minister Modi is doing a good job, the 10-year-old girl said 'yes' with firm conviction. Aditi said that she was expecting the Prime Minister to respond to her letter, adding that she would continue giving suggestions to him. "I want him to continue working for the nation and keep giving us positive lessons," she added. Meanwhile, Aditi's mother was surprised at her daughter's writing skills and said that she was not aware that her girl was so well versed with the works being done by the government. "We were not expecting a reply, but she (Aditi) had written well. She wrote about the schemes being launched in the nation and about her school," she said. Senate chairman Raza Rabbani has refused to head a Panama leaks inquiry committee. This came a day after Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah suggested Rabbani's name for the post. Rejecting the possibility of heading a parliamentary commission constituted to probe revelations made in the Panama Papers, Rabbani suggested he lacks expertise in the field of investigation of white collar crimes which is the prime requirement in this case. He also claimed to have his 'own viewpoint with reference to the effectiveness or otherwise of a Parliamentary Committee' and, therefore, it may not be appropriate for him to assume the task at this stage. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly had earlier said that he considered Rabbani as the most suitable person to head a parliamentary commission as opposed to the proposed judicial commission to investigate the Panama leaks. Shah said that the Pakistan Peoples Party had reservations over Justice Osmany, whose name was making the rounds as the one to head the judicial commission to probe the Panama leaks since his wife is affiliated with the PML-N. The Pakistan Government has signaled its will in issuing red warrants or forfeiture of surety of former president General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf to record his statement in a treason case under Section 342 of the CrPC. The chief prosecutor in the case, Akram Sheikh, had on the direction of the Special Court submitted a statement yesterday indicating the issuance of a 'red warrant' for Musharraf to ensure his presence in the treason case, reports the Express Tribune. The statement also suggested an alternative, suggesting recording of Musharraf's statement through video link/Skype in the interest of justice under Section 342. A three-judge bench of the Special Court, headed by Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, asked all parties concerned to file their statements and also wanted to know why Musharraf was allowed to leave despite the existence of summons. The prosecutor in his statement filed last year said that he had written to the then Secretary for the Interior Ministry to place Musharraf's name on the ECL and the FIA's investigation team had submitted its challan on November 16, 2013. "The inquiry team apprehended that due to lack of evidence in support of his defence, General Musharraf may attempt to leave the country. Hence, an inquiry team promptly moved the interior ministry to place his name on the ECL," the Express Tribune quoted the prosecutor as saying. According to the statement, the prosecution team regularly informed the federal government, which is complainant in the case, adding an official of the Interior Ministry was present on all dates, including March 8 this year when the Special Court summoned Musharraf for recording his statement. The statement also said that since the order was also disseminated widely through the press, there was no room for condoning the absence of the accused (Musharraf). The prosecutor in his reply said that the accused had given an undertaking to the Special Court for appearing as and when directed and in light of the notice, the onus to appear before the court was on Musharraf. He said only the accused could explain why he failed to obey the court's order and it was for him to file an application seeking one-time exemption from his attendance on March 31, adding the accused should have sought the court's permission to go abroad. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday launched 'Fast Wifi For All'service at the Bhubaneswar railway station. The Bhubaneswar station is the second to be covered under the free Wi-Fi project after Mumbai Central in January this year. Google and RailTel, under the Digital India initiative, have collaborated to make Wi-Fi network available across 100 stations to deliver high-speed Internet to 10 million Indians a day by the end of this year. The Railway Minister, who is on a two-day visit to the state, had yesterday told media that Odisha will figure as one of the most developed state in the country in next three-four years and the railways would contribute a lot towards this. He said there are plans to set up two rail projects in Odisha, one of which is at Narla in Kalahandi district. Prabhu also said that a joint venture company would be formed to maintain coordination between the Centre and the State for speeding up various ongoing railway projects in Odisha. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, here on Sunday and held discussions of mutual interest to bolters ties between the two nations. "Deepening a time tested friendship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor to the Supreme Leader," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Prior to this engagement, Swaraj held very constructive and cordial delegation-level talks to improve trade between the two nations with her Iranian counterpart Dr. Javad Zarif. Both sides reviewed the bilateral relations, particularly the progress in implementing the decisions taken at the last Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi last year. They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to accelerate trade and investment. In the context of the economic partnership between India and Iran, both sides discussed the progress on the Chabahar project. "Both sides agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending $ 150 million credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the very near future. Decisions on this line of credit, as well as $ 400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by Government of India," Swarup said. Both sides also discussed the energy partnership. Iran said that it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India. "On Farzad - B, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of MoS PNG. The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad - B field outside the auction basket. The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner. Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ," Swarup said. "In terms of connectivity, Iran said it fully supported India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar - Zahedan Railway link," the spokesperson added. The two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding trade and investment ties was immense. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis," Swarup said. During the discussions, Swaraj also raised issues of concern to the Indian community such as re-entry visas. "On Consular issues, both sides expressed satisfaction on the release of fishermen and sailors in each other's jails. EAM raised issues of concern to the Indian community such as re-entry visas. She also took up difficulties faced by Indian sea-farers. Both ministers directed the Consular Committee to meet soon to resolve pending issues," Swarup said. Both sides took note of the good cooperation between the National Security Council structures and agreed to intensify this engagement. "In terms of cultural cooperation, given the civilizational links between India and Iran, both sides agreed to promote and strengthen the existing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by observing Weeks of Iran and India in each other's country, publication of manuscripts, organizing conferences and events related to language, literature and religion," said Swarup. "They also agreed to positively consider the establishment of a Hindi Chair in Tehran University sponsored by ICCR and to renew the Cultural Exchange Programme," he added. Swaraj and Zarif expressed their satisfaction at the recent exchange of visits and called for more high-level exchanges to give fresh impetus to India-Iran relations. Both leaders also reviewed the global and regional issues, in particular the situation in Afghanistan. Swaraj, who is presently on a two-day bilateral visit to Iran, will call on President Hassan Rouhani Rouhani before departing for Moscow this evening for a meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, Russia and China to be held on April 18. United States Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that he will talk with his commanders in the coming days to identify new ways the US can intensify the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, which including more airstrikes and cyber attacks. According to the Guardian, Carter expressed confidence that the White House will approve recommendations, saying nothing he has asked President Barack Obama for yet in the conflicts has been turned down. The Pentagon announced yesterday that, air strikes by the US and its allies on Friday hit 15 Isis targets in Iraq and three in Syria. Carter has said that Obama and other US leaders will encourage other Gulf nations to contribute economically to the effort to rebuild Iraq once Isis is defeated. A 20-million-year old fossilised tree, discovered on the outskirts of Himachal Pradesh's Kumarhatti town, was saved from destruction, a geologist said on Sunday. The tree fossil discovered in 2013 was about to be dstrtoyed last week during the construction of a four-lane Parwanoo-Shimla highway at Raboon village, some 50 km from Chandigarh, Geologist-entrepreneur Ritesh Arya told IANS. He said numerous flora and fauna fossils have been discovered in Kasauli, Barog, Kumarhatti, Dharampur and Subathu areas, located in the Shivaliks, in Solan district. The entire area, he said, should be preserved by declaring it as geo-fossil forest for in-site conservation, meaning the conservation of an archaeological asset in its original location. Arya claimed that the discovered fossils dated back to paleoflooding that was related to global warming and glacial melt, resulting in floods. The flooding uprooted trees and buried them under sand along the river channels, leading to petrification -- a process of fossilisation in which dissolved minerals replace organic matter. The saved fossil tree is 12 feet tall and one metre wide. "It's believed that the fossil might be more than 100 feet tall," Arya, who holds a Guinness Book of World Record for discovering groundwater at an altitude of 11,000 ft in Ladakh, added. He said this was the second fossilised tree in the region that was saved from destruction. Earlier, a 25-million year-old fossil of a five-foot-tall and three-foot-wide tree was discovered a few years ago at Jagjitnagar near Kasauli. The fossil, which was standing on a rock, was conserved as the land where it was located was a private land and the owner took initiative to preserve it. Arya said the Kasauli hills are geologically related to 16 to 23 million years and have been associated with Irish geologist Henry Benedict Medlicott, who discovered the first fossilised preserved leaves in 1864. Kasauli was once inhabited by a large number of apes, tigers, elephants, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles and land tortoises. According to Arya, the discovery of fossils in the Kasauli region indicated that the area supported flora and fauna that was native to coastal regions of Malaysia, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Indonesia. "This clearly indicated that Himalayan region was under the ocean," the geologist said. Arya, who studied at Panjab University's department of geology, said the presence of fossils of Garcinia and Gluta and other near coastal species show that the Himalayas had not evolved during those times and were younger than 20 million years. Declaring Kasauli and its nearby hills to be geo-heritage site, he said this would boost tourism and help improving the knowledge of the evolution of the Himalayas. The geologist said staff of construction company G.R. Infra Ltd. engaged in the construction of the Parwanoo-Shimla highway also cooperated to save the fossil by shifting the road alignment. Sensing potential to attract tourists and researchers from across the globe, the state government in 2011 started setting up a geo heritage park in Kasauli town, some 50 km from the state capital Shimla. For this, the state tourism department has tied up with the Chandigarh Natural History Museum. The museum, which is likely to be completed in the next three-four years, would display models of extinct animals like the grand elephant Stegodon Ganesha Sivatherium, a hippopotamus with six incisors and the giant land tortoise Colossochelys Atlas. The Kasauli park would be the second fossil park in the state. The Suketi Fossil Park near Nahan town in Sirmaur district displays six life-size fiberglass models of pre-historic animals whose fossils and skeletons were unearthed at the site. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) With its crowded beaches crunching under pressure of growing footfalls, Goa now wants to tap its rivers for their ability to attract tourists as well as share and shoulder the burden of transportation and commuting within the state. With the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government looking to start water parks tourism and river-based transport systems, the onus, according to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, is not to bank too much on funding from the state or central governments, but instead scout for the right investors who can bring in the money and the technical knowhow to execute such projects. "Government will give priority to waterways and we have scope to develop waterfronts like the Chapora river. From Chapora to Colvale (villages located along the course of the river), we could develop some points (of tourist interest)," Parsekar told IANS. Known for its beaches, the tiny state of Goa is also rich as far as flowing water-bodies are concerned. Apart from the main rivers, the Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and the Kushwati, several smaller rivers criss-cross the state, especially in the hinterland areas, which do not possess a healthy tourism profile. Currently, government records suggest that the state has waterways which are around 650 km in length. According to Parsekar, an additional 250 km can be also utilised, through adequate dredging and deepening of the navigation channels of the rivers. "The rest can be extended by dredging. Waterways and tourist attractions are two important points to remember. A tourist who lands at Dabolim (international airport) should be able to head for Panaji or Calangute by a boat instead of by road alone. This will be an added attraction for a tourist coming to Goa," Parsekar said. Parsekar returned earlier this week from the three-day Maritime Summit organized by the union shipping ministry in Mumbai that was aimed at increasing the connect between shipping industry stakeholders in the private sector and government representatives. Goa, with its unique advantage of being already a popular beach tourism destination, without fully tapping its rivers and backwaters, appears to be in a good position to encash on this opportunity. "We should use our rivers as waterways and further reduce the pressure on our roads. And Goa being a touristic destination it could be a major attraction. We could also build river jetties in coastal villages and the hinterland so that the pressure created by tourism can be spread across Goa and not just along the beaches," Parsekar said. The chief minister also said that instead of moaning about whether the state or the central government would be footing the bill for development of water fronts and waterways, efforts should be taken to find the right investors for the project. We want investors to invest and once we have investment, we could have job creation and diversify tourism in the hinterland from the coast," Parsekar said. Goa attracts nearly four million tourists every year, about half a million of whom are foreigners. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in) China has come out in support of the odd-even traffic scheme, the second phase of which began on Friday in Delhi with a view to battle pollution. "The traffic situation in Delhi can become better and traffic structure be optimised if the odd-even license plate formula is followed properly," a top official in Beijing's transport department told IANS. "The life of people can improve (in Delhi)," said Zhou Tian, deputy director in Decongestion Department of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport. With the income of middle class groups rising in both Delhi and Beijing, the demand for cars has shot up, adding to traffic woes and worsening pollution. Smog hits both cities during peak winter, seriously affecting people's health. Though Beijing resorted to the odd-even traffic restriction scheme ahead of the 2008 Olympics, Delhi tried it out successfully in January after the judiciary called the Indian capital a virtual gas chamber. Zhou admitted that the scheme did affect the daily life of people in Beijing. "We adopt odd-even license plates formula only when there are major events in Beijing. It has been very successful, but it affects the daily life of citizens in Beijing," he said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who figured in the Fortune Magazine's list of world's 50 greatest leaders for experimenting with the idea which many were sceptical of, wants the odd-even traffic scheme to be implemented every month. Of the nearly nine million vehicles in Delhi, almost a third are cars. Beijing hosts 5.5 million cars but the Chinese capital boasts of a far better public transport than Delhi. While Beijing's subway network is the second longest after Shanghai, there are nearly 25,000 public transport buses against the fleet of some 4,500 in Delhi. Over the years, Beijing has been encouraging people to take to public transport. It is also promoting e-bikes that have largely replaced petrol-driven two vehicles. (Gaurav Sharma is the Beijing-based correspondent of IANS. He can be contacted at gaurav.s@ians.in) The BJP on Sunday asked the Election Commission (EC) to remove the chief electoral officer of West Bengal, accusing him of "allowing Trinamool Congress (TMC) to violate electoral laws". "We have asked the EC to immediately remove the chief electoral officer of West Bengal who is unabashedly allowing the TMC to flagrantly violate electoral laws and the commission's orders," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bhupender Yadav told IANS after meeting the EC. A delegation of BJP leaders, including union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajya Sabha member Bhupender Yadav, party spokesman Shrikant Sharma, went to the EC headquarters here on Sunday and submitted a memorandum. The BJP also demanded that elections in nine assembly constituencies of the Birbhum district, where voting is still on, be revoked. "The EC, during their recent visit to West Bengal on the April 14, passed an order for house arrest of Anubrato Mondal, the TMC district head of Birbhum. In clear and gross violation of EC orders, and encouraged by (chief minister) Mamata Banerjee, Anubrato Mondal continued his unlawful activities of spreading terror by touring all the nine assembly constituencies in his district," the BJP memorandum read. "Reports of violence by the TMC goons at the behest of Mondal and Mamata Banerjee, have begun to pour in since the start of polls this morning," it added, drawing the EC's attention to the situation in West Bengal. This is the second time within a week that a BJP delegation has approached the EC over West Bengal elecgtions. Swedish researchers have identified a protein commonly found in connective tissue that contributes to the development as well as spread of breast cancer. Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) is a protein that has been found in cartilage -- a connective tissue found in many areas of the body including joints between bones of elbows, knees and ankles. "We did not expect to find COMP in connection with breast cancer, and we were also surprised by the strong effect it had on the development of breast cancer in mice," said Emelie Englund, researcher at Lund University in Sweden. The findings revealed that women, who had higher levels of COMP, experienced an increase in the spread of breast cancer, to the surrounding tissues and also showed an increase in the mortality rate. COMP not only contributed to a more rapid growth of the primary tumour, but also to the formation of metastases. Further, COMP affects the cell metabolism and makes the breast environment less favourable to healthy cells. It makes the cancer cells more resistant to natural cell death. "We saw a clear association between high levels of COMP and a worse breast cancer prognosis", explained Anna Blom, professor, in the paper published in the journal Oncogene. Various amounts of COMP were found in both the tumours and the surrounding tissue, but never in healthy breast tissue. With more research, COMP has the potential of becoming an indicator of aggressive breast cancer, and thereby providing early and valuable information before deciding on an appropriate treatment, the researchers indicated. The results are based on a clinical study of breast tissue from a little more than 600 women with breast cancer. The government on Sunday announced that it proposes to simplify procedures for grant of Indian citizenship to minority Hindus from Pakistan. The proposal also envisages allowing "minority communities of Pakistan staying in India on a Long Term Visa" to buy property, open bank accounts and obtain permanent account number (PAN) and Aadhaar number, a home ministry official said here. According to the proposal, the collectors or district magistrates of 18 districts will be empowered for two years' period to grant citizenship to such people at heavily reduced fees. The districts are Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Kutch and Patan (Gujarat), Bhopal and Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune and Thane (Maharashtra), West Delhi and South Delhi (National Capital Territory), Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). Having reviewed "the hardships being faced by the minority communities in Pakistan staying in India on Long Term Visa", the government also plans to allow such people to open bank accounts and obtain PAN and Aadhaar number, the official said. "These are only at proposal stage," the official told IANS and sought public comments and suggestions on the measures proposed. The feedback may be sent to the foreigners cell of the union home ministry. It is further proposed that the fees for registration as citizen of India for nationals of Pakistan belonging to minority communities be reduced from Rs.5,000 (under registration) and Rs.15,000 (under naturalisation) to a uniform fee of Rs.100 each at the time of application and at the time of grant of certificate of registration or naturalisation. "There are reports that a number of Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities in those countries, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists, have been compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution," the official said. Many of these people enter India either without any valid travel document or with one whose validity has expired. The government decided in September 2015 "on humanitarian considerations" to exempt Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, to stay in the country even after expiry of their travel documents. The exact number of minority refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan living in India is not known. Rough official estimates suggest there could be about two lakh such people, mostly Hindus and Sikhs. There is a large number of Pakistani Hindu refugee settlements Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Kutch, Bhopal, Indore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Delhi and Lucknow, sources said. Issue of driving licence, permission to take up self-employment or for doing business which is considered safe from security point of view besides issuance of Aadhaar number and PAN are some of facilities being planned, the source added. Curfew was imposed in Gujarat's Mehsana town after pro-reservation Patidars (Patels) turned violent, leading to arson and clashes with police on Sunday. Authorities suspended internet service in Mehsana after the violence and police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all north Gujarat towns, besides Ahmedabad and Surat, which are known strongholds of the pro-quota Patels. More than 1,000 agitators from the Patel community in Mehsana and over 500 in Surat were taken into preventive custody as large crowds gathered near the district jails in both places in defiance of prohibitory orders. Police burst over two dozen teargas shells and used water cannons to disperse the crowds. Sardar Patel Group (SPG) convener Lalji Patel sustained head injuries as his supporters pelted policemen with stones. Patel along with his supporters was also taken into preventive custody. The SPG has given a call for a shutdown in Gujarat on Monday in protest against the police action. The SPG is a pro-quota group like the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti of Hardik Patel, which has been agitating for over eight months for reservation for the Patels in government jobs and educational institutions under the Other Backward Class category. Sunday's 'jail bharo' programme was in support of the demand for the release of the jailed Patel leaders and withdrawal of cases against them. The SPG earlier announced its second round of agitation if its demands were not met by April 17. A young filmmaker from a small town in West Bengal's Darjeeling district is all set to head off to the French Riviera. Saurav Rai's 28-min film "Gudh" (Nest) is the only official Indian entry to compete in the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival's Cinefondation Selection. "It is autobiographical. The film is a recollection of my childhood in a very raw and bold form. It also showcases my relationship with my grandparents and parents. My genre of filmmaking is not pleasing to anyone," Rai told IANS from New Delhi, where he is busy shooting for a travelogue. To mark its 19th year, the Cinefondation Selection has chosen 18 films (14 works of fiction and four animations), from among the 2,300 works submitted this year by film schools from all over the world. Fifteen countries from three continents are represented. Rai is set to leave for Cannes on May 10. Born in Mangwa near Kalimpong in Darjeeling, Rai's childhood was split between Mangwa and Kathmandu in neighbouring Nepal in the 1980s. A Satyajit Ray Film & TV Institute student, he has also weaved in hints of the Gorkhaland movement for independent statehood in the film's background. Now in the national capital, Rai is aware of the assembly polls underway on Sunday in his Darjeeling district where his grandparents and parents live. "I would have loved to be there during the polls but my priority at the moment involves learning as much as I can while travelling and shooting. My commitments were made before the election announcements. However, I will try to be there with my family next time because after all, I am a local village lad from Mangwa," Rai said. Pushing 30, Rai doesn't adhere to any particular belief about politics in the north Bengal hills. "I don't believe in anything in particular. I feel everyone has to do their part and for me it is to tell stories about people and their surroundings," he added. Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was hospitalised on Saturday morning for "high fever and chest infection", is recovering well and his reports are "normal", confirms a representative of his actor-wife Saira Banu. The 93-year-old thespian ran high fever and suffered from nausea on Saturday morning and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital here. "Dilip sir is recovering well and all his reports have also come normal. He will be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days," Saira's representative told IANS. Born in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, Dilip Kumar, whose real name is Yusuf Khan, entered the Indian film industry in the black-and-white era and became a name to reckon with in the 1950s and 1960s. Besides films like "Aan", "Daag", "Madhumati", "Paigham", "Leader" and "Ram Aur Shyam", his cinematic gems range from the tragic story of "Devdas", the historical love saga "Mughal-E-Azam" to the dacoit drama "Ganga Jamuna". After working for about six decades, he stepped away from the arclights in 1998. His last movie was "Qila". Dilip Kumar was honoured with Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, in 2015. The Puttingal Devi temple here where a fireworks disaster killed 114 people opened on Sunday to devotees for the first time after a week. With devotees looking on, temple priest Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri opened the temple and offered the customary prayers, residents said. A huge pile of fireworks exploded early on the morning of April 10 at the temple in Paravur town here, killing 114 people and leaving more than 350 injured. While a concrete building nearby where the fireworks had been stored came crashing down, the temple was not affected in the disaster. The re-opening on Sunday followed a few rounds of talks that the elders in the area held amongst themselves. The temple administration committee consists of 15 members, of which seven are now in police custody. The others, including a woman member, are on the run since the disaster. The temple has become a must visit spot not just for Kollam residents but for many who pass through the National Highway 47 nearby. A Pakistani commentator has hit out at a private TV channel for using "extemely offensive and derogatory remarks" targeting the Hindu minority. A commentary published in The Nation pointed out that the audience roared with laughter when the performer, while apparently trying to be funny, used the word "dog" to describe Hindus. "I am surprised how this was allowed to go on air keeping in mind there are millions of Hindus living in Pakistan," the commentator said. "Unfortunately, from text books to talk shows to common people, this culture of considering Hindus 'impure' or 'inferior' continues, thanks to the likes of such people who in disguise of their 'funny content' keep this hatred alive." The commentator pointed out that all hell breaks loose when Donald Trump passes his hateful remarks towards Muslims. "Before whining about a racist sitting miles away in the US, have some self-reflection: What we have been doing to the very people of our own country, the people who have been living in this land for thousands of years, long before Muslims arrived. "Many might not know this but a part of our land, which today is part of 'Islamic Republic of Pakistan', is the birthplace of Hinduism. "Publicly insulting followers of that religion in the same country is extremely disrespectful to say the least." Five members of a family from Andhra Pradesh, including two women, were killed on Sunday when their vehicle rammed into a truck in Bihar's Kaimur district, police said. All those killed were tourists who were on their way from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Gaya town in Bihar, a district police officer said. "Five people were killed on the spot and two were seriously injured and admitted to a hospital in Varanasi for treatment," the police officer said. The accident took place near Mohania town in Kaimur when the vehicle in which the Andhra Pradesh family was travelling crashed into a truck parked by the roadside, the officer said. All the victims were identified as residents of Rajahmundry in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. French President Francios Hollande began three-day official visit to Egypt on Sunday to boost ties with the Middle East country. "The visit reflects a mutual desire to further boost firm ties to a more distinguished level," Xinhua quoted the presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef as saying. The visit will also provide an opportunity to promote cooperation with France in all fields, particularly in economy. "After a joint conference, a number of agreements will be signed," Youssef said. Hollande is on a three-nation tour in the Middle East -- Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. With the shroud of secrecy partially lifted for the first time from the process of electing the next UN secretary general, the nine candidates are taking their case to the world and seeking out influencers like India. Each of the nine candidates spent two hours presenting their vision for the UN before the 193-member General Assembly over three days beginning last Tuesday and subjected themselves to a grilling from not only diplomats but also from ordinary citizens picked by civil society organisations. Under the spotlight of democracy, the candidates vying to succeed Ban Ki-moon, who completes his second term at the end of this year, are reaching beyond the Security Council's five permanent members (P5) to meeting with diplomats individually and in groups. According to diplomatic sources, six of them have so far met with India's Permanent Representative, Syed Akbaruddin, some of them visiting him at the Indian mission. A diplomatic source said they are meeting Akabaruddin individually and have been in touch with officials in New Delhi because they think India is a "significant influencer" of opinion at the UN. With the Security Council expected to begin considering the nominations in July, it is likely that some more candidates may join the fray. If they do, another round of candidate meetings will be held. In the 70 years of the UN, all the eight secretaries general were essentially picked by the P5 - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - and the General Assembly merely rubber-stamped the choice. Although the veto-wielding P5 will continue to have the ultimate say, it could still be different this time. "The Security Council will now have the public to answer to if it fails to put merit before political convenience in its decision later this year," said Natalie Samarasinghe, the executive director of United Nations Association - UK and the co-founder of 1 for 7 Billion, a campaign for opening up the election process. "It was easy to select the lowest-denominator candidate when meetings were taking place behind closed doors, but the element of public scrutiny that has now emerged ...has thrown a spotlight on to the proceedings," Samarasinghe added. "The General Assembly will no longer be simply a rubber stamp for the P5 governments' very, very flawed selection process," explained William R. Pace, the executive director of the Institute for Global Policy. "The P5 and the Security Council will make their recommendation; but for the first time in the 70 years of the United Nations, the General Assembly will know who have been nominated, what are their qualifications, what are their visions of the job, how they respond to open hearings and questioning," Pace added. And the world is watching: according to the UN more than 222,000 people have watched the candidate meetings online. The opening up of the process is an achievement of General Assembly president Mogens Lykketoft, who described it as a potential "game-changer" for the way the elections are held. Diplomats IANS spoke to said that having the candidates face the entire UN in election campaign-style meetings did put some limitations on the Security Council by restricting the choice to them. It cannot ignore the candidates who performed really well and it cannot at the last minute bring in "a dark horse in the race" who hasn't gone through this process, they said. "To that extent most diplomats feel that this is a process that has been good, it is open and transparent, it has provided every member state some role or the other," said one ambassador. Some of the candidates also participated in public fora in New York organised outside the UN by the International Peace Institute and by a group made up of the United Kingdom UN Association, the Guardian newspaper and the New America Foundation, where they spoke to citizens and answered their questions. At the General Assembly candidates meetings, the members of the G4 - Brazil, Germany, India and Japan - which campaign together for Security Council reforms and mutually support each other for permanent Council seats - rotated questioning the candidates. Akbaruddin raised the terrorism issue with two of the candidates when it was his turn. Antonio Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said that terrorism is a major issue on his agenda. The UN has to focus more on terrorism, he said, particularly preventing violent extremism before it metamorphosises into terrorism. Guterres said that one of the reasons that the UN has not been able to effectively tackle terrorism is the absence of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). India has been pushing for such a global treaty to fight terrorism, but the initiative has languished for about 20 years because of differences over defining terrorism and terrorists. Srgjan Kerim, a former president of the General Assembly and a former foreign minister of Macedonia, was asked by Akbaruddin about the CCIT. He replied that it should have been there when he was the president of the General Assembly in 2007 and that he had been keen to have it adopted then. When Akbaruddin asked Guterres about Security Council reform, the other subject of importance to India, he would not be pinned down on specific changes saying it was for the members to decide. When other candidates were asked about lt by other G4 members or in public forums they either ignored it or were evasive. For example, Natalia Gherman, the former Moldova foreign minister, said at the International Peace Institute forum that the secretary general's role would be to help the member nations make an informed decision on Council reforms and facilitate unity in the General Assembly and the Council. Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, who is now the head of the UN Development Programme was the keynote speaker at B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary celebrations at the UN on Wednesday in the middle of the candidate sessions. Sources familiar with the event organisation said that it had nothing to do with her candidature as it had not been announced when she was invited to the meeting as a development expert and an advocate of empowerment of women and the downtrodden. The nine candidates - four of them women - represent a wide range of experience. In the overlapping offices that they hold or have held at various times, two have been prime ministers, three have headed or now head UN organisations, six have been or are now foreign ministers and one has been the president of the General Assembly. Seven of them are from Eastern Europe. Under the tradition of geographic rotation of the secretary general's office, it is now the the turn of Europe and East Europeans have staked their claim because all the three previous Europeans have been from the West. There is also a groundswell of public opinion for electing a woman to the office and for the first time women are contesting. The other candidates are former Irina Bokova, a Bulgarian who is the director general of Unesco; Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic; Montenegro foreign minister Igor Lukcsic; former Croatian foreign minister Vesna Pusic, and former Slovenian president Danilo Turk. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) India plans to continue supply of high speed diesel to Bangladesh, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Sunday. "India is planning to continue supply of HSD in a sustainable manner," said Pradhan, who is on a three-day visit here, referring to supply of 2200 MT high speed diesel from Siliguri marketing terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). Pradhan met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and shared the details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). He sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides as well as discussing the "Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline". IOC and BPC will sign an MoU on broad aspects of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh. Pradhan is slated to meet Bangladeshi Power Minister Nasrul Hamid and Hasina's adviser on energy, power and mineral resources Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. On April 19, he will visit Chittagong to witness award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited (EIL) as project management and consultant for its three MMTPA refinery expansion project. India and Iran on Sunday talked business and committed to boost bilateral economic ties in the Gulf nation that has just emerged from the crippling US-led Western sanctions after a landmark nuclear deal. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met in the Iranian capital to give fresh momentum to the bilateral ties between the two countries, particularly towards increasing Indian investments in the lucrative oil and gas sectors of Iran. Sushma Swaraj arrived in Tehran on Saturday at the start of her two-day visit to boost overall ties between the two countries, particularly bidding to raise India's fuel imports after the trade embargoes against the oil-rich Gulf nation were lifted. Vikas Swarup, the Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson, said the delegation level talks between the two leaders were "constructive and cordial". The two sides discussed progress made on the strategic Chabahar port project that will give India sea-land access route to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan. "Both sides agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending $150 million credit for Chabahar port should be signed in the very near future," Swarup said. The talks also focused on Indian investment in areas of energy and connectivity in Iran. This comes after the Indian government has already approved a proposal to extend a $150 million credit for the development of the port located off Iran's south eastern coast. "Both sides discussed the energy partnership. Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India," Swarup said. The two sides also hailed the "constructive discussions" held during a visit to Iran by India's Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Prasad over Farzad-B gas field that is estimated to contain 12.8 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves. The gas field in the Persian Gulf was discovered by India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Ltd. (OVL) in 2008. There were apprehensions that the oil field was slipping out of hands of the the Indian company amid speculations that Iran may put it up for fresh bidding. But the concern seemed to have been addressed as Iran has decided to keep the field "outside the auction basket", Swarup said. "The concerned companies (from the two countries) have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner." He said that the Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula to India. In terms of connectivity, Swarup said Iran has also committed it full support India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement -- an international transport and transit corridor to facilitate transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. "The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan Railway link," he said They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis, he said. Earlier, Sushma Swaraj met members of the Indian community in Iran and visited a Sikh gurudwara. She visited an Indian school in the Iranian capital. Children in the school performed a show to depict the cultural blend of the two nations. Sushma Swaraj's visit comes two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia -- a regional rival to largely Shia-populated Iran. India and Saudi Arabia have committed to scale up their strategic ties. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are expected to face an uphill task when they take on below par defending champions Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League (IPL) tie at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday. Hyderabad suffered a terrible start to their campaign with big losses against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. The SRH bowling has been poor so far, suffering a hamerring at the hands of Bengalore's Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in their first match and were blown away by Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir in their second game. The batting has not been exceptional either. Shikhar Dhawan has carried his long run of poor form into the IPL which has put his opening partner David Warner under extra pressure. In the middle-order, Moises Henriques and Deepak Hooda have struggled to get going. Apart from Warner, Eoin Morgan is the only other SRH batsman who is in good form, although Naman Ojha has shown some promise lower down the order. Mumbai have also struggled to get going, losing two of their three matches. Their batting has been below par. Hardik Pandya has been a flop show in the number three slot while Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel have been promising but inconsistent. Much was expected of Kieron Pollard, but the West Indies all-rounder has not been promising with the bat. New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan has been the stand out performer among the Mumbai bowlers. The left-arm pacer has been extremely incisive and economical so far and could be among the highest wicket-takers this season if he continues his current form. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has not been at his best recently, but has more than enough experience to bounce back. With more bowling options in Tim Southee, Corey Anderson and Pollard, the SRH batsmen can expect a difficult time on Monday. In a significant development, Iran on Sunday said it will be happy to partner India in the refinery sector. The Iranian offer came during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iranian counterpart Javed Zarif in Tehran, an official here said. "Both sides discussed the energy partnership between India and Iran," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup informed the media. "Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India," he said. This is significant given that Sushma Swaraj's four-day ongoing visit to Iran comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, India's biggest oil supplier, earlier this month amidst speculation that it might impact New Delhi's traditional ties with Tehran and the deteriorating ties between the Gulf rivals, especially after the execution of a Shia cleric by Riyadh's Sunni rulers in January this year. The execution of Nimr Al-Nimr, a Saudi national and a Shia cleric in January this year, created a volatile situation in the Middle East with the Saudi missions in Iran coming under attack and Riyadh cutting off diplomatic ties with Shia-majority Tehran. The Indian minister's visit comes in the wake of the lifting of UN-sponsored sanctions on the Gulf nation for its nuclear programme. Swarup said that on the Farzad B gas field, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of Minister of State for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan. "The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad B field outside the auction basket. The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time-bound manner. The Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ (special economic zone)," the spokesman stated. Iran also said it fully supported India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as its founding members. Kazakhstan also joined this arrangement later. Accession to the agreement would enable India to utilise this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction with the Eurasian region Sushma Swaraj and Zarif also reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. India's IRCON will visit Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan railway link, according to Swarup. "On trade and investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense," he said. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis." India and Iran also expressed satisfaction at the release of fishermen and sailors from each other's jails. Given the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), "both sides took note of the good cooperation between the National Security Council structures of the two countries and agreed to intensify this engagement", Swarup said. "In terms of cultural cooperation, given the civilisational links between India and Iran, both sides agreed to promote and strengthen the existing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by observing Weeks of Iran and India in each other's country, publication of manuscripts, organising conferences and events related to language, literature and religion," he said. In another notable development, Iran also agreed to positively consider the establishment of a Hindi chair in Tehran University sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The two ministers also reviewed global and regional issues, in particular the situation in Afghanistan. Iran on Sunday said it will be happy to partner India in the refinery sector as New Delhi issued a statement that it will sign an agreement to invest in the Gulf nation's Chabahar port to boost trade with Afghanistan. "Both sides discussed the energy partnership between India and Iran," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup informed the media. "Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India," he said. An external affairs ministry statement issued soon after said that a draft agreement on the Chabahar port in Iran envisioned "trilateral cooperation for providing alternative access to seas to Afghanistan, inter alia for Afghanistan's trade with India". "When the agreement comes into force, it will significantly enhance utilisation of Chabahar port, contribute to economic growth of Afghanistan, and facilitate better regional connectivity, including between India and connections to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The agreement will be a strategic bulwark for greater flow of people and goods among the three countries as well as in the region," it stated. The statement also said it has been decided that the agreement would be signed at a high level at an early opportunity after completing necessary internal procedures in the three countries. This is significant given that Sushma Swaraj's visit to Iran comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, India's biggest oil supplier, earlier this month amidst speculation that it might impact New Delhi's traditional ties with Tehran and the deteriorating ties between the Gulf rivals, especially after the execution of a Shia cleric by Riyadh's Sunni rulers in January this year. The execution of Nimr Al-Nimr, a Saudi national and a Shia cleric in January this year, created a volatile situation in the Middle East with the Saudi missions in Iran coming under attack and Riyadh cutting off diplomatic ties with Shia-majority Tehran. The Indian minister's visit to Iran also comes in the wake of the lifting of UN-sponsored sanctions on the Gulf nation for it nuclear programme. Swarup said on Sunday that on the Farzad B gas field, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran by Minister of State for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan. "The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad B field outside the auction basket. The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner. The Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ (special economic zone)," the spokesman stated. Iran also said that it fully supported India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as its founding members. Kazakhstan also joined this arrangement later. Accession to the agreement would enable India to utilise this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction with the Eurasian region. Sushma Swaraj and Zarif also reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. A team of experts from India's IRCON will visit Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan railway link, according to Swarup. "On trade and investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense," he said. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis." India and Iran also expressed satisfaction on the release of fishermen and sailors from each other's jails. Given the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), "both sides took note of the good cooperation between the National Security Council structures of the two countries and agreed to intensify this engagement", Swarup said. "In terms of cultural cooperation, given the civilisational links between India and Iran, both sides agreed to promote and strengthen the existing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by observing Weeks of Iran and India in each other's country, publication of manuscripts, organising conferences and events related to language, literature and religion," he said. In another development, Iran also agreed to positively consider the establishment of a Hindi Chair in Tehran University sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The two ministers also reviewed global and regional issues, in particular the situation in Afghanistan. Sushma Swaraj arrived in Tehran on Saturday on the first leg of a two-nation tour. Later, she will travel to Russia. The recent two months have witnessed some unusually active seismic activities across the globe, as a string of powerful earthquakes have jolted Ecuador, Japan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Indonesia, killing dozens of people and triggering several tsunami alerts. Many cannot help wondering: Is this just coincidence, or is our planet once again on a "quake mode" that will trigger one major tremor after another? Even experts find it difficult to draw a quick conclusion, but they have noted that both the magnitudes and frequencies of the recent quakes are still "within a normal range", Xinhua news agency reported. It is hard to judge whether the Earth is experiencing another seismic active period, said Randy Baldwin, a geophysicist with the US Geological Survey. He said the quake-prone zones around the world could see strong shocks coming at any time, but so far there have been no signs of connection between seismic activities in different zones. The causes of the earthquakes are complicated, experts say, while pointing out that the geographic location of Japan and Indonesia, both of which sit right on the Circum-Pacific Seismic Belt, is the main factor behind their frequent quakes. The belt, which extends all the way through the US Pacific coast, China's Taiwan, the Philippines and New Zealand, releases about three quarters of quake-discharged energy from the interior of our planet. It has earned a befitting name -- the Pacific Ring of Fire. While it seems too early to sound the alarm against a new wave of disastrous earthquakes, some scientists insist that certain "high risk zones" do require a close watch. The southern part of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China always has a high geological activeness, and is now entering a "clustering period" of massive quakes above magnitude 7.0, warned Xu Xiwei, a researcher at the Institute of Geology under the China Earthquake Administration. "We have to make further studies to better understand the seismic trends in that region," said Xu. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has asked the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess the quantum of funds at their disposal to finance global growth and make an extra mobilisation effort if found inadequate. "To be a reliable source of contingent financing, it is important to assess the sufficiency of Fund's resources in accordance with the changing global realities, including levels of global growth, the size of trade and capital flows," Jaitley told an IMF meeting. "In the backdrop of constraints in mobilising additional concessional finance on one hand and increased demand for it on the other, the World Bank group will have to walk that extra mile for additional resources for this endeavour," he said in another address here. In fact, during a meeting with World Bank Group (WBG) President Jim Yong Kim, the Indian finance minister specifically said the institution collectively must step up its annual funding volumes to $100 billion. In fiscal 2015, the World Bank, International Finance Corp and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency collectively provided $59.8 billion in loans, grants, equity investments, and guarantees to partner countries and private businesses. Jaitley is here for the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF with Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, among other officials. The Indian finance minister also welcomed the timeline of October 2017 for a shareholding review in IMF and said that the new quota formula should enhance the voice, role and voting shares of developing countries and their increased contribution to global output. He also emphasised the need for a review of the World Bank's shareholding to reflect the emergence of developing countries in the global economy and also ensure that they, along with poor nations, get their due share of funding for infrastructure investment. Jaitley also said there was the need to increase the representation of Indians in the top management of the World Bank, given the "excellent" contribution made by experts from his country to the multilateral funding institution's functioning. During his interactions, Jaitly also said what his government was doing to encourage growth and employment, listing such initiatives like "Make in India", "Digital India", "Start-up India", "Stand-up India", "Skill India" and "Mudra bank". Also being put in place were a progressive and non-adversarial tax regime, a new bankruptcy law, major tax reforms such as the introduction of a pan-India goods and services tax and the simplification of procedures and the repeal obsolete laws, he said. "Our present government is following the approach of 'reform to transform India' through far reaching structural reforms to foster strong and sustainable growth," said Jaitley, concluding the first leg of his US visit. The next halt is in New York. His itinerary there includes an address at the UN on "World Drug Problem". He is also scheduled to address the Asia Society on "Make In India-The New Deal" and hold meetings with top funds to make a pitch to invest in India. A museum dedicated to the Long March of the Red Army, which is due to open in mid-May in China, has received more than 270 items donated by the relatives of the Red Army soldiers. The museum, funded by entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan, will form part of the Jianchuan Museum Cluster, which has more than a dozen museums in Dayi county in Sichuan province -- one of the largest private collections of historical objects in China. The donated items include military coats, bugles, memoirs and autograph albums, Xinhua news agency reported. The 4,000 sq metre museum will feature around 1,000 artifacts, including audio and video anecdotes of personal experiences of the veterans of the 12,500-km Long March. The strategic military manoeuvres led by the Communist Party of China marked the turning of the tide in China's civil war, and formed the basis of the eventual Communist victory in 1949. The Long March passed through much of Sichuan province, which witnessed many important battles. President of Mauritius Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim arrived in Pakistan on Sunday on a four-day visit for talks on bilateral issues. According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, the two sides will explore the possibilities of strengthening existing bilateral ties in various fields of common interest, with particular focus on economic and trade relations, Xinhua news agency reported. The ministry said Firdaus will hold meeting with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, where matters of mutual interests as well as regional and international importance will come under discussion. "The visit will also provide an opportunity for resuming leadership level contacts between the two countries," a ministry spokesman said. Firdaus landed at the port city of Karachi earlier in the day. She will pay a visit to the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan MUhammad Ali Jinnah and the Karachi University. She is accompanied with a nine-member delegation. Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad and senior officials and diplomats received the Mauritius president on her arrival. She held a brief meeting with the governor and ministers of Sindh, officials said. Digital and medical communications solutions provider MedTrix Healthcare plans to foray into the US and European Union (EU) markets to expand its operations following its tie-up with leading pharma companies. "We are planning to expand into multiple geographies by increasing our access to the top pharma firms and doubling the headcount," the city-based company said in a statement here on Sunday. The pharma sector is at its experimental phase in developing and deploying digital health solutions aimed at reaching HCPs (healthcare common procedures) and patients to improve disease outcomes. "Digital solutions are expected to result in 7-11 percent savings in total healthcare spending," MedTrix founder and director Vimal Narayanan said. The HCP codes are based on the American Medical Association's current procedural terminology. Among the company's global pharma clientele are Novartis, Bayer, Nestle, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Amgen. The company has also entered into strategic agreements with key clients in the US and EU markets to expand its footprint worldwide. "Until recently, though we have been engaging with some key clients in many projects in developed markets, most were in a pilot phase. Many of them have gone on to achieve successful metrics, prompting them to provide us with larger engagements," Narayanan noted. As a driver of the paradigm shifts in the pharma industry, the company plans engagements for professionals through digital route and production of digital assets for communications like apps, websites, videos and social media support. "With 6.9-billion dollar investments in digital solutions by global healthcare and pharma industry in 2015, we have begun to offer a berth for India in the growing space for others to follow," Narayanan added. The company also provides support to conceptualize, develop and launch new technologies to benefit patients and healthcare providers with measured return on investment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission president Swami Atmasthanand who is ill and undergoing treatment at a hospital here. On the campaign trail for the West Bengal assembly polls, Modi met the ailing chief monk at Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan, a hospital run by the Mission in Kolkata. Their camaraderie goes back to the early life of Modi when he wanted to become a monk of the order founded by Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. Atmasthananda, who was then posted in Gujarat, suggested to Modi to look for some other career. During the day, Modi addressed rallies in Krishnanagar in Nadia district and at the Shahid Minar Ground in the city. Ridiculing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her rant against the Election Commission (EC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused her of misusing the state machinery. On his third round of electioneering for the state assembly polls, Modi alleged a nexus between the Left, the Congress and the Trinamool Congress in parliament to save "leaders of Didi's (elder sister, as Banerjee is affectionately called) party seen accepting money" in the footage released by the Narada news portal. Charging the three -- Congress, Left Front and Trinamool -- with misgovernance during their respective periods of rule in the state, Modi said that due to lack of jobs, Bengal has now become an "old age home" with the youths going elsewhere to earn a living, leaving behind their parents. "In Bengal, the Left and the Congress are in alliance. In Kerala, they are taking on each other. But in Delhi, the Congress and the Left are together. The happenings in parliament over the past two years prove this," Modi said in Kolkata. He said the Narada issue was handed to the Lok Sabha ethics committee as the BJP had majority there. "But that did not happen in the Rajya Sabha, because we are not in majority there. Didi, Left and the Congress call the shots there." "The issue was not handed over to the Rajya Sabha ethics committee to save those involved in the Narada scam." Earlier, in Krishnanagar of Nadia district, Modi said the Trinamool was on the brink of defeat in the polls. "On the brink of defeat, the Trinamool has lost its senses. Mamata and her party have accepted defeat and that is why she is not fighting with political parties, but rather with the EC," Modi said. "Polls will come and go, but if these institutions are destroyed, the country will not be able to be run. The EC gave notice to you (Mamata) and it was your responsibility to put forth your stand, your views but instead you are saying, you will see the EC after May 19 (the day of counting)," he said. He was referring to Banerjee's April 14 outburst against the poll panel after getting a show-cause notice for violation of the model code of conduct. Slamming Banerjee for "trying to destroy" an independent institution like the EC, Modi said: "The country runs on laws and rules and if you want disobey them, then clarify before the people whether you have faith in democracy or not, whether you have faith in the country's constitution or nor not." Pointing to the state chief secretary replying to the EC notice slapped on Banerjee, Modi charged her with misusing the state machinery. "I read somewhere that the reply to Banerjee's notice has been given by the chief secretary. If this is true, then this is the biggest flouting of poll rules. The EC notice was sent to the Trinamool chief and not the chef minister. It was the responsibility of Didi or her party or her party's lawyer to reply," he said. "It is blatant misuse of the government. Didi, Indira Gandhi lost her membership for six years for misusing the government," said Modi, referring to the Allahabad High Court decision barring then prime minister Gandhi from holding elected office for six years in 1975. He also attacked the Trinamool over corruption issues and ridiculed the Congress-Left Front tie-up. Speaking at the Shahid Minar in Kolkata, Modi said the same set of people were involved in the Narada sting footage, the multi-billion-rupee Saradha scam and the collapse of the Vivekananda Road flyover in Kolkata. Modi urged the people to punish those ruining the state. "Punish them once, and every five years they will be accountable, and they will be forced to do some good work." He said the Congress, Left and the Trinamool have made Bengal, especially Kolkata "an old age home". "Youths go elsewhere to earn their living. The old parents are left behind." He said there was a time when people across India used to come to Kolkata. "Today, the situation is completely opposite. "But there is a solution. Even as a sinking ship can be taken to the shore if the pilot has the calibre, development is the only solution",a the prime minister claimed, urging the people to vote the BJP to power. Ridiculing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her rant against the Election Commission (EC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused her of misusing the state machinery. On his third round of electioneering for the state assembly polls, Modi alleged a nexus between the Left, the Congress and the Trinamool Congress in parliament to save "leaders of Didi's (elder sister, as Banerjee is affectionately called) party seen accepting money" in the footage released by the Narada news portal. "In Bengal, the Left and the Congress are in alliance. In Kerala, they are taking on each other. But in Delhi, the Congress and the Left are together. The happenings in parliament over the past two years prove this," Modi said in Kolkata. He said the Narada issue was handed to the Lok Sabha ethics committee as the BJP had majority there. "But that did not happen in the Rajya Sabha, because we are not in majority there. Didi, Left and the Congress call the shots there." "The issue was not handed over to the Rajya Sabha ethics committee to save those involved in the Narada scam. "All these people are the same," said the prime minister. Earlier, in Krishnanagar of Nadia district, Modi said the Trinamool was on the brink of defeat in the polls. "On the brink of defeat, the Trinamool has lost its senses. Mamata and her party have accepted defeat and that is why she is not fighting with political parties, but rather with the EC," Modi said. "Polls will come and go, but if these institutions are destroyed, the country will not be able to be run. The EC gave notice to you and it was your responsibility to put forth your stand, your views but instead you are saying, you will see the EC after May 19 (day of counting)," he said. He was referring to Banerjee's April 14 outburst against the poll panel after getting a show-cause notice for violation of the model code of conduct. Slamming Banerjee for "trying to destroy" an independent institution like the EC, Modi said: "The country runs on laws and rules and if you want disobey them, then clarify before the people whether you have faith in democracy or not, whether you have faith in the country's constitution or nor not." Pointing to the allegations that the notice to Banerjee was replied to by the state chief secretary, Modi charged her with misusing the state machinery. "I read somewhere that the reply to Banerjee's notice has been given by the chief secretary. If this is true, then this is the biggest flouting of poll rules. The EC notice was sent to the Trinamool chief and not the chef minister. It was the responsibility of Didi or her party or her party's lawyer to reply," he said. "I don't know if he (chief secretary) has done that, I've heard on my way about it. But if it has happened, then it is blatant misuse of the government. Didi, Indira Gandhi lost her membership for six years for misusing the government," said Modi referring to the Allahabad High Court decision barring then prime minister Gandhi from holding elected office for six years in 1975. He also attacked the Trinamool over corruption issues and ridiculed the Congress-Left Front tie-up. Speaking at the Shahid Minar in Kolkata, Modi said the same set of people were involved in the Narada sting footage, the multi-billion-rupee Saradha scam and the collapse of the Vivekananda Road flyover in Kolkata. Modi urged the people to punish those ruining the state. "Punish them once, and every five years they will be accountable, and they will be forced to do some good work." He said the Congress, Left and the Trinamool have made Kolkata "an old age home". "Youths go elsewhere to earn their living. The old parents are left behind." He said there was a time when people across India used to come to Kolkata. "Today, the situation is completely opposite. "But there is a solution. Even as a sinking ship can be taken to the shore if the pilot has the calibre, development is the only solution". Moroccan authorities announced on Saturday that they have foiled in the coastal city of Agadir a smuggling operation of 17.4 tons of cannabis heading to Scandinavian countries. The drugs were packed in bags to be transported by vessels on the high seas, authorities said in a statement. Moroccan security services arrested seven people and seized $100,000 in cash, two trucks, four cars, ships, arms and ammunition, Xinhua news agency reported. Last Sunday, Morocco said it had aborted a smuggling involving 6.3 tons of cannabis heading to Europe. Morocco is one of the world's largest cannabis resin producers, also known as hashish. The World Customs Authority reported that in 2013, 65 percent of the hashish seized by customs worldwide originated from Morocco, with most of it heading to Europe. The Myanmar government has granted amnesty to 83 prisoners on Sunday, the country's traditional new year day, according to a presidential order. The presidential pardon was granted with an aim to bring about national reconciliation and to ensure peace of mind of the people on the occasion of the new year, said the presidential order. On April 8, a total of 199 prisoners, including political activists and students facing trial connected with politics, were released from prisoners across the country, Xinhua news agency reported. That release came a day after State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to seek presidential pardon to political prisoners and activists. Among them were 36 women and two children, according to the Police Force. The release was the first after the new government took office. Rafael Nadal is set to chase his ninth Monte Carlo Masters title after beating Andy Murray from one set down on Saturday and setting up a final clash against Frenchman Gael Monfils. Nadal, who won in the Principality from 2005-2012, claimed a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Murray and extended his record against the Briton to 17-6 and 7-1 on clay, reports Xinhua. The fifth seeded Spaniard, who has been struggling since losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic, overcame a sluggish start on Saturday and broke serve in the seventh game of the second set to take the initiative. He later demonstrated his mastery on clay by breaking at the beginning of the third set before reaching the 100th final of his career. "It's great to be back in the final," said Nadal. "Every year is different. I'll never be the same as I was in 2009 or 2013. I want to play better every day." Nadal, 29, has not won a Masters title in two years and a victory on Sunday will earn him a chance to equal Djokovic's record of having 28 Masters titles. His final hurdle will be the 13th seed Monfils, who eased past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 6-3 in an all-French semifinal, breaking the eighth seed's serve six times in just over an hour. Monfils, also 29 years old, is the first Frenchman reaching the final at Monte Carlo since Cedric Pioline in 2000. At least nine Guantanamo Bay detainees have been transferred to Saudi Arabia, cutting the number of inmates of the notorious US detention facility in Cuba to 80, the Pentagon has said. The nine detainees include Tariq Ali Abdullah Ahmed Ba Odah, a Yemeni cleared for transfer by the US government in 2009 who had been on a hunger strike since 2007 in protest of his indefinite detention without charge or trial, said Pentagon on Saturday. "The US is grateful to Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing US effort to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," Xinhua news agency cited the Pentagon as saying. The Saudis agreed to accept the detainees after "lengthy negotiations", marking a potential turning point in the US's often frayed relations with Saudi Arabia, a US official said. The transfer also came ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama to Riyadh next week to meet Gulf leaders to discuss the campaign against the extremist Islamic State group. In his apparent last-ditch effort to seek cooperation from a hostile Republican-controlled Congress to close the Guantanamo detention facility, Obama unveiled a long-stalled closure plan in February. According to the plan, some of the detainees still held in Guantanamo would be transferred to other countries, and the Obama administration would review the threat posed by detainees who were not eligible for transfers and identify those eligible for military trials. However, the closure plan left unanswered a crucial question as to where the administration would put some detainees ineligible for transfers inside the US. Republicans in the Congress had already pledged to fight against bringing any Guantanamo detainees back to the US. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has not only achieved nothing of substance over five decades but now risks losing whatever relevance it may have, a Pakistani daily said on Sunday. "In its nearly five-decade existence, the organisation has achieved hardly anything of substance in any field - political, economic, cultural - and has served as little more than a talk shop for the Muslim world's princes, potentates and rulers," the Dawn said in an editorial. "Sadly, by allowing itself to be used in intra-Muslim bilateral and geopolitical disputes, the OIC risks losing whatever relevance it retains," it added. The editorial followed a statement that was issued after the recent summit in Istanbul in which "harsh, undiplomatic tone" was used against Iran. "Buried in between rhetoric about Palestine and Kashmir in the lengthy statement is a scathing attack on Iran," Dawn said. Iran was flayed for interfering in the internal affairs of other states in the region and for supporting "terrorism". "This development, unfortunately, reflects the deep polarization that is today threatening to tear the Muslim world apart." The editorial said that while the Saudis had dominated the OIC, which is headquartered in Jeddah, "yet perhaps rarely has the organisation been used to lambaste a member state in this fashion. "Iranian displeasure was indicated by the fact that President (Hassan) Rouhani did not attend the closing meeting." The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Sikkim has recently established a supercomputer 'Param Kanchenjunga', which is said to be fastest among all 31 NITs, an official said. "It is aimed to help in research and academics. Since NIT Sikkim has research areas like climate modelling etc., the supercomputer would aid in these fields as well. It is the fastest and most powerful among the NITs," Sanjay Wandhekar, associate director and head, High Performance Computing, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) - Pune, told IANS. The supercomputer was established jointly with C-DAC - Pune last week at a cost of Rs.3 crore, said Wandhekar. North Korea could conduct its fifth nuclear test before May, South Korean officials said on Sunday. The flow of vehicles and personnel at the Punggye-ri base in the northeast of the country has increased recently, "about three or four times" compared to last month, Yonhap News Agency quoted the officials as saying. They pointed out that a growing number of vehicles, which could carry nuclear energy technicians, have been seen going in and out of the tunnels which lead to the underground spaces where such type of tests are carried out. These facts have led the Seoul government to assess that this is "a compelling signal that North Korea is preparing for its fifth nuclear test" and, therefore, the authorities are closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country. Seoul had warned months ago of the possibility that Pyongyang might carry out a fifth atomic test. The Pyongyang regime carried out nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and most recently in January this year when it allegedly detonated a hydrogen bomb, though some experts have doubted the claim. January's test was followed by the launch of a space rocket in February, suspected by the international community to be a covert missile test. In response to both actions, the United Nations Security Council imposed harsher trade sanctions on Pyongyang, while South Korea, the US and Japan have declared unilateral measures in addition to trying to stifle North Korea's economy. Mercedes' racing driver Nico Rosberg secured his third China Grand Prix win and sixth successive F1 victory here on Sunday. Rosberg secured victory after pulling ahead of Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo, who had dominated the first laps but ended up in the fourth place after team-mate Daniil Kvyat, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Rosberg. Force India's Sergio Perez was 11th while his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg ended 15th. "Thank you guys and thank you Shanghai!" tweeted the 30-year-old Rosberg after the race on Sunday. Rosberg raced ahead after the first laps and finished over 37 seconds ahead of the throng of drivers, while behind him a flurry of chaotic drama ensued in the 56-lap circuit. Team Red Bull's Kyvat -- who ended in the third place -- passed Vettel on the inside in Turn 2 and nearly caused the Ferrari driver to crash into his team-mate Kimi Raikonnen, who ended up in the fifth place. Though Vettel eventually caught up to take the second place in the race, the 28-year-old challenged Kyvat about his risky move afterwards. "You came like a torpedo, if I keep going the same line, we crash," said Vettel in a conversation recorded by a fan and posted on Twitter as a sheepish Kyvat says with a smile, "I was racing!" Later, on the victory podium, Rosberg sprayed Vettel in the head with champagne before doing a victory dance and chugging the sparkling wine from the bottle. The next race will be held on May 1 at the Sochi Autodrum street circuit in southern Russia's Black Sea coast in Krasnodar Krai. Suki Waterhouse and her presenter friend Poppy Jamie lived with a tribe in Brazil after being invited by someone they met in South America. The 24-year-old model and Jamie have recently returned from the Amazon, and the pair were concerned they might contract the mosquito-borne, symptom-free Zika virus, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "Suki and I met this guy in Brazil who invited us to live with a tribe, so we did it. We were quite worried about contraction the Zika virus though. We risked our lives for a good Instagram," LOOK magazine quoted Jamie as saying. Despite their medical concerns, the two women had a great time together. "Quite honestly, Suki is one of the best people who's ever lived. Having just spent the week with her I now feel like I have stomach muscles from laughing. We're launching our own friendship brand in October," Jamie said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met members of the Indian community in Iran and visited a Sikh gurudwara at the start of her two-day Tehran visit to boost ties between the two countries, particularly raising India's fuel imports after the US removed trade embargoes against the oil-rich Gulf nation. Sushma Swaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also led "delegation level talks on India-Iran relations", external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. The talks were held as the sides reviewed bilateral relations amid a focus on boosting ties in energy and trade. Earlier, Sushma Swaraj, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday, visited an Indian school in the Iranian capital. Children in the school performed a show to depict the cultural blend of the two nations. "A little India in the heart of Tehran. Students of Kendriya Vidyalaya welcomed Sushma Swaraj. Our centuries old and civilizational links with Iran have been strengthened by the cultural activities of the Indian school," Swarup said. "I am commencing my visit to Iran with a new energy after meeting with Indian community," Sushma Swaraj said in her address to the schoolchildren. The minister began her Sunday morning with a visit to a gurudwara that was established in Tehran some 75 years ago. The spokesperson said it was "a unique morning for the Indian community in Tehran as Sushma Swaraj visited the gurudwara and its community school". Sushma Swaraj assured Indian "community members (that) she will raise issues of concern to them with the Iranian leadership", Swarup said. Sushma Swaraj's visit follows that of union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was in Iran last week. It also comes two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia -- a regional rival to largely Shia-populated Iran. India and Saudi Arabia have committed to scale up their strategic ties. Besides oil, India has vital stakes in connectivity projects in Iran, like the Chabahar port that will open up the country's trade and commercial connectivity with Central Asia and Afghanistan. At least three people were injured in an explosion at a Sikh temple (Gurudwara) in Germany's western city of Essen, police said. The attack took place late Saturday during a celebration at the temple (Gurudwara), The Independent.UK reported. Spokesman of Essen police Lars Lindemann said the explosion was "quite violent", blowing out several windows. One of the injured was said to be in a serious condition. The media reported that three people were arrested in connection with the incident. Sikh groups said the incident took place as people were celebrating the festival of Baisakhi. Lindemann said the police were working on the assumption that the explosion was caused deliberately but there were no indications of a terrorist incident. West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and affirmed the legality of the state government replying to the Election Commission's notice to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over violation of the model code of conduct. Addressing a poll rally on Sunday in Krishnanagar in Nadia district, Modi slammed Banerjee for "misusing the state machinery" by getting the chief secretary to reply to the show-cause notice that was issued by the Election Commission to Banerjee as the Trinamool chairperson and not as the chief minister. Within minutes of Modi's address, Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien asserted that the chief secretary had the right to reply as the notice was addressed to the chief minister. "The letter from the EC is a public document. The tech-savvy Modi could have read it even online. It is addressed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and not the Trinamool Congress or the candidate from Bhowanipore assembly constituency. "So, the chief secretary replying to a letter addressed to the chief minister is in order," said Derek O'Brien, posting an image of the notice on his official Facebook page as well the party website. "Did the prime minister get his facts wrong? Or was he lying," asked the Trinamool spokesperson. The poll panel on Thursday issued notice to Banerjee over her announcement of making Asansol a district and other utterances made at a party rally during the ongoing assembly polls. Curfew was imposed and the Border Security Force (BSF) was deployed in Mehsana town in Gujarat on Sunday after pro-reservation Patidars (Patels) turned violent, leading to arson and clashes with police. Authorities suspended internet services and mobile phone applications till Monday morning in Mehsana and other north Gujarat towns after the violence to prevent the spread of incendiary information. Similar action is likely to be taken in Ahmedabad and certain cities of Saurashtra region, informed sources said. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all north Gujarat towns, besides Ahmedabad and Surat, which are known strongholds of the pro-quota Patels. More than 1,000 agitators from the Patel community in Mehsana and over 500 in Surat were taken into preventive custody as large crowds gathered near the district jails in both places in defiance of prohibitory orders. Surat Police Commissioner Ashish Bhatia told local TV channels that most of those detained were from the Patel-dominated Varachha area. Asserting that trouble-makers would not be spared, Bhatia said: "This city belongs to all and those creating mischief will be dealt with strictly." Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said after a government programme in south Gujarat's Valsad town: "Our government is for the people and not for agitators." Speaking to Gujarati TV channels, state BJP president Vijay Rupani asked the people as well as the police to exercise retraint. The agitators attacked the camp office of Minister of State for Home Rajnikant Patel. An FCI godown and a state government building were set on fire in Mehsana. The Patel mobs also torched a Sub Divisional Magistrate's vehicle and a state transport bus. Two buses of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) were attacked with stones in Patidar-domiated Ghatlodia area of Ahmedabad. A group of Patels blocked the Bhavnagar-Talaja highway in Saurashtra region. About 200 state transport buses were diverted from sensitive routes as a precaution and drivers were instructed to take the buses to the nearest police stations. In Ahmedabad city also, some buses run by AMTS were diverted from Patel-dominated pockets while civic authorities were holding a meeting to decide on discontinuing several routes in the city. Police burst over two dozen tear gas shells and used water cannons as well as rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. Sardar Patel Group (SPG) convener Lalji Patel sustained head injuries as his supporters pelted policemen with stones. Gujarat TV channels reported police as saying that Patel was hurt in the stone-throwing and not lathicharge. Patel along with his supporters was also taken into preventive custody. The SPG has given a call for a shutdown in Gujarat on Monday in protest against the police action. The SPG is a pro-quota group like the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti of Hardik Patel, which has been agitating for over eight months for reservation for the Patels in government jobs and educational institutions under the Other Backward Class category. Sunday's 'jail bharo' programme was in support of the demand for the release of the jailed Patel leaders and withdrawal of cases against them. The SPG earlier announced its second round of agitation if its demands were not met by April 17. He is all of 23 years but that has not stopped Akshay Ahuja from guiding and training even nine-year-olds with his engineering skills and helping them create robots. He's even planning a mega-event where 20,000 children will be part of the country's largest robotics show to create technology marvels. Ahuja, an engineer himself, through his 'Robotics World' start-up, wants to make science fun for children and help them with robotics. Having started his company in 2013 to train engineering students, Akshay soon figured out that with a bit of tweaking to suit the interests of young minds, even school children could be imparted engineering and technology skills. "The idea was to make things more practical than theoretical. On doing research, I realized that the system doesn't encourage students to explore how the theories are derived. As a test of my observation, I trained one student who happened to be cited in India Book of Records for creating his own robot," Ahuja, who hails from the industrial city of Ludhiana, told IANS here. "Our company had only 29 engineering students who joined the workshops. It was during these workshops that I realized that the workshops, which were crafted for engineering-level students, if modified a bit, can also interest a school kid," Ahuja pointed out. Having obtained his engineering degree in 2015, Ahuja, who started working on this project when he was in his second year, now heads a team of around 40 to fulfil the vision of 'RoboChamps' - to revolutionize the system. "While working with college students in 2013, I asked a nine-year-old kid to join the same training that college students are undergoing. At the end of the training, which was of six months, I found that the kid had learnt more than engineers. I trained some more nine-year-old kids and they went to IIT-Delhi and competed with engineers. Out of 32 teams they stood third over there," Akshay excitedly pointed out. "It was one of these youngsters who, at nine years of age, figured in the India Book of Records as the youngest boy in the country who created a line-following robot using an Atmega 16 chip," he said. Ahuja does not want to stop at that. He is working to hold the biggest robotics event, Build Your Bot (BYB), in July in which over 20,000 schoolchildren will participate in the national capital New Delhi. "There is also a social cause attached to it as several hundred underprivileged children from slums are being trained free of cost by the 'RoboChamps' team and would be a part of the record-breaking event," Ahuja said. 'RoboChamps' is engaged in providing robotics and technology-based education to young minds through the school education system. "Over 500 children from other countries, including Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and the US, are also expected to be a part of the event to compete with students from across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited to be the chief guest," he said. "Students will start from scratch and make their own line-following robot. While making the robot, they will come to know many concepts practically rather than theoretically. The idea is to enhance the science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills of the children," Ahuja, who is passionately working for the mega-event, concluded. (Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in On March 28 this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an interesting speech at the Bloomberg India Economic Forum 2016. It was praised even by his critics for laying out an impressive array of facts and strategies. Since it was a Bloomberg event, the PM made it a point to mention that "I am grateful for the valuable advice that we have received from Mr Michael Bloomberg in the design of our Smart Cities programme. As mayor of one of the world's great cities, Mr Bloomberg has personal insight into what makes a city tick." We don't know what advice Mr Bloomberg gave Mr Modi, but it is worth recalling how he pioneered a statistical approach to governing cities through predictive analytics, as narrated by Gillian Tett in her book The Silo Effect. Readers can judge whether Mr Bloomberg's strategy can be applied anywhere in India, despite Mr Modi's best intentions. The recurring legal issue over the control of between state governments and the Centre surfaced again when the Kerala government claimed rights over atomic on the southern coast and the Supreme Court dismissed its appeal by majority with one judge dissenting. Traditionally, Indian prime ministers have taken their Cabinet colleagues along on overseas visits. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not known to let his ministers accompany him on his foreign trips, barring a few occasions. A couple of days ago Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla was asked why she did not travel with the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Heptulla said she would have loved to go, "but what to do when the PM loves travelling light?" Modi is also known to keep a punishing schedule on his visits abroad. The Madras High Court last week delivered a significant judgment with potentially wide-reaching consequences on tax treaties with tax havens. Dismissing a writ petition challenging the validity of Section 94A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the judgment declares Cyprus as a non-cooperative jurisdiction for the purposes of Indian taxation. A contractor's all-risk policy not only covers the contract work but also even the workmen, as recently held by the Maharashtra State Commission in the case of Sharad Construction v/s Royal Sundaram. Sharad Construction was engaged by Bennett, Coleman & Co (BCC) as its contractor to construct a printing press at Ahmedabad. Some of the material was to be supplied by BCC, while certain items were to be procured by the contractor. The contractor obtained a Contractor's All Risk Policy (CAR) from Royal Sundaram Insurance, for Rs 2.5 crore. On November 8, 2004, while construction work was on, the casting concrete slab collapsed. Beside material damage, eight workers died. The next of were paid Rs 2 lakh each, totalling Rs 16 lakh. The total loss came to Rs 65.22 lakh, for which an insurance claim was lodged. The insurance company appointed a surveyor, who assessed the loss at Rs 11.03 lakh. The surveyor disallowed the claim for material supplied by BCC and the compensation paid to the next of kin. The insurance company disbursed Rs 11.03 lakh as assessed by the surveyor. The contractor did not sign the settlement voucher, and instead filed a consumer complaint for the remaining amount, along with interest, compensation and costs. The insurance company contested the complaint. It raised an objection that BCC, as the principal, had not been joined as a party to the complaint. The company argued acceptance of the amount disbursed would lead to an inference that the amount had been accepted in full and final settlement, and no further amount could be claimed. It was also argued that the policy did not cover the material supplied by BCC, or cover liability or workmen who died in the accident. The Maharashtra State Commission observed the proposal for the policy had been signed by the contractor alone and hence, BCC as the principal was not a necessary party. The Commission held the contracter was entitled to file the complaint. On merits, the Commission agreed with the insurance company that the material supplied by BCC was not included in the risk covered. Hence, the loss for this material was not payable. The loss in respect of the remaining material had been settled by payment of Rs 11.03 lakh. So, the only issue in question would be whether the claim for the death of the workmen was covered or not, and if covered - to what extent. The insurance company argued that third - party risk up to Rs 5 lakh covered under the policy would insure visitors or others passing by who might suffer an accident, and not extend to the contractor's own workmen. The Commission observed there was a difference between the legal liability to compensate under the Workmen's Compensation Act, and the contractual liability to pay compensation. The Commission held the amount paid to the next of kin of the workmen was payable under the policy. However, though an amount of Rs 16 lakh had been paid to the eight workmen, the risk covered under the policy was only Rs 5 lakh. The Commission held the amount paid as compensation to the workmen would have to be reimbursed. But would be restricted to the sum insured of Rs 5 lakh. Accordingly, by its order of March, 9, 2016, delivered by Narendra Kawde for the bench with P B Joshi, the Maharashtra State Commission ordered the insurance company to pay Rs 5 lakh with nine per cent interest from May 9, 2006, onwards. A period of 45 days was given for compliance, or it would carry 12 per cent interest for the period of delay. In addition, Rs 20,000 was awarded as litigation costs. Thus, compensation payable for accident to workmen is reimbursable under a CAR policy. The author is a consumer activist Mumbai-based musician Manoj Raikar was shopping online for ceramic knives. A set of four was available at half the price on international websites compared to Indian online retailers. Surprised, he checked the shipping cost. It was free. He decided to give it a try. "It was a Rs 900 item and I was willing to take the risk for the savings. The product came after a month but turned out to be value for money," Raikar says.Raikar is among many Indian consumers who have started scouting for deals on international websites to bring down their shopping bill. Many are also logging on to these websites to buy products that are not easily available in India. Some popular websites include Alibaba Group-backed AliExpress.com; Wish.com, co-founded by two former engineers at Google and Yahoo!; and Banggood.com.While many are finding value shopping at these online retailers, experts say consumers need to be cautious while purchasing goods. "Shopping on these websites is similar to swiping your credit card for a physical transaction in a foreign country, which carries many risks," says Mukul Shrivastava, partner, fraud investigation and dispute services, EY.Most India shoppers go to the international websites to buy products in certain categories. These include apparels and lifestyle products, electronics accessories and children's toy. "These are technology-savvy buyers and/or are well-travelled and have shopped abroad. They are also regular users of credit cards unlike majority of Indian online shoppers who prefer cash on delivery," says Mohit Bahl, partner and head of forensic services at KPMG.Most of these consumers start small and gradually increase the value of transaction, according to Ashish Chopra, analyst, Motilal Oswal Securities.Subbu Muthu, a finance professional, ordered two mobile cases to test one such website. The two covers cost him Rs 200 and there were shipping charges of Rs 100.When these were delivered without any hassles, he ordered a mobile scratch guard. After two purchases, he bought a Rs 900 leather sling bag. The same was being sold in India for Rs 2,000. "As my confidence grew, I bought more expensive things," says he.These savvy consumers also restrict the value of their purchase. Raikar, for example, says he is willing to spend only up to Rs 3,000 and Muthu won't spend more than Rs 2,000 on international websites. Despite cheaper products and increasing confidence, they say they won't take a risk with cross-border transactions. These buyers also opt for simpler products, where the chance of damage during shipping is low.Many of these websites are based in China. Websites such as Wish.com are based in the US but most of their sellers are from China. The sellers manage to sell items at low prices, as most products are from unknown brands and many times part of an unsold inventory. The business models of these international online retailers is similar to that of Flipkart and Amazon- they connect sellers with buyers. To avoid fraudulent sellers, these websites have taken adequate measures. However, they are not completely free from selling fake or sub-standard goods.Most follow a standard dispute resolution. They assure refund if the buyer doesn't receive the order within a stipulated time. There is also assurance on quality. Shoppers can also return the goods if damaged or not as described. But, the products need to be unused and the buyer needs to retail original packaging. For exchange, for refund or reporting of damaged goods, there are specific conditions and timeframes.As these websites are located outside the country, consumers need to rely on their reputation, as Indian laws don't apply to them, according to Abhilash Panickar, a lawyer and founder of Entrust Legal Services. If, for some reason, the website doesn't agree with you there's nothing you can legally do.Customs can be another grey area for customers, according to Pinaki Ranjan Mishra, partner and national leader - retail at EY. Some orders can attract Customs. The onus of paying duty is on the customer. Evaluating sellers A US-based website recently reported on eight China-based international websites that targeted women with Facebook ads offering too good-to-be-true deals on clothes. Some of these include Zaful, DressLily, RoseGal, TideBuy, and RomWe. When women ordered these clothes, they received cheap, extremely low-quality knockoffs - far from what was displayed on the websites. Some also received dresses too small to fit them. There was no customer service to help resolve the issue. Experts say shoppers should only shop at well-known shopping websites. If you search for the website reputation online, read buyers' experience on as many websites as possible. That's because a business can bury a negative review using services of search engine experts. Make sure the website address starts with 'https' and not just 'http' at the beginning. This means all communications between your browser and the website are encrypted. For selecting sellers, the process is straightforward. Look for the seller's feedback on the platform and see the product reviews. There is even a possibility that reviews can be managed in favour of the seller. So, go for the seller that has the number of feedback in four digits. If you see a branded well-known company's goods at a throw-away price, avoid it. "Buyers should skip deals that look too good to be true," says Bahl. Payment options and security risks The easiest way is using a MasterCard or Visa credit cards, which all shoppers prefer because of convenience. A person also has the option of Western Union money transfer and bank transfers but these involve a painful lot off work and are also expensive. India is among the very few countries globally that have mandatory two-factor authentication for card transactions. If a person uses his card internationally, the transaction goes through only with the details printed on the card. Shrivastava of EY says this increases the risk. "One cannot eliminate the threats entirely but being cautious can reduce your chances of falling prey to card frauds," says Shrivastava. A good website implements highest possible security controls and measures. They may also store your card details - some do it for a few days and some for years. If there's a breach in their systems, your credit card details can fall in the hands of the cyber criminals. Therefore, be cautious when transacting on these websites. ENSURING SAFE TRANSACTIONS Virtual card: This is like a credit card but expires within two days. In case you want a refund, there can be a problem, as websites will transfer money back to the same card This is like a credit card but expires within two days. In case you want a refund, there can be a problem, as websites will transfer money back to the same card Deactivate foreign transactions: Some issuers allow cardholders to activate and deactivate international transactions on request Some issuers allow cardholders to activate and deactivate international transactions on request Set limits: Issuers also allow cardholders to set limits for international and domestic transactions. Set a smaller limit for international transactions that you are comfortable with Issuers also allow cardholders to set limits for international and domestic transactions. Set a smaller limit for international transactions that you are comfortable with Have an exclusive card for international transactions: Keeping a lower credit limit will curtail losses Keeping a lower credit limit will curtail losses Cancel card: If you don't shop online too often, cancel the card after transacting and ask the bank to re-issue you a new one. Can be useful in high-risk regions, such as Africa and Asia If you don't shop online too often, cancel the card after transacting and ask the bank to re-issue you a new one. Can be useful in high-risk regions, such as Africa and Asia Insurance: Many insurance companies cover frauds only after the cardholder reported misuse to the issuer. Check the cover and conditions before signing up Buying an insurance product in the 1990s, and even now in many places, was and is as simple as this: Your friendly neighbourhood agent of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) comes and explains the benefits of buying a particular plan over a cup of tea or coffee, takes the cheque and the policy document is delivered within weeks. And, every year, he comes back to collect the premium cheque, ensuring the policy does not lapse. Things have changed quite dramatically in the past decade, especially in major cities. Beside the entry of private players, the kind of products and methods of buying have changed. An example: The introduction of unit-linked insurance plans, an investment-cum-insurance plan that is not recommended by most financial planners, means returns on insurance policies are no longer four-six per cent annually but are significantly more when stock markets are rising. And, can be equally risky when the markets are falling, and even wipe out the principal, as high commissions are paid to agents. So, some serious advice is required if you are into such complex products. Also, with the advent of online term plans with high sum assured of Rs 1 crore or more, policyholders can now have one or two big life policies, instead of accumulating many to reach a high sum assured. Due to these changes, a number of new channels have emerged. Broadly, the various distribution channels can be classified into (a) direct- through the insurance company staff or the company's website, (b) representatives of the insurance company-agents, corporate agents like banks, or independent marketing firms (c) independent players - brokers and online aggregators. What differentiates these? Insurance agent: He/she only sells products of the insurance company he/she is associated with and, hence, is more like a representative of the insurer. And, like all representatives of a single company, expect personalised services with regard to premium payment or settlement of claims but you might not get unbiased advice. However, the Insurance Regulatory and Dwevelopment Authority of India (Irdai) stress on need-based selling has addressed this risk to some extent. They might be handy for someone looking for a market-linked product like a unit-linked insurance plan (Ulip). A face-to-face interaction with the agent helps understand returns in different scenarios like a debt-light, equity-heavy option or vice versa. "In the case of long-term life insurance products, customers should spend time with the agent to understand what the policy is going to fulfil, how it is a part of their overall financial planning and the duration for which they need to pay the premia," says Sanjay Tripathy, senior executive vice-president at HDFC Life Insurance. Bank or corporate agent: Rushabh Gandhi, director, sales and marketing, IndiaFirst Life Insurance, believes the bank manager from the neighbourhood branch is emerging as a preferred choice for many policies. This is because there is a high level of trust with the manager of the branch where you already have put your savings in. The advantage is convenience. Since the buyer already has a relationship with the bank, such as a savings bank account or fixed deposits or loan, it is convenient to buy insurance, too, from the same branch. But, much like an agent, the manager is also tied to one insurance company. Irdai has permitted banks to offer products of three companies - one life, non-life and health. This should widen the choice for customers. A point to keep in mind: Know the location for policy servicing. That is, whether it is the bank branch or the insurer's office, says Subrat Mohanty, head of marketing, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance. Brokers: Their biggest advantage is they offer products of multiple companies since they, by regulation, represent the customer, not the company. So far, retail brokers offer only non-life insurance products like motor, health, fire, etc. "From a customer's point of view, a broker offers maximum benefits. He understands the customer's requirement and reconciles it with what is available in the market. He ensures post-sales record keeping, and so on,'' says Mahavir Chopra, director, health & life insurance, Coverfox Insurance. Brokers can help in claims settlement as well. Another advantage for customers is that in the case of mis-selling or other grievance, the broker is responsible. Whereas in the case of an agent or a corporate agent, the customer has to deal with the company directly. Online aggregators: They are independent players who provide a platform to compare products of multiple companies. Customers can use the platform to buy, but cannot get advice on how to choose the best product. Online aggregators work best for simple products like term plans, where the features are same and they select a product based on price and brand. However, there will be an offline intervention like a medical check and others if the sum assured is very high, points out Chopra. Comparison of prices is easier online, while going through a broker means paying a fee for it. In the case of online products, customers have to sign a document that they have agreed to the terms and conditions. So, a buyer who has done the due-diligence and has knowledge can buy online, says Saroj Satapathy, chief executive officer, Ideal Insurance Brokers. In the case of health insurance, customers might need help with choosing a right product based on the various sub-limits in the policy and numerous riders. So, a broker could be a good option. But, in the case of motor insurance, where product features are largely the same, one can save cost by buying from an online aggregator. Common service centres: Customers living in rural/semi-rural locations can buy exclusive products filed by insurance companies from common service centres. These, are required to be simple to understand and have a sum insured of less than Rs 2 lakh (except for car insurance). Independent marketing firms: These are similar to corporate agents. They can offer products of two life, two general and two health insurance companies. They can offer only retail insurance products. While choosing an intermediary, the track record is important. "Once you sign up with an intermediary it is not easy to change. So, one has to be extremely careful in choosing. Especially in the case of long-term products like life or health plans,'' says Chopra. SEEK THE RIGHT OPTION: Reminder for premium paymentCollection of chequesHelp in claims settlementHelp in choosing productsPush one company's productDeal with company in case of grievanceCommission has to be paidConvenient due to the existing relationshipLower premia for bundled productsChoice limited to one-three companiesLack of clarity over servicingCommissions have to be paidMultiple choice of companies and productsHelps in claims settlement and deals with companyFees for all servicesDoesn't offer life insuranceEasy comparison of all productsLower rates as zero commissionLimited number of productsMight not help in claims settlement Samajwadi Party supremo Mualayam Singh Yadav Sunday termed son Akhilesh Yadav as the "best" Chief Minister in the country and ruled out projecting brother Shivpal Yadav as party's chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. "No..Akhilesh is the best Chief Minister in the entire nation. He has done tremendous work shaping a new UP and helped uplift of the poor and downtrodden," Mulayam said when asked if there were plans to project Shivpal as SP's Chief Ministerial candidate after making him the state in charge of the party. "The next Assembly elections will be contested under his (Akhilesh) leadership. The development he initiated is visible across the state," he said. Mulayam said "unlike" Delhi government, ruling dispensation in the state has "achieved" all its poll promises. "We will form government again in the state on basis of works done by us", he said. Bansi Lal, former chief minister of Haryana, was a spartan and inflexible politician. He formed the Haryana Vikas Party after parting ways from the Congress and, in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won the 1996 Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. He won on the promise of making it illegal to buy, sell, consume or produce alcohol in the state if elected. Bansi Lal made good his promise within six months of forming the government, even naming a minister for in his Cabinet. And, yet, when the minister, Ganeshi Lal, stepped into his office in March 1998 and announced with a smile, "Aaj se sharab bandi khatam ( ends from today)," the people gathered there burst into applause. lasted 21 months. It cost the state government Rs 1,300 crore in excise revenue. For years after that, the administration grappled with nearly 100,000 alcohol-related cases in courts, a stock of 1.3 million seized bottles, and 16 hooch accidents, which left 60 dead. When he announced prohibition, Bansi Lal declared: "I would rather cut grass for a livelihood than lift prohibition." After succumbing to pressure from alliance partners and others, and lifting prohibition, he remarked: "When the people don't want prohibition any longer, sacrificing a huge excise revenue is meaningless." Nor was Bansi Lal the first to do a U-turn on a policy that is sensitive for its political, economic and administrative ramifications. In 1990, the women of Dubbagunta, a small village in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, began an anti-arrack agitation. The put pressure on men to swear that they would stop drinking, physically restrained habitual drinkers, attacked liquor shops and godowns and fought with the police, liquor mafia and those who frequented liquor shops. The movement caught the imagination of rural Andhra Pradesh. N T Rama Rao of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had not even touched on the subject of liquor during his first stint as CM. Within minutes of taking oath as CM for a second time on January 16, 1995, he announced total prohibition, describing the step as an obligation fulfilled towards his adapadachulu (sisters-in-law). During his first stint, the government itself was the main seller of arrack (marketed via a state agency). The 'total' part of prohibition did not last long. Although NTR announced the closure of the state's four breweries and 24 distilleries producing potable liquor, besides 19 distilleries producing rectified spirit used in medicines and toiletries (and with it, the end of revenue flow amounting to Rs 500 crore in distilleries and breweries, and another Rs 300 crore in the related bottling, corking and packaging industries), the first compromise was to allow those who had a doctor's certificate to buy alcohol. A 'permit' - that cost Rs 5,000 for individuals and Rs 50,000 for owners of bars or 'permit rooms' as they were called - followed. As the department of prohibition and excise struggled to manage liquor smuggling and illicit brew, prohibition and excise commissioner Rachel Chatterjee was quoted by local media as saying: "Neo-literate women spearheaded this movement (prohibition) and they will help us enforce the laws." Finally, it was NTR's son-in-law, his backroom boy and ultimately the man to unseat him, Chandrababu Naidu, who ended the pretense and called a halt to prohibition in Andhra Pradesh. He reintroduced liquor from April 1, 1997, restricting the dry law to arrack. In his defence, Naidu said: "Total prohibition is neither successful nor feasible because of the leakages within the state and from across the borders." While promising to campaign for responsible drinking, he told reporters: "Liquor sales fetch an income touching a peak of Rs 3,000 crore per annum now, and this can be spent for improving the lot of the poor." The Congress said it would launch a social campaign against drinking but in Andhra Pradesh, despite several stints in power, it has implemented prohibition only once. Now In the past few months, governments across India have woken up to the political allure of prohibition. Nitish Kumar, leading a coalition of the Janata Dal (U), Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress stormed to victory - anecdotally, it would appear, on the back of the vote of women - in the assembly elections in October-November last year. During the campaign, he promised partial prohibition but scaled this promise up to full prohibition within months of forming the government. One reason for this could be the Bihar-wide local body elections currently underway that will end in May. Sociologist Shiv Vishvanathan says it is hard to see how a policy that is based largely on policing will work. He cites the "partial" prohibition in Kerala announced by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy just before the ongoing Kerala Assembly elections: "It is a policing system with too many loopholes. The Kerala government introduced graded prohibition, arguing for the eventual idea of a liquor-free state. It did so by restricting the provision of liquor to be served only in five-star hotels. Yet, one could not quite decide whether liquor was the cause of Kerala's social problems or a symptom of a wider social breakdown brought about by change. The Supreme Court upheld the government's decision while contending that introducing prohibition was a difficult task. In fact, governments and politicians in the south present it like the new myth of Sisyphus, where prohibition is introduced with fanfare, to be quietly withdrawn once it begins to affect state revenues. In fact, prohibition has an electoral seasonality where politicians, like eager boy scouts, make the promise only to abandon it later." The latest entrant to the prohibition club is Tamil Nadu which has tried prohibition earlier but had to abandon it. The election debate on right now is all about who enforced it and who did away with it. In an interview to Business Standard, sociologist Ashish Nandy says the impulse for the ban has to come from below - only then, can it sustain. "We always like to believe that it's the politicians who impose such bans. People like Morarji Desai have insisted on this. But, it's the womenfolk of Bihar who made Nitish Kumar enact the ban, so he was forced to implement it," he said. Ultimately, though, what is good becomes bad economics and a U-turn is justified for that reason. Consider Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), a company owned by the government, has witnessed a steady growth in revenue. The state wholly took over private retail sales of alcohol in the early 2000s. Revenue from this shot up from Rs 3,693 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 21,680 crore in 2012-13. Despite a price hike in 2014, the revenue for 2014-15 touched Rs 26,188 crore. For 2015-16, Tasmac sales are estimated at Rs 29,672 crore. Says Dakshita Das, a civil servant and an expert on public finance: "As a percentage of the government's own revenue, Tamil Nadu's revenues accruing from its own taxes are estimated at 72 per cent this year. Of this, the total tax revenue from the liquor trade as a percentage of Tamil Nadu's own tax revenue is around 30 per cent of the 72 per cent." Das notes that with this order of revenue, a state government can hardly ignore it if it dips suddenly. She cites a circular from the Uttar Pradesh government recently to all district magistrates, asking them to check declining liquor sales across the state and undertake corrective measures to prevent the decline. There is a certain delicious irony in this. Liquor is a low-hanging fruit from the taxation point of view. But, for every bottle that is sold, wreaking untold, usually unvoiced, havoc in homes from the point of view of domestic violence, the government gets that much more revenue to plough into the social and educational sector. The story of Haryana's experiment with prohibition is a case in point. Bansi Lal did sweep the 1996 election on the strength of the promise of prohibition. But, to offset the loss of revenue, power rates were increased by 10-50 per cent, bus fares by 25 per cent, and the petrol sales tax by three per cent. New taxes were levied on businesses and self-employed people. Almost overnight, illicit brewing and liquor smuggling became one of the biggest industries in the state. Haryana's tourism industry suffered badly, as tourists preferred to visit neighbouring states where there was no prohibition. Profits of most hotels and restaurants, including the state-owned Haryana Tourism Resorts, plummeted. And, a u-turn became inevitable. Will this also happen in Bihar, Kerala and eventually in Tamil Nadu? The largest chunk of seats in the West Bengal Assembly, 61, will go to the polls on Thursday. Among the constituencies where polling will take place are Farakka and Murshidabad, constituencies in Kolkata such as Chowringhee, Beleghata and Belgachhia, and President Pranab Mukherjee's erstwhile Lok Sabha constituency, Jangipur. Farakka is on the banks of the Ganga, and across the river is Bangladesh. It is at Farakka that the Ganga splits into two rivers. The broader channel goes east to Bangladesh and gets a new name, Padma. The smaller turns south and flows under the name of Bhagirathi, which becomes Hooghly as soon as it approaches Kolkata. Farakka has a famous barrage - the construction began in 1961 and ended in 1975 - and the idea was to divert some of the water from the Bangladesh-bound river to the Kolkata-bound one, to increase the latter's flow and therefore reduce sediment deposition at the Kolkata harbour. Murshidabad is currently represented in the Assembly by Congress strongman Adhir Choudhury. Jangipur used to be a Congress stronghold. But in the Lok Sabha elections, the party's margin shrank by 120,000 votes, whereas identity and caste-driven parties like the Welfare Party of India, set up in 2011, and the Socialist Democratic Party of India, formed in 2009, together got 66,311 (around eight per cent) of the votes. Both parties refer to the concerns of marginalised groups like Dalits, tribals, and Other Backward Classes, women and other minorities but their core mobilisation is among Muslims, who account for around 65 per cent of the electorate. The BJP got 85,887 votes (10.6 per cent of vote share), the highest for the party since it witnessed a spike in 1991 in the heyday of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Among the other constituencies going to polls here are Samserganj, Suti, Raghunathganj, Sagardighi, Lalgola, Bhagawangola, Raninagar, Nabagram, Khargram, etc. Thousands of people marched in Bilbao in northern Spain today calling for the return of prisoners from the armed Basque separatist group ETA being held outside the region. Former ETA prisoners for the first time led the march in the Basque region's most populous city. Past marches have been led by family members of the convicts, who are dispersed across dozens of prisons in Spain and neighbouring France. The demonstrators, many of them waving red, white and green Basque flags, chanted "prisoners to their home" as they made their way through the streets under an overcast sky to city hall where letters from three ETA prisoners were read out. Among those who took part in the march was veteran separatist leader Arnaldo Otegi, 57, who was released from jail in March after serving a six-and-a-half year sentence for trying to resurrect the outlawed Basque separatist party Batasuna. Otegi, who is credited with helping end violence in the northern Spanish region, has said he aims to become the next leader of Spain's Basque Country which will hold regional elections at the end of the year. He declined to speak to reporters at the march The protest was called by a group of former ETA prisoners. ETA is blamed for more than 800 killings in its campaign of bombings and shootings to create an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France. The group's last deadly attack in Spain was in August 2009. In October 2011, it declared a "definitive end to armed activity" but it has yet to formally disband or disarm as the Spanish and French governments demand. The group wants negotiations on several issues, including the fate of around 400 ETA prisoners, before it fully decommissions its armed wing. Many ETA prisoners are kept in jails far away from the Basque region, making visits from family difficult. In its most recent statement issued last month, ETA said "the consequences of the conflict have not been resolved, the main knot being the situation of Basque political prisoners which still has not been untangled." The Spanish and French governments have refused to negotiate with ETA. At least 11 civilians were killed in Syria's second city Aleppo, a monitor said today, in one of the highest single tolls since a fragile truce came into force. Nearly all warring parties in Syria - the regime, rebels, jihadists, and Kurds - have carved out zones of control in the war-torn northern province. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, six civilians were killed and eight wounded in regime air strikes on rebel-held eastern parts of Aleppo city yesterday. Opposition groups fired rockets into the government-controlled western districts, leaving five people dead and 20 wounded, the Observatory added. "There's a clear escalation. This was the bloodiest incident in Aleppo and its province" since a truce deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels came into effect on February 27, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. "This escalation directly threatens the truce." Brokered by Russia and the United States, the cessation of hostilities deal does not include the fight against the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda's local Syrian affiliate. The truce had largely held across parts of Syria since late February, despite frequent accusations that both sides were committing breaches. But violence around Aleppo has sparked concerns that the ceasefire may not last, partly because rebels are involved in the battles there too. IS jihadists have seized fresh territory from rebel groups in recent days, threatening the key opposition bastion town of Azaz, just eight kilometres south of the Turkish border. The jihadist onslaught has forced 30,000 Syrians to flee, and tens of thousands more are at risk of displacement. Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, half of the country's population has been displaced - including five million who have fled to neighbouring states. More than 270,000 people have been killed. At least 24 people were injured in a lathicharge by Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB) to disperse a stone pelting mob at Bhithha near Indo-Nepal border in the district today, Superintendent of Police Hari Prasath S said. The incident occurred when the jawans, manning the border, asked some villagers to remove several bags of wheat kept on the 'no man's land' along the Indo-Nepal border, SSB Deputy Commandant Munna Singh said. At this, the villagers pelted stones at the jawans who resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse them, he said. Villagers, on the other hand, lodged an FIR with the local police station complaining that when the jawans passed lewd comments on some women gone out to attend nature's call, they protested and the jawans lathicharged them. The SP said the situation was now under control as additional police force reached the spot. The DG said the force is well prepared and has created awareness amongst its troops and officials to cope up with the challenges posed by demonetisation and be part of the cashless system. She added the seizure of illicit liquor, in border areas, has also gone up since Bihar banned it early this year. The DG, who became the first woman chief of a paramilitary force when she took the top post at SSB in February this year, said her priority was to ensure the women personnel of the force get "as important work as given to the men." "We are also working to increase the numbers of women in combat in this force. We were the first to induct in these ranks in 2007. We are slowly achieving the target of having more and more women in the ranks...To increase the representation of women in SSB...By following the policy of the government for border guarding forces to have 15 per cent of the total strength as women," she added. The force has 67 battalions on ground at present (about 67,000 personnel) and in the next two years it will raise more such contingents to rise its number upto 73 battalions. Three examinees were today arrested for allegedly cheating using a mobile phone messaging application in Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination in Begusarai district. The examinees were arrested from an examination centre located at DPS School here for cheating through whatsapp, Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said. The examinees were identified as Wasim Akram, Mohammad Shamshad and Asif Rashid, Mishra said, adding they all are residents of West Champaran district. Police also lodged an FIR against Alamgir and Rajesh, both residents of Patna, for allegedly sending answers to the trio through whatsapp. The competitive examination is conducted for admissions in various professional courses of Medical, Engineering, Agriculture and other streams. At least five persons, including four women, were killed and six others injured when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a tanker at a village near Baramati in Pune district this evening, police said. The accident took place about 88 km from here. The travellers had gone to Tuljapur in Osmanabad district to visit a temple and were returning to their village in Purandar taluka in Pune district, they said. The deceased have been identified as Kiran Kudale (40), Rakhama Gaikwad (55), Swati Borawake (43), Surekha Kudale (45) and Laxmi Gaikwad (80). The injured were rushed to a private hospital in Baramati, police said. Amid reports of sporadic violence, over 55 per cent of votes were cast till 1 PM for election to 56 Assembly constituencies in the second phase of polling in West Bengal today. Overall, 55.28 per cent voters exercised their franchise during the first four hours in six districts of north Bengal and Birbhum in south Bengal. Controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal, who has been put under 24/7 surveillance by the Election Commission, stoked another controversy when he went to vote sporting a batch of party symbol on his shirt. "I didn't realise it. But the presiding officer could have stopped me from going like this," Mandal, Birbhum district president of the party, said later. The Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the alleged violation of the model code of conduct by him. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who was in Kolkata today, alleged that booth-capturing and false voting continued in the state. "Despite the presence of central forces, there is a 'bhoot' (ghost) in the booths," he said. In Malda, a clash between CPI(M) and TMC supporters took place in front of a booth in the Englishbazar Assembly seat in which two persons, including the TMC polling agent, were injured, the police said. Trouble began when the TMC polling agent protested against alleged booth jamming by CPI(M). The two sides clashed with lathis outside the booth with the central forces finding it difficult to control them, polling officials said. TMC agent Anup Sarkar was injured and admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital. Polling was stalled for 45 minutes and later began as additional central forces were rushed to the area to control the situation. TMC polling agent Asraful Hossain was beaten up at a booth in Chanchol constituency in Malda district allegedly by Chanchol ex-pradhan Maqbul Hossain of Congress, polling officials said. As a result, polling was temporarily stalled. Hossain has since been arrested, the police said. Earlier in the morning, a clash between BJP and TMC workers left eight persons injured in Dumrut village of Birbhum at around 6 AM before polling began, an EC report said. Three persons were later arrested by the police. TMC candidate from Siliguri Assembly constituency Baichung Bhutia complained of bogus votes being cast at Sriguru Vidayapith booth and a complaint has been registered with the EC. The first phase of polling in West Bengal was held in two parts on April 4 and 11. Mexican authorities say nine men have been found bound and dead inside a home in a suburb of the northern city of Monterrey. Nuevo Leon state Gov. Jaime Rodriguez Calderon said Sunday that the initial investigation suggests the house in the Apodaca suburb was used for drug consumption. State prosecutor Roberto Flores says authorities responded to a call today and found the victims inside. Two appeared to have been stabbed and the other seven strangled. The bodies were in a bathroom and another room. Flores says four have been identified. The ruling BJP today conducted mass marriage of 527 couples here, a day after its ally Shiv Sena solemnised wedding of 244 couples at Aurangabad in the drought-hit Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Yesterday, Sena had organised the ceremony as part of 'Balasaheb Thackeray Kanyadaan Yojna', which was attended by party chief Uddhav Thackeray, his son and 'Yuva Sena' chief Aditya Thackeray and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, among others. Today, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve hosted the mass marriage in Jalna, another town in Marathwada region. Fadnavis was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues, including Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse, Education Minister Vinod Tawde, Co-operatives Minister Chandrakant Patil, Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde, MoS (Social Justice) Dilip Kamble and party MLAs. BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye denied that the party was in competition with Sena over the issue and added that BJP is appreciative of its ally's initiative, "which is above politics". Speaking on the occasion, Khadse said, "Henceforth, whenever mass weddings are held in drought-hit Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, the government will provide Rs 25,000 to a SC and ST couple. An economically backward couple that belongs to the general category, will be provided Rs 15,000." Today's mass wedding included couples of different religions, with maximum being Hindu (406). There were 94 Buddhist couples, followed by Muslim and Christian, 14 each. They hailed from Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Aurangabad and Jalna districts in Marathwada. "The mass wedding ceremony was held as we want to provide relief to the parents of the bride. We also want to ease the trouble of farmers who are worried about the marriage of their daughters," Danve told PTI. The BJP leader said the party decided to foot the entire cost of the ceremony, including new clothes to the couple, their relatives, mangalsutra (wedding necklace) and utensils. "For the last four years Marathwada region has been facing drought. BJP made all arrangements for transportation of the families concerned and they will not have to bear any cost," he added. The United Nations said today that 600 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan's war in the first quarter of this year, a marked decline from the same period last year, but said the number of wounded civilians has risen. The latest figures released by the UN mission show that 1,343 people were wounded during the first three months of 2016. Compared to the same period in 2015, civilian deaths are down by 13 per cent but the number of wounded has risen by 11 percent. The highest number of casualties resulted from civilians being harmed during ground fighting, the UN report said, adding that intensified fighting in populated areas caused a nearly 30 per cent increase in child casualties and a 5 percent increase in casualties among women. "Even if a conflict intensifies, it does not have to be matched by corresponding civilian suffering provided parties take their international humanitarian law and human rights obligations seriously," Nicholas Haysom, the UN envoy to Afghanistan, said in a statement. "Failure to respect humanitarian obligations will result in more suffering in a nation that has suffered enough." he added. The UN said 60 per cent of casualties were caused by "actions by anti-government elements," apparently referring to the Taliban. The insurgents have denied previous allegations of targeting civilians or putting them in danger. The report said 19 per cent of casualties were caused by pro-government forces, while 16 per cent could not be attributed to a specific party. The city's iconic Akshara Theatre, escaped 'going dark' after raising money to pay off pending electricity dues through a crowd funding campaign and by approaching both the centre and state governments for necessary action. The 44-year-old theatre received donations from artists and students after it went public about the that its electricity would be cut off on account of non-payment of the hefty dues. Prominent among the contributors is stand up comedian Papa CJ, who donated a sum of Rs 3 lakh to enable the theatre to pay off its bills. "Papa CJ donated 3 lakh rupees. Another Puneet Mudgil, a businessman and friend of Papa CJ has donated for the theatre. Others include artists from Delhi like Andrew Hofflin and many young people have come forward to help us in whichever way possible to save the theatre," Jalbaba Vaidya, one of the founder members of the Akshara Theatre said. Despite such support, theatre authorities say they are still lack in funds for even basic operation of the theatre which includes payment to artists, teachers and maintenance. "We still do not have adequate funds for the sustenance of the theatre. We need a lot of funds to pay the actors and teachers, and for the maintenance of the theatre," says Vaidya. Authorities are now looking at alternative ways to raise funds such as renting out a part of the theatre area for business and other purposes. "Akshara Theatre has many areas in its complex which can be rented out and used for other purposes. These areas can be utilised for anything. We had given a particular area of the theatre to one person who did not pay his property taxes and left Akshara. "So we are looking for people who can utilise parts of this heritage building which would also help us financially," adds Vaidya. Following reports in the media, the theatre authorities were also approached and offered support by the Delhi Government. "The Delhi government had come forward to help us after they got to know through the media reports. Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Minister held a meeting with us. Also people from his ministry came to the theatre and gave us useful solutions. They proposed to do their annual shows of the various departments of the government at Akshara, thus helping us to raise funds and make people aware about this heritage building with a rich history," Vaidya told PTI. Fund raising events are now being organised both by the theatre and people who voluntarily want to help theatre authorities. A two-day festival called the Akshara Festival is being scheduled on April 23-24 by two Delhi-based students, Divya and Manu to raise funds for the theatre. "We are looking forward to collaborate with many people. In a fund raiser, two Delhi based students, (Divya and Manu), are organising a fund raiser for the theatre in a two-day festival called the Akshara Festival. The festival would have plays, interactive theatre sessions, 'Bring Back the Poet' session," says Vaidya. The owners want the government to give them financial aid possible and also conduct their annual functions in the theatre. "We want the government to give us funds and conduct their functions here in Akshara. This would not only help us financially but will also make people aware of Akshara. This is a heritage building and possesses a rich history which we want the cultural sector to know," says the co-founder. Last month, Akshara Theatre was caught in a financial turmoil following a due electricity bill of 4 lakh rupees which was paid off after the theatre started an online campaign to raise funds. The theatre has been a nursery for the stand-up comedians since its inception when it opened to a houseful at Lady Shri Ram College on March 11, 1972. Over the years it hosted numerous plays and supported young theatre groups and college students over the years with its "Ramayan" written by Gopal Sharman becoming the only Indian play till date to have appeared on Broadway in February 1975 with the New York Times terming it 'India's Gift to Broadway.' Since then 'The Ramayan' has been performed more than 2000 times as a tour de force solo performance, by Jalabala Vaidya, who is also Sharman's wife, at various national theatres in the West and in 35 towns and cities of India to packed houses and rave reviews. A string of stand up comedians -- Papa CJ, Jeeveshu Ahluwalia, Zakir Khan, Apoorv Gupta, Maheep Singh -- have performed at the venue. Theatre groups like New Delhi Players, IPTA, Tadpole Repertory, MITR Cultural Society, Saksham Arts, Curtain Call Productions, are regulars at the venue. Fighting in Aleppo killed at least 22 civilians as the opposition delegation threatened today to quit Syria peace talks in Geneva if there is no progress on a political transition. The opposition High Negotiations Committee said the indirect negotiations could collapse if Syria's regime refuses to compromise on political and humanitarian issues. "We might suspend (our participation in) the talks if things carry on this way, and then there will be no prospect for any political solution," HNC member Abdulhakim Bashar told AFP. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the number of civilians killed in flashpoint Aleppo city was one of the highest single tolls since a fragile truce came into force on February 27. Nearly all warring parties in Syria -- the regime, rebels, jihadists, and Kurds -- have carved out zones of control in war-torn Aleppo province. The truce has seen violence drop across parts of Syria, including the northern city of Aleppo, but renewed clashes there in the past 24 hours have seriously strained the truce, the Observatory said. At least six civilians were killed and eight wounded in regime air strikes on rebel-held eastern parts of the city on Saturday. And a barrage of rockets and sniper fire by opposition groups onto government-controlled western districts killed 16 civilians, including 10 children and two women. "There's a clear escalation. This was the bloodiest incident in Aleppo and its province" since the ceasefire began, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. "This escalation directly threatens the truce." The HNC has questioned the regime's commitment to a political solution to Syria's five-year war, particularly in the wake of the renewed violence in Aleppo. "The humanitarian situation is continually deteriorating, the issue of the detainees has not seen any progress, the ceasefire has almost collapsed, and now there is an attack on Aleppo from three sides," Bashar said in Switzerland. "Given these factors, we are reviewing everything, and we will continue our meetings today (Sunday) so that tomorrow we can decide what to do." A second member of the HNC delegation, speaking anonymously, said the talks were nearly at "an impasse". "The negotiations have nearly reached an impasse with the intransigent regime's refusal to negotiate the fate of (President Bashar al-)Assad in the Geneva talks," the member said. Assad's fate has remained the main sticking point in peace talks, with Syria's opposition clinging onto its call for his ouster since the conflict broke out in 2011. The Algerian army killed 14 Islamist fighters last month in the El-Oued region near the border with Tunisia, the government said today. The Islamists were killed in an operation in the town of Kouinine near El-Oued, the defence ministry said on its website. It also announced that soldiers had found an arms cache in the area on Friday, the second such discovery in 10 days. Last year the Algerian army killed or arrested 157 "terrorists", according to ministry figures. A brutal civil war in the 1990s between the government and Islamists claimed the lives of some 200,000 people. Despite adopting a peace and reconciliation charter in 2005 aimed at turning the page on the conflict, armed groups remain active in central and eastern Algeria. Animal rights campaigners today alleged that the Animal Welfare Board of India experts had been blocked from examining the jumbos, paraded at the famous Thrissur Pooram festival which began today, amid strict guidelines for its conduct. As many as 79 elephants are being tortured by making the pachyderms stand in direct sunlight as part of the 36-hour-long festival, they said. A team of six veterinarians, appointed by AWBI, were collectively prevented by officials of state Animal Husbandry and Forest Departments along with Thrissur district collector and police yesterday, V K Venkitachalam, secretary of Heritage Animal Task Force, a Thrissur-based animal rights forum, alleged. Citing the issues, he sent a letter today to the Director, Project Elephant, under the Union government, demanding action against the officials for misuse of power. In the letter, he said the Supreme Court had ordered the Kerala government to reconstitute the district level elephant monitoring committee chaired by the Collector by adding a new member nominated by AWBI for each district in Kerala. The apex court had also reiterated that any elephant parade in each district must be approved by such a newly constituted district level elephant monitoring committee, the letter, which was released to the media, said. "But yesterday, with the tacit support of Thrissur district Collector, the veterinary doctors appointed by AWBI were prevented from inspecting the health conditions of the elephants," it said. "This type of blatant misuse of official power by the collector must be inquired in detail and such violations must be penalised at the earliest," it added. PETA India, another animal rights campaigner, also came out against the alleged act of not permitting AWBI experts to examine the health status of jumbos. "The non-cooperation of the Kerala government shows that the only way to ensure the alleviation of suffering of captive elephants in the state is to ban their use, remove them from captivity and to send them to sanctuaries where they can live out their lives in peace unchained," PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr Manilal Valliyate said in a release. The famous Thrissur Pooram festival began amid tight security in the light of the Kollam temple tragedy and strict guidelines issued by the Kerala High Court for its conduct. A US Air Force reconnaissance plane was barrel-rolled by a Russian SU-27 fighter jet in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner during a routine flight in international airspace, American officials said today, exacerbating tensions between the rival powers. The incident on Thursday occurred when a Russian jet "performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers" as it flew within 50 feet of the US aircraft's wing tip over the Baltic Sea, Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for European Command, said. The Russian SU-27 began the barrel roll from the left side of the US RC-135 and went over the top of it to end on the right side of the aircraft, European Command said. The US aircraft was "intercepted by a Russian SU-27 in an unsafe and unprofessional manner," Hernandez was quoted as saying by CNN. He said that the US plane never entered Russian territory. "The unsafe and unprofessional actions of a single pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalated tensions between countries," said Hernandez, who added that the US is protesting the incident with the Russian government. This encounter comes just days after the US Embassy in Moscow issued formal concerns with the Russian government over an incident in which Russian fighter jets flew very close to the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea this week. One of the Russian jets flew within 30 feet of the Cook's ship superstructure, according to a US official. Close encounters between Russian military aircraft and US warships have become increasing common in recent months. In October, US Navy jets intercepted two Russian Tu-142 aircraft that were flying near the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific Ocean. In an incident in June, a Russian Su-24 jet flew within 500 meters of a US guided-missile destroyer that was sailing in the Black Sea near Crimea. The Russian aerial maneuvers come amid rising tensions on NATO's eastern flank. In February, the Department of Defense announced it was spending USD 3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative in an effort to deter Russian aggression against NATO allies following Russia's 2014 intervention in Ukraine. In recent weeks, the US has deployed additional military assets throughout Europe as part of 'Operation Atlantic Resolve'. Earlier this month, the US Air Force deployed F-15s to Iceland and the Netherlands and F-22s to the United Kingdom. In February, the US announced that it would send six F- 15s to Finland for a training exercise and pre-position tanks and artillery in Norway, both countries share a border with Russia. The African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) apologised for accidentally killing four civilians yesterday after soldiers mistook them for Shebab fighters when they failed to stop at a roadblock. The incident happened in the area of Buulo Mareer in the Lower Shebelle region, 80 kilometres south of the capital Mogadishu. "A speeding vehicle approached the roadblock and failed to adhere to repeated warnings to stop. Assuming the car to be a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), the troops opened fire resulting in the death of four occupants of the vehicle," said a statement issued by AMISOM today. "AMISOM profoundly regrets the loss of civilian lives that occurred during the operation and presents its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," said the statement. The incident has been referred to the African Union commission and an AMISOM inquiry has been opened to determine the circumstances of the shooting. The Somali government is defended by the African Union's 22,000-strong AMISOM mission against the AL-Qaeda-linked Shebab group, which has vowed to overthrow the country's fragile Western-backed authorities. Confronted with AMISOM's superior fire power, Shebab militants were chased out of Mogadishu in August 2011. After a relative calm in the Somali capital, the Shebab have ramped up attacks in recent months, taking advantage of the apathy of the AMISOM mission and the weakness of Somalia's central government. AMISOM's effectiveness is hampered by mutual suspicion and jealousy among the main troop contributing countries and a lack of coordination, funds and focus. It is also struggling to adapt to a rural counter- insurgency as Shebab fighters increasingly shift their battle from cities to the countryside. Australian soldiers killed in the Vietnam War and buried in Malaysia and Singapore will be brought home in June with a full military ceremony, it was announced today. Thirty-five soldiers who died in the conflict lie in Malaysia's Terendak Cemetery, which sits inside a large, operational military base, and one other in Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore. In May last year, then prime minister Tony Abbott offered repatriation to the families and more than 30 of them have accepted the offer. "The homecoming of their family member will be a very moving and emotional time, and their right to privacy, grief and reflection has been central in the government's planning," said Australia's Veterans' Affairs Minister Dan Tehan in a statement. For families who decided not to take up the offer, their relatives' graves will be maintained in perpetuity as is the standard for all Australian war dead in cemeteries around the world, the government said. Royal Australian Air Force planes will fly the remains back to a military base outside Sydney on June 2 where they will be received in a formal ceremony, followed by a private memorial service for their families. Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia president Ken Foster said the families and the veterans community had been asking for the bodies to be reinterred for some time. "It was the family members who started putting pressure and raising all sorts of questions about, 'Is there some way we can have these veterans brought home?'," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Foster added that the move would enable not just family but those who fought alongside the fallen to pay their respects. "A lot of the veterans would not be in the situation where they could go to Malaysia and visit the graves," he said. "Now the families will have the choice of where they're reinterred and the local veteran community within Australia will be able to visit those graves whenever they want." Australian soldiers killed in World Wars I and II and the Korean War were buried near to where they fell but around the time of the Vietnam engagement this policy changed and bodies were usually brought home. Almost 60,000 Australian military personnel fought alongside the United States in Vietnam, with 521 losing their lives. Of these, all but the 36 in Malaysia and Singapore were returned home. Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will travel to the UK tomorrow on a three-day visit to attend a bilateral strategic dialogue. During his stay in the UK from April 18 to 20, Aziz will also participate in the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, Foreign Office said in a statement. "Aziz and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will review the progress on bilateral relations and discuss future plans to develop a deeper dialogue between the two countries," it said today. The dialogue represents a long-term commitment by both sides to work together for greater prosperity and security. Pakistan and the UK share longstanding ties that are marked by cordiality and close cooperation in many fields. The UK is one of Pakistan's foremost trade and development partners, it said. The Enhanced Strategic Dialogue, which was signed in 2011, sets out the UK and Pakistan's strategic partnership focusing on areas including trade and business relations; development cooperation; education and security. The last review was held at the Foreign Ministers' level in March 2014. Senior BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab today took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his politics of "photo opportunities", wondering whether the Congress Vice President was preparing for the 2024 elections. Mahtab, BJD's leader in the Lok Sabha, also insisted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's endeavour to create a front at the national level to take on BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls is "still in the embryo". "The Vice President of the Congress is going to Universities and indulging in all sorts of photo opportunities. What sort of votebank he is creating? Is he thinking of 2024? I wish him best of luck," Mahtab told PTI. Mahtab said in national politics, Congress is losing out. Maintaining that earlier the Congress had some "strategic" votebank, he said it lost Uttar Pradesh with dalits throwing its weight behind the BSP. Since then the Congress has been unable to finish even second or third in the electoral tally in the key state, he said. "Now AAP has taken over Delhi and there are doubts whether the Congress can retain its second position in Punjab," the BJD veteran, respected even by his rivals for his effective interventions during Parliamentary debates, said. On the Assembly elections in five states which are currently under way, he said Congress is on the backfoot. "BJP is trying to form government in Assam. In Kerala, Congress is on its way out. In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, there is a contest between two regional parties and in West Bengal, between a regional party and the Left Front," he said. He said the outcome of these polls will have an impact on the Uttar Pradesh elections next year which will be a curtain raiser of sorts for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On Nitish Kumar's plans to sew up an anti-BJP front, Mahtab said these are still early days. "How far Nitish Kumar will be able to bring like minded parties together along with Congress, that too on a national platform, that too as an alternative to the BJP, is still in the embryo," Mahtab said. He dismissed suggestions that Nitish was planning a third front at the national level. "I would not say that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief is pursuing Third Front politics. As I foresee it, he is trying to form a non-BJP front along with the Congress," Mahtab said. BJP is pinning its hopes on large-scale mobilisation of non-Yadav OBC vote bank, which stood it in good stead in Uttar Pradesh for much of the 1990s, to revive its fortunes in the key cow belt state, with the appointment of a Koeri caste leader as its state unit chief. The BJP expects Keshav Prasad Maurya to rally a strong section of other backward caste voters round it, while hoping that his Hindutva background will help keep the party's core constituency in good humour as well. BJP had held a preeminent position in the country's largest state for a decade under the leadership of Kalyan Singh, a backward Lodh caste leader with a strong Hindutva orientation, and it was Singh's estrangement with the national leadership that set the party on course to its decline there. Party leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a social alliance of upper castes and a strong section of backward castes in its favour alone could help it stage a comeback in state where two big regional parties, SP and BSP, enjoy a solid and steady support base. They are hopeful that forward castes, who constitute a little more than 20% of the electorate and had drifted away, will plump for BJP if it emerges as a strong alternative to the SP and BSP in 2017 polls. Maurya's Koeri caste background is seen as an advantage as it is numerically strong in the state. The party has maintained a silence on whether it will announce a chief ministerial candidate like it did recently in Assam. BJP had made a stunning sweep of the state in the Lok Sabha polls as the 'Modi wave' resulted in an unprecedented consolidation of voters in its favour and helped it reap a handsome electoral harvest of 71 out of 80 seats in 2014. Party leaders concede though a repeat of such a feat is virtually impossible now, cobbling together a strong caste-based electoral arithmetic coupled with Hindutva factor is the way ahead for them. Both SP, which is in power in the state, and Mayawati's BSP are seen to have regained much of the ground they had lost in 2014. Brazil's President fought for survival, lobbying congressional deputies behind closed doors on the eve of a vote that could send her to face an impeachment trial in the Senate. Rousseff, the country's first female head of state, hit out yesterday at what she calls a "coup" and canceled a planned appearance with demonstrators in the capital Brasilia to focus on trying to win over lawmakers. "She will stay (at her official residence) for the last negotiations for Sunday's vote," a presidential advisor told AFP. The leader of the impeachment drive, Rousseff's vice- president-turned-rival Michel Temer also switched plans, leaving Sao Paulo to return to Brasilia in a move that local media said indicated a tightening contest. The opposition needs 342 votes of the 513-seat lower house of Congress, or two thirds, to send Rousseff to the Senate for a trial that could end in her being forced from office. Anything less and Rousseff would defeat the measure. Latest estimates showed the pro-impeachment camp has already amassed enough support. Folha de Sao Paulo and Estadao dailies both put the number at 347. However, intense negotiations and the possible pressure from what were expected to be large crowds of demonstrators across Brazil today could still shift momentum in either direction. Rousseff is accused of illegal accounting maneuvers to mask government shortfalls during her 2014 reelection. She defends her behavior by saying that previous governments used similar measures. If Rousseff is defeated today, the Senate is expected to vote to open a trial, probably in May, at which point the leftist president would have to stand down for 180 days, while Temer took over. Another two-thirds vote in the Senate would force her to step down. Even if Rousseff escapes with her presidency, she would preside over a deeply divided country where her government has only 10 per cent approval ratings and the powerful opposition blames her for the worst recession in more than a generation. The scramble by both sides ahead of the vote, which starts at about 1800 GMT, reached a fever pitch yesterday. Rousseff's mentor, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who faces corruption allegations linked to the graft scandal at state oil company Petrobras, told thousands of supporters in Brasilia that nothing could be taken for granted. China's age-old custom of having bridesmaids for enlivening marriages is being taken over by professionals as close relatives of brides refuse to accept the role due to drunken behaviour and sexual assaults by guests. Chinese wedding celebrations traditionally involve a lot of banter, but this can get out of hand. Bridesmaids are often subject to unwanted physical contact, insults and forced drinking at wedding banquets. As close relatives shied away from accepting the role, professional bridesmaids services propped all over the country to cash on it. "Bridesmaids for hire" is the latest promotion offered by Cheng Fei, a wedding planner in east China's Jiangxi Province, and business is booming. "It is not hard to find a best man, but it is getting harder to find bridesmaids," Cheng, who works at the Happiness Wedding Services Company in Nanchang, was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua agency. Many Chinese couples like the Western wedding custom of having at least one bridesmaid and a best man. "Many brides say that their friends live too far away or are too busy. Some are even worried that the guests' behaviour is putting off potential bridesmaids. The bridesmaids-for-hire service has gotten rather popular especially after the 'Bali incident'," said Cheng. On March 30, actress Liu Yan was a bridesmaid for a celebrity couple in Bali, Indonesia, and she was almost thrown into the water by the best men. The video of her ordeal quickly went viral, drawing anger and condemnation from the public over the treatment of bridesmaids. "At least 15 couples have come to ask about hiring bridesmaids in the last 10 days. Eight have placed orders, each demanding four to eight bridesmaids. "Usually, we ask our female staff to take up the role, but if the clients request, say, better-looking girls, we can meet their demands," Cheng said. Each bridesmaid is paid 100 to 200 yuan (USD 16) per day. With a growing number of young couples choosing to have a group of blushing bridesmaids, the business looks promising. "One is not enough for many. The trend is at least three bridesmaids and three best men, just for the atmosphere," a woman surnamed Wu said. In some areas, some hired bridesmaids have been subject to teasing and jokes at weddings, said Ma Xuesong, a folk culture researcher at Jiangxi Provincial Academy of Social Sciences. Congress MLA Nitesh Rane today cut a cake with the image of former Maharashtra Advocate General Shrihari Aney, in a symbolic gesture to oppose those favouring division of the state. Nitesh, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, cut the cake with Aney's image while he was in Hingoli district of Marathwada, to attend an event on the Maratha reservations issue. He cut the cake in such a manner that the image of the head was severed from rest of the portion. Aney, who took over as state's Advocate General (AG) in October last year, resigned from his position last month after his comments demanding a referendum on statehood for Vidarbha created a flutter in the Maharashtra state assembly. Earlier this week, Aney had celebrated his 66th birthday by cutting a cake with an image of the Maharashtra state printed on it. Aney symbolically cut two pieces of Vidarbha and Marathwada from the cake in the presence of some of his friends and well-wishers. His symbolic gesture was seen as a retort to MNS leader Raj Thackeray's comment during the party's recent rally at Shivaji Park here. As Charlie Chaplin finished out his long life on his bucolic Swiss manor, the former silent film star worried about drifting into oblivion, his connoisseurs say. Little chance of that. The legacy of the Hollywood legend behind "The Dictator" and "Modern Times" lives on today in the minds of stars like Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr, in Broadway plays and in the general cultural consciousness. But he never had bricks-and-mortar museum honoring his life and achievements. That changes today with the public opening of "Chaplin's World," a multimillion-dollar project in the Swiss village of Corsier-sur-Vevey. Its director-general says the museum is the first of its kind in the world to honour Chaplin, and has added value because it's at a place he called home for years. The "Manoir de Ban" is where Chaplin lived his last 25 years raising children, writing music and movie scripts, and contemplating his legacy far from the glare of the Hollywood spotlight. Visitors can see his trademark bowler hat and cane, a replica studio, black-and-white photographs from his career, and the bedroom where he died at age 88 in 1977. Working with Paris' Grevin museum, which is known for its wax figures, managers have displayed a number of figures of Chaplin as well as friends like Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill on the green 14-hectare (35-acre) grounds along Lake Geneva, said Jean-Pierre Pigeon, the Swiss-Canadian director of Chaplin's World. "He was not just resting here, he was working. He was part of the region," said Pigeon. "He was able to live a normal life here. He found the right life-work balance here in Switzerland. In England, he was really poor, in the United States, he was really successful in his career and money-wise, but his real happiness was here for 25 years." About two dozen of his children and grandchildren were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, which was Chaplin's birthday. Organisers are hoping for more than 300,000 visits per year, Pigeon said, boosted by a nearby chocolate factory and a medieval castle. What would the famed English-born actor and director think about "Chaplin's World?" "I think his first reaction would probably be 'Oooh!'" Pigeon said with a chuckle. "But there was one thing he was scared of: being forgotten. So this is a good way to broaden his notoriety." "A place where people can laugh and get emotion: That's what he would have wanted," Pigeon said. Four million people in Santiago were without tap water today after unusually heavy rain pounding central Chile triggered landslides that fouled the city's water supply and forced the closure of the world's biggest copper mine, officials said. The heavy rain flooded parts of the massive El Teniente mine, leading the state-owned copper company Codelco to halt operations there for at least three days. The mine, located in the foothills of the Andes 150 kilometers south of Santiago, is being closed to let engineers and crews clean up landslides and divert streams that have "caused damage" to machinery, Codelco said late yesterday. Temporarily closing El Teniente, which has more than 3,000 kilometers of galleries, will result in the loss of production of some 5,000 tonnes of copper, the company said. Chile is the world's top copper producer, producing about one-third of global output. In the capital Santiago, the national emergency response agency declared a red alert for the city of more than seven million people due to dirty water. Heavy rains in the Andean foothills since Friday triggered landslides into the Maipo and Mapocho rivers. Santiago Mayor Claudio Orrego said late Saturday that the cuts affect four million people, one million more than announced hours earlier. Tap water production was down to 35 per cent of normal levels, said Eugenio Rodriguez, corporate manager of the Aguas Andinas water company. Municipal authorities activated an emergency plan that includes accessing 45 backup water sources and mobilizing more than 60 water trucks. Thousands today flocked to stores to stock up on bottled water, and supermarket shelves were quickly left bare. In the O'Higgins region 90 kilometers south of Santiago, the swollen Tinguiririca River left one person missing and about 100 homes damaged. Rain was expected to continue throughout the weekend, leading Aguas Andinas to say that "it is not possible yet to estimate the time that service will be restored." The Office of National Emergencies called on residents to ration water, and collect and save water if possible. A Chinese spokesman criticised Taiwan after the self-ruled island released 20 fraud suspects just one day after they were deported from Malaysia, citing a lack of evidence. China and Taiwan have been tussling over which side would prosecute an international ring of Taiwanese who allegedly targeted hundreds of mainland Chinese in telephone scams. Malaysia authorities on Friday deported 20 suspects despite protests from China, which claims jurisdiction because its citizens were victimized. The spokesman for the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office An Fengshan said yesterday that Taiwan had "disregarded many victims' interests and harmed them a second time" after releasing the suspects, and urged Taiwan to "immediately rectify their mistakes," according to a statement on the office's website. An said releasing the suspects harmed the two sides' years-long cooperation on criminal investigations and called on Taiwan to "prevent greater damage to the development of cross-Strait relations." The spat has become the latest source of friction in relations between Taiwan and mainland China, which split amid civil war in 1949. Officials in Taiwan have viewed the fight over deportees as a sign that China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has sought to isolate it diplomatically, is interfering with its citizens' affairs abroad and exerting its influence over Kenya and Malaysia. Beijing, meanwhile, has voiced frustration that it cannot deal with criminal suspects targeting its own citizens despite extensive investigations. The international criminal gang, mostly based out of Southeast Asia, is accused of swindling Chinese through telephone calls by pretending to be police. Earlier this month Kenya sent 45 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China instead of Taiwan, infuriating Taipei officials. A Chinese business delegation led by Nicholas Hou, President of Huapion Sourcing Ltd, Hong Kong today met Rajasthan Chief Minister here. Raje during the meeting informed the delegation about the steps taken by the state government to create investor friendly atmosphere in the state. During the meeting, the company showed interest in investment in Jaipur Metro and other infrastructure projects in the state, a release said. CMD of Jaipur Metro Ashwini Bhagat, Secretary to CM Tanmay Kumar, Managing Director of Huapion Sourcing (Shanghai) Vincent Mei and other members of the delegation were present during the meeting. Two self-driving cars produced by a Chinese firm completed a 2,000-kilometre journey in China's first long-distance road test for autonomous vehicles in a bid to stay ahead of Google and others in developing driverless car . The vehicles, produced by Chang'an Automobile, left the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing on Tuesday and arrived at Beijing at about 5 pm on Saturday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The cars successfully drove at a distance from other vehicles, changed lanes, overtook and performed other manoeuvres, including three-point turns, automatically but still needed the help of a driver in certain road sections and gas stations, the designers said. The maximum speed of the cars reached 120 kilometre per hour. Tan Benhong, deputy director of the Chang'an Automobile Engineering and Research Institute, said that they would improve the technologies based on the results of the test and then prepare for mass production. Chang'an plans to put into commercial use in 2018, Tan said. Worldwide, at least 18 companies are developing autonomous cars, including BMW, Audi and Toyota. China's contenders include automakers BAIC group, GAC Group, SAIC Motor, Chang'an and BYD. A couple was tied to a tree as punishment for eloping by the father of the girl upon their return to their village in Banswara district of Rajasthan. The incident happened yesterday in Arthuna area when the couple, living in Gujarat returned to their village at the request of the girl's father after running away in February, police said. Locals informed the police about the matter following which the couple was rescued, police said. Kanti Lal Katara, 36, had an affair with a 20-year-old girl from the same village and the two had eloped. The girl's father, Gautam Lal, and another relative have been arrested and investigation is on, police said. Curfew was today clamped in Mehsana town in Gujarat and mobile internet service banned as a massive rally of the Patel community demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders turned violent with two buildings being set ablaze and some police vehicles damaged. "We have imposed a curfew in Mehsana town till tomorrow morning. Mobile internet service has been suspended during this period. The violent mob set ablaze two government properties....A sub-divisional magistrate and a mamlatdar (revenue officer) were injured in the stone-pelting," said Lochan Sehra, Collector of Mehsana, 73 km from Ahmedabad. A godown of Food Corporation of India and a district office were set on fire, police said, adding 15 persons have been detained in this connection. Five policemen and two officials sustained injuries in the incidents, police said while agitators claimed that 25 of their supporters were injured in police action. In Surat, police detained 435 Patel agitators who hit the streets after learning about incidents in Mehsana. Surat police commissioner Ashish Bhatia said the situation was under control. Mobile internet services were banned also in Surat and Rajkot as a precautionary measure, district authorities said. In Mehsana, police used lathicharge and fired teargas shells on the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone- pelting. Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the 'Jail Bharo' agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community. SPG chief Lalji Patel received head injury during the face-off with the police. A blame game erupted with police claiming they resorted to lathicharge only after some started hurling stones at them while Patel alleged that agitators were targeted without any provocation. "Our protest was peaceful as announced earlier. However, police suddenly hit me and some of our members when we were walking ahead of the procession. I was hit on head. You can see the blood on my face. We were beaten up without any provocation," said Patel, who along with some other agitators were detained by the police. In-charge DGP of Gujarat P P Pandey claimed the situation deteriorated only after some people resorted to violence. "Police always work to establish peace. The gathering was peaceful initially. However, the situation deteriorated only after some persons resorted to violence and damaged property," Pandey said. Meanwhile, SPG as well as Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) have given a call for 'Gujarat Bandh' tomorrow. "Our Patel brothers were brutally beaten up during the peaceful rally today. Lalji and few other SPG leaders received grievous injuries in the police lathicharge. We condemn this use of excessive force by police and have given a call for Gujarat bandh tomorrow," said SPG spokesperson Purvin Patel, adding that PAAS too supported tomorrow's bandh. Thousands of Patel community members gathered at Modhera crossroad on the outskirts of the city today to court arrest on a mass scale, pressing for reservation and release of Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the agitation for quota for his community, and three of his aides who are in jail. Large number of police, with water canons and teargas shell guns, had been deployed at the crossroad. "Police first used the water canons to disperse the mob which attacked some police vehicles. Teargas shells were also fired as the mob started throwing stones. It also set ablaze some private vehicles. The operation to control the situation is still on," said a police control room official. Health Minister and spokesperson of the Gujarat Government Nitin Patel appealed to the protesters to maintain peace. "Patel leaders (Lalji Patel and others) had earlier promised that even if he is arrested, others will stage peaceful protest. However, violence took place after some people incited others. I appeal to them to maintain peace as all the problems can be solved through dialogue," the minister said. "We have detained 435 persons from different parts of city, including Katargam, Varachha, Sachin and Athvalines areas, as they came out on roads and staged demonstrations. They are still under detention," said Bhatia in Surat. "At some places, agitators also tried to block the roads by burning garbage. However, police took swift action and foiled the attempts," he said. (Reopens DEL 35) Office of state Home Minister Rajni Patel was also targeted by angry mob in Mehsana, police said. "Angry mob has ransacked Rajni Patel's office in the city and set it ablaze," said in-charge police inspector of Mehsana 'B' Division police S B Jadeja. Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure to stop the rumours from spreading through social media platforms, Ahmedabad city police suspended the mobile internet service from evening. In-charge city police commissioner J K Bhatt issued a circular stating that the ban would remain in effect till tomorrow midnight as agitators have called for Gujarat bandh tomorrow. Meanwhile, Mehsana IG Manoj Shashidharan refuted Sardar Patel Group leader Lalji Patel's allegation that he was injured in lathicharge by police. "Much before we took any action, some protesters started hurling stones on police. Since Lalji Patel was leading the rally, a stone fell on his head. Police personnel actually escorted him to a safer place. He was not injured in lathicharge," said Shashidharan. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported in different parts of State. In Visnagar town of Mehsana district at least 3 state transport buses were set ablaze by miscreants, said Visnagar police sub-inspector M H Vaghela. In Ahmedabad, unidentified men hurled stones on a moving municipal transport bus in Ghatlodia area. "Due to the stone pelting, some window panes of the bus got damaged. Luckily, no was injured in the incident," said Ghatlodia police inspector B C Jadeja. In Vastral area of the city, some agitators dislodged barricades at Metro rail project site and tried to block road. However, they were dispersed by the police. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel sought to downplay the stir saying, "People keep on doing agitations. Government's duty is to serve people". State Transport Minister and BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani has termed the incidents as "unnecessary" especially at a time when the government had announced starting a fresh round of talks with Patel quota leaders from tomorrow. "When government is all set to start fresh rounds of talks from tomorrow, today's rally and subsequent turn of events were unfortunate and unnecessary. I appeal to agitators as well as police to show restraint," he said. Enthused by early arrival of summer, Japanese airconditioner maker Daikin expects 18-20 per cent growth in home AC sales this year and is also expanding its network, including in smaller cities. "If summer continues like this, then we are expecting a volume growth between 18-20 per cent this year," Daikin Airconditioning India Managing Director K J Jawa told PTI. "We would grow higher than the industry average as we have an edge in terms of product innovation and technology," he claimed. Jawa said that Daikin's "efforts in expansion of distribution network" would also help the company surpass expected industry growth this year. The industry is expecting 10-12 per cent overall growth this year but "if summer continues like this, it may be even 15 per cent also", Jawa said. At present, Daikin's AC are sold over 3,000 counters. It sold around 5 lakh units last year. Its inverter room ACs account for almost 30 per cent of its sales and the company hopes that the segment will perform well this season too. Besides, Daikin is also spending 3 per cent of its turnover on branding and marketing focusing Tier-II & -III places. Daikin has also associated with IPL T20 team Delhi Daredevils. The company is in the process of investing Rs 400 crore to double its production capacity of Neemrana facility in Rajasthan and Rs 100 crore to set up an R&D centre. The company will open its R&D centre in July this year. Daikin also exports air conditioner to Sri Lanka and is planning explore more geographies after enhancement of its production capacity. "We will start exports to Bangladesh soon. Once our new plant starts, we would explore more markets," said Jawa. On the industry outlook, Jawa said it is "quite positive". "Early summer is a big factor this year. Many companies, which had not anticipated it, have stocked out. This year is looking quite promising and encouraging," he said. Several hundred demonstrators took part in a renewed sit-in in central Baghdad today to call for reforms, following another that lasted for two weeks last month. The protesters began gathering at Baghdad's Tahrir Square yesterday following the failure of a parliamentary session aimed at selecting a replacement for the speaker. Iraq has been hit by weeks of political turmoil surrounding Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's efforts to replace the cabinet of party-affiliated ministers with a government of technocrats. "Our sit-in aims to end the political quotas," said Mohammed Khayoun, one of the participants in the demonstration, referring to senior government positions being shared out among parties. Imad Shaeet, another participant, said that: "Our demands are for reform aimed at securing our future and the future of our children." Security forces closed streets around the sit-in site, causing major traffic jams in the area. Powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr organised a two- week sit-in in March outside Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone, where the government is headquartered, but called it off after Abadi presented a new cabinet lineup to parliament. The premier has faced significant opposition to his cabinet reform efforts from powerful political parties that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds. Both the United Nations and Washington have warned that the political wrangling could undermine Iraq's fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, which overran large areas in 2014 but has since lost significant ground. Political blocs submitted their own ministerial candidates, leading to a second lineup on which most of Abadi's nominees were replaced. Lawmakers then began a sit-in at parliament, while two subsequent sessions ended in a fistfight and a vote to remove speaker Salim al-Juburi, overshadowing the cabinet issue. Juburi insists the session at which MPs voted to sack him lacked a quorum and that the decision is therefore invalid, but his opponents say the move was legitimate. They attempted to hold a session yesterday aimed at selecting replacements for Juburi and his deputies, but it collapsed after 23 MPs from the Shiite Badr bloc announced they would not participate, meaning it lacked a quorum. Seeking reforms in IMF and World Bank to reflect a larger say for economies like India, Finance Minister has said the share of developing and transition countries (DTCs) in the multi-lateral lending agencies International Bank for Reconstruction and Developmen (IBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) must be raised to 50 per cent. I wish to reiterate that we must adhere to the Istanbul principles. We must accept that the time has come for raising partnership of DTCs in the IBRD and IFC to 50 per cent, he said at World Bank Development Committee meeting here. This, he said, would require that economic weight captured by GDP must remain the primary factor in the formula, with larger share of PPP based GDP of not less than 60 per cent. The World Bank through its arm IBRD and International Development Association (IDA) provides loans to middle income and poorest countries. Also through its arm the IFC, it provides loans, equity as well as advisory services to private sector and governments of developing countries. IDA has enormously useful role in financing development in low income countries, but recognising IDA contributions in IBRD/IFC share capital has adverse impact on voting share of developing countries. Therefore, it would only be fair if a weight of not more than 10 per cent is given to IDA contributions in the dynamic formula, he said. Such a weight should also recognise only recent contributions to act as a rightful incentive for the emerging countries to contribute in IDA and should also recognise multiplier based on burden share and generosity. The Minister said while shareholding reforms have moved forward, the unfinished task of eliminating extreme poverty, achieving development ambitions enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and meeting the enormous challenge of reconstruction posed by conflicts and fragility calls for the Bank Group to expand its annual lending to $100 billion. "For doing so, both IBRD and the IFC, would need General Capital Increase (GCI). These two institutions would also need large Selective Capital Increase (SCI) to reflect the increasing weight of Developing & Transition Countries (DTCs). These steps have to be taken in timely manner to maintain leadership position of World Bank Group in the development landscape," he said. Jaitley also said IMF quotas even after recent reforms do not reflect global economic realities. "It is necessary to complete the Quota Formula Review (QFR) quickly, so as to better reflect the increasing weight of emerging market and developing countries in the world economy," he said at the IMFC Plenary Session. A Chinese national arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly murdering his two teenage nephews in the United States has been extradited back to the US, city police said today. Shi Deyun, 44, was detained at Hong Kong's international airport in January after arriving on a flight from Los Angeles. He is accused of murdering his nephews, aged 15 and 16. "Wanted for two cases of murder...(he) was extradited to the United States of America from Hong Kong on April 15," a police spokesman told AFP in an emailed statement. Media reports said Shi was heading to mainland China when he was arrested on January 24, but he has denied fleeing, saying that he was heading to the southern city of Shenzhen via Hong Kong to deal with business. Unlike Hong Kong, mainland China does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. While in custody in Hong Kong, he was sent to a hospital for a check-up after complaining of being "muddle-headed", but was denied bail. He is accused of killing his nephews after his wife filed for divorce, the Los Angeles Times reported. Their bodies were discovered by their mother at their home in the Californian city. Both teens had suffered blunt force trauma, the paper said. The Netherlands has appealed to Chief Minister to spare the demolition of Patna Collectorate, one of the last surviving signatures of Dutch history of Bihar's capital, and list the centuries-old structures under the state archaeology department. Ambassador of the Netherlands to India Alphonsus Stoelinga in a letter to Kumar also suggested that adaptive reusage of these old buildings, on the banks of Ganga, could be found. "I came across reports about the possibility of this shared built heritage of India and the Netherlands being demolished anytime. "I sincerely believe that this built heritage depicting the Indo-Dutch history can be restored and alternate uses can be planned. I am writing this letter to appeal to you to list the complex of buildings as per the norms of the state archaeological department," said Stoelinga. Highlighting the vulnerabilities of unprotected heritage buildings in the city, heritage body INTACH and members of civil society, including eminent historians, architects and former judges had on April 6 also urged the Bihar chief minister to spare its dismantling and restore it. Patna Collectorate alongside Patna College's main administration building and the remains of the opium godown in Gulzarbagh, comprise the last remnants of Dutch history of Patna. The government's move has upset experts and commoners alike and the civil society in its appeal to Kumar had also asked to "restore it to its original glory and reuse the site as a tourist attraction". The Ambassador in his letter also cited the book 'Patna: A Monumental History' brought out in 2008 by the state government's Department of Art, Culture and Youth, where Patna Collectorate and Patna College are listed among the heritage buildings of the capital city. A senior official at the Dutch Embassy here said, "Bihar, especially, cities of Patna and Chhapra have intrinsic links to the Dutch past, and the riverine trade and history of that era. Places like Patna Collectorate could become focal points in storytelling of shared history between the two countries." "The buildings once restored could also serve as a backdrop for celebrating the local culture of Patna and Bihar on the banks of Ganga. That way, it will attract both foreign tourists and engage the local people with their own history," the official told PTI. The Dutch came to India in early 17th century with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company which traded in various Indian cities like Surat, Patna, Chinsurah (Bengal) and Pulicat (Coromandel region of Tamil Nadu). Patna was one of the major trading centres for opium and saltpetre and the Dutch built factories and godowns there on the banks of Ganga as the river played a major role in trade operation until the advent of railways in 19th century. The Dutch government in the letter also offered to NIT- Patna and Bihar government to work on a collaborative project on capacity-building programmes on the theme of "adaptive reusage" of heritage buildings. "May I also take this opportunity to invite the architecture department of the Institute of Technology, Patna, for working out a collaborative effort with my Embassy and Dutch counterparts in making a capacity building programme in conservation and adaptive reusage of heritage buildings in collaboration with the state Department of Culture using the Dutch (era) Patna College as a reference point," the letter said. The Dutch Embassy official said such collaborative programmes can help widen avenues on both sides, and enhance better understanding of "our shared heritage" as well. "A Dutch-era building, being used as a post office in Surat had also faced demolition about 10 years ago, but then eventually the decision was reconsidered and it survived," he said. The Dutch government in 2014 had worked on a series of collaborative projects seeking to link shared history with tourism in partnership with Victoria Memorial Hall and Presidency University and West Bengal Tourism. West Bengal's Chinsurah is steeped in Dutch history and remnants of the bygone era can still be seen in the town by the banks of Hooghly. "We brought out a volume - 'A Documentation of the Dutch Heritage in Chinsurah' and a booklet 'Chinsurah - The Dutch Heritage seeking to rekindle our mutual old links and celebrate the legacy and promote tourism there," he said. The government of the Netherlands had also made attempts to salvage its links with Pulicat, a town in Tamil Nadu, where remains of the old Dutch era can still be seen. The embassy official said that one of the reasons the Dutch history has remained "not so accessible" to people is because of the "language barrier". "Most of the records are in Dutch language and we have tried to get some of them translated into English," he said. A richly-illustrated book 'De VOC in India', originally in Dutch language and authored by researcher Bauke van der Pol was brought out a few years ago. In 2014, its English version 'The Dutch East India Company in India' was released. VOC or Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, commonly known as the Dutch East India Company, was originally established as a chartered company in early 1602 and is said to be the first multinational corporation of the world and the first company to issue stock. The VOC monogramme can still be seen in buildings and other places and artefacts in various cities having Dutch connection. The Commissioner's Bungalow in Chinsurah carries the inscription 'VOC 1687' on its grand staircase. The Centre will issue an executive order to ensure contract workers get a of Rs 10,000 per month, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya (pictured) said on Sunday. It is the endeavour of the Central government to make reforms in labour laws and to proceed from to universal wage. Because the Opposition is not cooperating in the Parliament, we will do it through an executive order, Dattatreya told reporters here. Because the Parliament is not functioning properly, we dont want to wait and we want to go ahead with some executive orders for the welfare of the workers, he said. He said the government has decided to make changes to rule 25 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules. We have framed this rule and sent to the law ministry (for approval) and shortly a notification will come and after this all the state governments will implement this decision, he said. Dattatreya said the Supreme Court had given a direction, keeping in view of Consumer Price Index and variation dearness allowance, to increase the . In view of the apex court order, we are enhancing it first to Rs 10,000 and then we want to go for universal minimum wage, the minister said. All contractors must register with the labour ministry, he said, adding in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over 100,000 sanitation workers (those who get Rs 8,500 per month) will benefit, besides crores of workers elsewhere, by the minimum wage rule. Scientists have performed sophisticated experiments and computer simulations to recreate violent cosmic conditions on a small scale in the lab, in order to understand extreme events in the vast universe. High pressure can turn a soft form of carbon - graphite, used as pencil lead - into an extremely hard form of carbon, diamond. Scientists have predicted that the same thing could happen when a meteor hits graphite in the ground, and that these impacts might be powerful enough to produce a form of diamond, called lonsdaleite, that is even harder than regular diamond. "The existence of lonsdaleite has been disputed, but we've now found compelling evidence for it," said Siegfried Glenzer, from the US Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The team heated the surface of graphite with a powerful optical laser pulse that set off a shock wave inside the sample and rapidly compressed it. By shining bright, ultrafast X-rays from SLAC's X-ray laser Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) through the sample, the researchers were able to see how the shock changed the graphite's atomic structure. "We saw that lonsdaleite formed for certain graphite samples within a few billionths of a second and at a pressure of about 200 gigapascals - 2 million times the atmospheric pressure at sea level," said lead author Dominik Kraus from the German Helmholtz Centre Dresden-Rossendorf. "These results strongly support the idea that violent impacts can synthesise this form of diamond, and that traces of it in the ground could help identify meteor impact sites," Kraus said, who was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley at the time of the study. Another study looked at a peculiar transformation that might occur inside giant gas planets like Jupiter, whose interior is largely made of liquid hydrogen. At high pressure and temperature, this material is believed to switch from its "normal," electrically insulating state into a metallic, conducting one. "Computer simulations suggest that the transition coincides with the separation of the two atoms normally bound together in deuterium molecules," said lead author Paul Davis, who was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley at the time of the study. "It appears that as the pressure and temperature of the laser-induced shock wave rip the molecules apart, their electrons become unbound and are able to conduct electricity," Davis said. In addition to planetary science, the study could also inform energy research aimed at using deuterium as nuclear fuel for fusion reactions that replicate analogous processes inside the sun and other stars. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. Film stars and directors will be crossing swords in the May 16 Assembly polls in Kerala with political parties fielding at least six persons from the industry, aiming to cash in on their popularity. All three major parties in the polls - Congress, CPI(M) and BJP - have roped in a handful of matinee idols to woo voters. The politically-conscious voters of Kerala normally keep celebrities at bay. However, the victory of Actor Innocent in the last Lok Sabha polls seems to have heralded a new trend. Besides four actors, including popular stars like Mukesh and Jagadish, who have been in the industry for over three decades, two directors will also try their luck in the electoral politics this time. While CPI(M) will support actor-turned-politician and Kerala Congress (B) leader K B Ganesh Kumar, who snapped ties with ruling UDF, inPathanapuram, Congress has roped in noted character-artist and comedian Jagadish to take on him in the constituency. As BJP has fielded actor Bheeman Reghu against them, Pathanapuram is expected to witness a triangular 'star war'. Expressing confidence of a victory, Reghu said the response he has been getting is "overwhelming". "Though I am known to everybody being an actor, I am trying to reach out to all my voters through door-to-door campaign," Reghu said. Though Ganesh Kumar, Jagadish and Bheeman Reghu have shared screen in several Malayalam movies, fierce campaigning and war of words among them is a common feature. Ganesh, who had to quit the UDF Ministry after his estranged wife filed a domestic violence complaint against him, recently courted controversy by levelling personal allegations against Jagadish. Another star contestant, Mukesh, a permanent presence in slapstick movies and known for the films like 'Ramjirao Speaking', 'In Harihar Nagar' and 'Godfather', will be contesting Kollam on a CPI(M) ticket. Son of veteran thespian O Madhavan, who established renowned drama company Kalidasa Kala Kendra, Mukesh has been a known sympathiser of the Left ideology. CPI(M) chose him in the key constituency with the belief that Mukesh's multi-faceted personality as a writer, TV host and producer, besides actor, could easily strike a chord with the people. However, the party's decision to give ticket to Mukesh, replacing veteran leader and sitting MLA P K Gurudasan, had initially irked a section of party workers. Film directors A Rajasenan and Ali Akbar would be trying their lucks from Aruvikkara and Koduvally constituencies respectively. National award-winning actor and self-confessed BJP sympathiser Suresh Gopi is the most discussed celebrity name, expected in the candidate list, notwithstanding the fact that he has decided to keep from poll politics this time. He will be main campaigner for the party though. Though CPI(M) decided to field veteran actress and party loyalist KPAC Lalitha from Wadakkanchery, she later bowed out citing health reasons, after there were some protests over her candidature from local cadres. The names of actors Siddhiq and Ashokan had also been under active consideration of different parties. It has been a mixed bag for film personalities taking the electoral plunge in the state in the past. Actor Innocent, also president ofAssociation of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), had won Chalakkudy constituency as a CPI(M)-backed independent in the last Lok Sabha polls. Eminent film maker Ramu Kariat, who directed the path-breaking movie 'Chemmeen', the first National Award winning film in Malayalam, was elected to the Assembly in 1964 from Nattika as an independent backed by the Communist Party. However, veteran actor Murali, who tried his luck in the Lok Sabha polls in 1999 on the CP(M) ticket, was defeated byV M Sudheeran of the Congress. Though Malayalam's 'evergreen' hero late Prem Nazir joined the Congress party, he did not make it to electoral politics. The first Air France flight between Paris and Tehran for eight years landed in the Islamic republic's capital today, bearing a government minister and a business delegation. The airline's route had been suspended since 2008 because of international sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. However, sanctions have been lifted under an accord with world powers that has now been in force for three months. Flight AF738 from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle touched down at Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport at 1530 GMT, 20 minutes ahead of schedule, an AFP journalist said. French Transport Minister Alain Vidalies was on board, along with members of a delegation some 15-strong who will spend two days in the Iranian capital. At a welcoming ceremony Vidalies said he was "proud of the resumption of these direct flights" and said being "able to move between Paris and Tehran was crucial... For entering into partnerships". Iran's deputy transport minister, Ali Abedzadeh, said he was happy to see the Air France service resume. Frederic Gagey, the airline's chief executive, spoke of its "great pride in returning to Iran". However, resumption of the service caused controversy in France after unions said the airline sent an internal memo saying female cabin crew would have to wear trousers on board with a loose fitting jacket and must cover their hair with a scarf when they leave the plane. The headscarf rule is already in place when flying to certain destinations such as Saudi Arabia. But on Monday, a company official said female staff would be allowed to opt out of the route and the airline will appoint a "special unit" to replace those who do not want to fly to Tehran. Italy's Alitalia, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa of Germany already fly to Tehran, and British Airways is planning to resume its London-Tehran service in July. Five pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were killed and two others injured today when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a truck near a village in Bihar's Kaimur district, police said. The mishap occurred near Kaudigram as the driver of the SUV carrying seven pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh on way to Gaya from Varanasi lost control and rammed into a stationary truck. Four passengers were killed on the spot, while one of the three injured died in hospital, Mohania police station in-charge Manoj Kumar said. The deceased have been identified as Satyanarayan (50), his son Pawan Kumar (25) and his mother Padmavati Devi (70), besides Sriram (55), and Rukmini Devi (50), he said. The injured persons, identified as Kamlavati Devi (50), wife of Satyanarayan, and Saraswati Devi (55), have been admitted to a government hospital, Kumar said. The pilgrims hailed from Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district, the officer added. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding and cut water service to 4.5 million people around Chile's capital, Santiago, officials said. The Rio Mapocho flooded several districts of the city and landslides killed at least one person on Sunday. Seven were missing, and officials said some 300 people had been evacuated. Power was cut to more than 80,000 people in Santiago and the provinces of Valparaiso and O'Higgins. The huge El Teniente operation of the state-run Codelco mining company was forced to close. Officials said schools would be shuttered as well. City official Claudio Orrego said that while the Mapocho didn't overflow its banks, a problem with a tunnel led water to spill into the city. Orrego said that water service was cut to at least 4.5 million people due to contamination caused by the flooding. Authorities urged residents to limit water use until the problem is past. Four CPI(M) activists were injured, one of them critically, in a clash between their party workers and BJP activists at Vannathimoola here today, police said. The seriously injured person, who suffered deep cut wounds on his knees, was shifted to Manipal Hospital in Karnataka for treatment, while the other three were admitted to the cooperative hospital here, they said. A search was on to nab the culprits, police said, adding a case has been registered under IPC 307 (attempt to murder). In the run up to the May 16 assembly polls, rival party workers have clashed in various parts of the state. On March 15, a Youth Congress worker was hacked to death allegedly by DYFI workers at Evoor in Alapuzha BJP and CPI(M) workers had clashed in Thiruvananthapuram district on March 14, leaving at least 30 injured, including former Kerala BJP chief V Muraleedharan. An RSS worker was hacked to death last month in Pappinesseri and a BJP worker escaped with serious injuries in Panur, both in Kannur district, after they were attacked allegedly by CPI(M) workers. French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron repeated his government's commitment today to plans by state-owned company EDF to build a controversial next-generation nuclear plant in Britain, saying the deal was being finalised. Questions have been raised about the financial viability of the 18-billion pounds (23.2-billion-euro, USD 25.5 billion) Hinkley Point project, which will use largely untested technology. EDF, which is 84-per cent owned by the French government, is already struggling with a debt pile of more than 37 billion euros and trade unions have called for the project to be delayed. In an interview with BBC television, Macron confirmed the government's commitment to the project, financed in part by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN). "We back Hinkley Point project, it's very important for France, it's very important for the nuclear sector and EDF," Macron said in English. "Now we have to finalise the work, and especially the technical and industrial work, very closely with EDF, with the British government, to be in a situation to sign in the coming weeks or month." He had previously said that EDF would take a final decision at the beginning of May. This week, he told French trade unions that no decision had yet been taken because of concerns within the energy company about the risks involved. Hinkley Point will be one of the world's most expensive nuclear power plants and will produce seven percent of Britain's energy needs by 2025. Doubts over the project are linked to the Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR) technology that will be used. There are no working versions, and other EPR plants under construction are running behind schedule and over budget. Asked if the project would come to fruition, Macron said: "That's my view and that's our perspective because I think it's very important for our commitment to nuclear energy. : AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today paid floral tributes to freedom fighter and Kongu Chief Dheeran Chinnamalai on his 261st birth anniversary. The Chief Minister paid floral tributes to the portrait of Chinnamalai here today, a party release said. DMK Treasurer M K Stalin hailed Chinnamalai for the late leader's service to the nation and to the state and claimed it was only during DMK regime that his statue was installed. "Chinnamalai not only worked for the welfare of people in Kongu region but also for the younger generations of the state. It was during DMK regime that a statue was installed in recognition to his service", Stalin said in social networking platform Facebook. The government is mulling a scheme, named after B R Ambedkar, to help out Dalit-majority villages facing water crisis due to lack of availability or improper conservation infrastructure, Union minister Uma Bharti said here today. The Water Resources Minister also said the Central Water Commission (CWC) has been asked to prepare a report on storage of water in various states and share it with state governments so as to enable them to fight water crisis. Bharti said that as part of Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations, CWC has organised a seminar on 'multi-purpose development of water resources and present challenges' on April 19 to highlight his vision and discuss the way forward to realise it. "His vision was to take water to every poor person in the country. This will be implemented by us. The meeting on 19th will also look into how Dalit-dominated villages, where there is less water or poor provision for storage, can be helped. "A project will also be discussed and it will be named after Babasaheb," she told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural meet on the project on Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies. She said the ministry has already selected two villages in each district as 'Jal Gram' under the 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan' aimed at consolidating water conservation and management in the country, and plans are afoot to pick a third village which will be dalit dominated and facing problems of water crisis. She said this will be done on a pilot basis and after its success, it would be implemented throughout the country. An integrated water security plan, water conservation, water management and allied activities are being planned for these villages by panchayat-level committee to ensure optimum and sustainable utilisation of water. Total of 1,348 villages has to be identified in 674 districts, of which 1,001 have been selected as 'Jal Grams' so far. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today assured the Indian community here that their problems and grievances would be taken up with the Iranian authorities and complemented their contribution to the oil-rich Persian Gulf nation. Swaraj, who arrived here yesterday, began her engagement by visiting a gurudwara at the heart of Tehran which was established in 1941. Addressing a gathering at the gurudwara, Swaraj said that Indian government would take up all the difficulties being faced by the Indian community in the Persian Gulf nation. "I am commencing my visit to Iran with a new energy after meeting with Indian community," she told the gathering. Swaraj also paid a visit to a Kendriya Vidyalaya where she interacted with students. "Our centuries old and civilisational links with Iran have been strengthened by the cultural activities of the Indian school," she said. The Kendriya Vidyalaya was set up in 1955 by the Indian community and the Indian embassy had taken over its administration in 2004. The school currently has students from around 16 different communities, including from a number of foreign countries. In her interaction with the students, Swaraj asked them to focus on their roles and study hard. Swaraj's visit is seen as a balancing act by India as it came nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Saudi Arabia, another West Asian power which considers Iran its rival. Iran is an important country for India for its energy security as well as to get access to oil and gas-rich Central Asian nations. India imports close to 12 million tonnes of crude from Iran and it is looking at increasing the oil import from the country. From Iran, Swaraj will leave for a two-day trip to Moscow to attend the annual Foreign Ministers' meeting of RIC (Russia, India and China). A hijab-clad in the US was reportedly removed from a Southwest Airlines plane after she asked for switching seats with a flight attendant saying she "did not feel comfortable" with the passenger. Hakima Abdulle, a from Maryland, said she was removed from the flight from Chicago to Seattle "without any credible explanation". Abdulle said she wanted to switch seats but instead, she ended up being removed from the flight. This was the second such incident involving the carrier this month after an Iraqi man claimed that he was removed from a Southwest Airlines plane after a fellow passenger heard him speaking in Arabic. Zainab Chaudry, an official with the Council on American- Islamic Relations, said in a news conference that Abdulle had boarded the Seattle-bound aircraft on Wednesday when a flight attendant told her she would not be permitted to remain on board. Airport police then escorted Abdulle, who is of Somalian descent and was wearing a hijab, to the ticket counter, where she waited several hours for a later flight, Chaudry was quoted as saying by The Baltimore Sun. The flight attendant and Southwest employees inside the terminal were unable to provide "any reasonable explanation" for their action, Chaudry said, adding that Abdulle, who speaks little English, was reduced to tears and "suffered extreme distress and anxiety as a result of this experience." When police asked the flight attendant at the gate if there was any reason why Abdulle had been taken off the plane, the flight attendant reportedly replied, "No" and that she did "not feel comfortable" with the passenger. Brandy King, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, was quoted as saying that the "information available, collected at the time of the event, indicates that our employees followed proper procedures in response to this customer's actions while on board the aircraft". "We are not in the business of removing passengers from flights without reason," King said. Abdulle's husband Abukar Fidaw said, "She was humiliated because of her religion and the way she dressed." In a similar incident on April 6, UC Berkeley senior Khairuldeen Makhzoomi was supposed to fly from Los Angeles to Oakland. Instead, Makhzoomi was removed from Southwest Airlines flight after speaking Arabic before his flight took off, the Daily Californian reported. French President sealed several economic deals with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo today during a visit dogged by allegations of rights abuses in the North African country. Hollande had touched down in Cairo to a lavish welcome, pulling up at the historic Al-Qubbah palace flanked by a cavalry guard and to a 21-gun salute. He and Sisi later oversaw the signing of several memorandums of understanding, including a 1.2 billion euro deal to expand the metro line in Cairo. Later at a news conference, both leaders veered into the question of rights abuses under Sisi, who activists accuse of crushing dissent. Turning to Hollande, Sisi said the French president had brought up the issue during their meeting. "The region we live in, President Hollande, is very turbulent," said Sisi. He added that "European criteria" of human rights should not be applied to struggling countries such as Egypt, and should include rights to "better education and better housing". Hollande said respecting human rights was not an obstacle to fighting jihadists, who have conducted large scale attacks in both France and Egypt. "Human rights are not a constraint but also a way to fight against terrorism," he said. On the eve of Hollande's visit, rights groups including Amnesty had criticised what they called France's "deafening silence" on allegations of abuses in Egypt. When a reporter brought up the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni, whose body was found bearing torture marks in Cairo in February, Sisi said there was a plot by an "evil force". "Let me say we are being confronted by an evil force that is trying to shake Egypt, and give a false impression of what is happening in Egypt," he said. Italian officials have voiced suspicion that the PhD student was killed by security services, and Rome has recalled its ambassador from Cairo to protest the pace of Egypt's investigation into his death. Egypt denies he was killed by the police. Impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff went to a decisive vote today with pro-and anti-government legislators shouting and shoving inside Congress while thousands of Brazilians for and against the embattled leader rallied outside. Eduardo Cunha, the lower house speaker leading the drive to oust Rousseff, called "for silence" and respect during the Chamber of Deputies session. After more than three hours of heated speeches, legislators began voting one by one in late afternoon, a process that could take hours. As Cunha called on the other 512 deputies individually he gave them time to speak before casting their vote. After each vote, both cheers and boos erupted, underscoring the deep polarisation in Latin America's largest nation. The extraordinary session was the culmination of months of fighting, which have largely paralysed the government and divided the country, with friends and foes of Rousseff dismissing each other as "putchists" and "thieves." Emotions have run particularly high since debate on impeachment began in the lower house Friday, with legislators holding raucous, name-calling sessions that lasted more than 40 hours. Outside the legislature, waves of pro-and anti-impeachment demonstrators flooded into the capital of Brasilia from across the huge nation. A metal wall more than a kilometre long was installed to keep the rival sides safely apart. Patricia Santos, a retired 52-year-old schoolteacher outside Congress, said she was fed up with the status quo and wanted Rousseff out. "We want our politicians to be less corrupt, so we hope impeaching her will send a signal to them all," Santos said. "We know that all the parties are involved in the corruption but the (governing) Workers' Party has been the leaders of this all for the last 13 years so they have to go." Thousands joined in demonstrations, both for and against the government, in other cities. On Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, thousands of government supporters rallied as funk music blasted from a truck with large speakers. Jader Alves, a 67-year-old retiree, promised that if Rousseff was impeached he would be back on the streets. "My president was elected in 2014 and she will remain in office until 2018, no matter what," said Alves. If 342 of the lower house's 513 lawmakers voted in favor of the impeachment today, the proceedings would move to the Senate, where a separate vote to hold a trial could suspend Rousseff and hand over the top job to Vice President Michel Temer, whom Rousseff has accused of being part of the push against her. If lawmakers voted against impeachment, the bid to oust Rousseff would be dead and any subsequent effort would have to start over from scratch. Washington Apple Commission, a body of apple growers and packers from the US, expects to export around 2-2.5 million boxes of the fruit to India in the coming season starting September. The shipments, however, would be lower than last year (September-August) when apple imports from Washington were at 5.7 million boxes of 20 kg each. "Apple production will be lesser than last year, so we are expecting to export 2-2.5 million boxes Washington apples to India," Washington Apple Commission (WAC) President Todd Fryhover told PTI. Apple production is expected at 116 million boxes this year against 142 million boxes in the last marketing year. "We are expecting the production to be more than 150 million boxes next year," Fryhover said. WAC is an industry-initiated self-governing body of apple growers and packers from Washington. As per WAC data available till March 2016, India is the fourth largest export market for Washington Apples after Canada, Mexico and Taiwan. Fryhover said that after witnessing the growing demand for Washington apples in India, WAC plans to target tier II and -III cities to push growth. "We have moved from the big and metro cities, where the Washington apples are quite in demand. Now we are seeing a lot of potential in smaller cities for good quality imported fruits. We want to capture the potential market for imported apples in tier-II and -III cities in India," he added. WAC is also planning to conduct roadshows to promote Washington apples in India in over 70 smaller cities. "Washington apples are available almost everywhere in the country, except the North-East. However, next year we are planning to penetrate the seven sisters in India," he added. French President Francois Hollande said today respecting human rights was not a hindrance in the fight against "terrorism" but an aid, after meeting Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sisi, meanwhile, defended his country's human rights record after it became the focus of a conference given by the two leaders following their meeting in the Egyptian capital. Sisi, a former military chief who overthrew Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi and cracked down on his followers, dismissed growing allegations of abuses under his own presidency as a plot by "an evil force". Sisi, who spoke before Hollande, said the French president had brought up the issue during their meeting earlier on Sunday. "The region we live in, President Hollande, is very turbulent," Sisi said. He added that "European criteria" of human rights should not be applied to struggling countries such as Egypt, and should include rights to "better education and better housing". Hollande said respecting human rights was not an obstacle to fighting jihadists, who have conducted large scale attacks in both France and Egypt. "Human rights are not a constraint but also a way to fight against terrorism," he said. On the eve of Hollande's visit, rights groups including Amnesty International had criticised what they called France's "deafening silence" on allegations of abuses in Egypt. Recurring incidents of incursions, implementation of an agreement to reduce tensions between border patrols and Sino-India strategic concerns were among the issues expected to figure in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's talks with top Chinese military officials tomorrow. Parrikar, who arrived here from Shanghai by a special aircraft, will hold talks with Chinese Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) General Fan Changlong and others. CMC which is the supreme commanding body of the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) is headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Parrikar will call on Premier Li Keqiang. Later, he would visit China's recently integrated western command military headquarters which has jurisdiction over border with India. The minister is accompanied by senior officials from army and navy, besides the defence ministry. While Indian officials said the talks were expected to review the whole gamut of bilateral ties which showed considerable improvements in the recent times, India's concerns over aggressive patrolling by Chinese troops especially in the Ladakh sector remained high. China denies any incursions, asserting that its troops patrolled areas of its territory in the 3,488-km long disputed border. The two countries may discuss further modalities of the 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) which has outlined various measures to address tensions arising out of the aggressive patrolling by both sides. India and China also conduct an annual dialogue of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination to deal with aggressive patrolling by troops. It helped to bring down tensions over Chinese incursions during the key visits of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2013 followed by President Xi Jinping a year later. Both sides opened several border points for troops and officers on the ground to interact with each other to build good relations. Recent reports from India spoke of the presence of Chinese troops in the forward positions of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) which People's Liberation Army (PLA) dismissed as "groundless". The two militaries also have strategic concerns over each other's military tie-ups with other countries and development of their militaries. Ahead of Parrikar's visit, China hinted that it may take up the recent decision by India to open up military bases to US for logistics and efforts to conclude a pact to share aircraft sharing technologies. India is planning to continue supply of high speed diesel in a "sustainable manner", Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. "India is planning to continue supply of HSD in a sustainable manner," said Pradhan, who is on a three-day visit here, referring to supply of 2200 MT high speed diesel from Siliguri marketing terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). "The India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has become pragmatic and mature over the last few years," Pradhan said. He said the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services. Pradhan called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and shared the details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides. India has questioned prospective UN Secretary General candidates on how they intend to strengthen the counter-terrorism architecture of the world body and plan to achieve long-pending reforms of the Security Council. For the first time in the 70-year-old history of the UN, candidates for the post of the UN Secretary General were questioned by member states on their vision and plan of action, "a game changing process" aimed at increasing transparency on how the world's top diplomat is elected. India's Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, speaking on behalf of the G-4 nations of Brazil, Japan, Germany and India, questioned former prime minister of Portugal Antonio Guterres and former Macedonian Foreign Minister Srgjan Kerim last week during the open briefings about how they intend to speed up the Security Council reform process. Speaking in his personal capacity, he questioned them on terrorism saying the UN's "counter-terrorism" architecture is "dispersed" and member states "don't have even one contact point to turn to if we have to address issues of counter terrorism". India has been pressing for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), a long-pending legal framework which would make it binding for all countries to deny space to terror groups. Akbaruddin asked the candidates how they will ensure CCIT will be made the "rule-making" exercise to counter the global scourge. Guterres, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said that the General Assembly had in 2005 supported the early reform of the Council but added that the member states will have to work together to ensure reforms are achieved without further delay. On terrorism, he said the UN was able to approve a strategy on terrorism but has so far not been able to approve an "international convention on terrorism. That is why we lack some key instruments" in tackling terrorism. He said he will work closely with the General Assembly and Security Council to see "how we can find mechanisms to be more effective in addressing not only the needs to fight terrorism but the ways to avoid some of the mechanisms terrorists utilises in today's global society". Kerim said that it must be ensured that the more than one billion people who follow the Islamic faith are not offended by insisting that there is Islamic terrorism. He said progress on UNSC reforms can be made only if there is "readiness" for change among the members states to implement the reforms. He stressed that there has to be "consensus" on amending the charter for the UNSC reforms. For 2016/17, the deficit is projected to reach 3.5 per cent of GDP and is on track to meet the medium-term target of 3.0 per cent of GDP. On inflation, the report forecast consumer price inflation for India at 5.7 in 2017, declining slightly to 5.4 in 2018. The report said the world economy expanded by just 2.2 per cent in 2016, the slowest rate of growth since the Great Recession of 2009. World gross product is projected to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2017 and 2.9 per cent in 2018, a slight downward revision from the forecasts made last May. Although a modest global recovery is projected for 2017-18, the world economy has not yet emerged from the period of slow growth, characterised by weak investment, dwindling trade and flagging productivity growth, the report added. Launching the report here, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Lenni Montiel underscored the "need to redouble the efforts to bring the global economy back on a stronger and more inclusive growth path and create an international economic environment that is conducive to sustainable development". It added that global oil demand continued to grow in 2016 but the pace of growth was slower than in 2015 as the positive boost from low oil prices to consumption growth waned. "Oil demand was driven mainly by robust consumption in the large emerging economies, particularly China and India," the report said adding oil demand is expected to continue strengthening in line with the projected improvement in global growth. Growth in oil demand will remain supported mainly by the United States and the large emerging economies, particularly China and India. Growth in developing economies slowed to a meagre 3.6 per cent in 2016, the slowest pace of expansion since the global financial crisis, mainly due to lower commodity prices, weak global trade and persistent uncertainties in the world economy. Going forward, average growth in developing economies is expected to pick up to 4.4 per cent in 2017 and 4.7 per cent in 2018 on the back of a moderate recovery in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Asia. The report noted that fragilities in the banking sector and stressed balanced sheets of corporates remain important challenges for some economies. It cited the Indian government's commitment to a USD 3.7 billion package to recapitalise state-owned banks, saying various regulations have been introduced in order to reduce banks' financial exposures and to encourage private participation in the banking sector. "Although countries should try to avoid a sudden tightening of monetary and liquidity conditions in the outlook period, policy measures will critically depend on the evolution of external factors, such as oil prices," it said. India and oil-rich Iran today decided to significantly expand engagement in their overall ties, particularly in boosting Indian investment in joint ventures in oil and gas sectors in the Persian Gulf nation where foreign investors from major economic powers are rushing in to get early footholds after lifting of nuclear sanctions. In talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, the two sides agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to spur trade and investment. Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar port were the centerpiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues. "The talks were very successful and would give new energy to our centuries old ties with Iran. In particular, the economic partnership will get considerable fillip as a result of today's forward looking talks," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told PTI. Sources said the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav was not at all raised by the Iranian side. Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country. Both sides discussed the progress on the Chabahar project and agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending USD 150 million credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the "very near future". Decisions on this line of credit, as well as USD 400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by India. Swarup said both sides discussed the energy partnership and Iran invited greater Indian participation in its oil and gas sector. "Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India." On Farzad - B oil field project, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad - B field outside the auction basket.The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner.Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ," he said. "In terms of connectivity, Iran said it supported India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor.IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan Railway link," said the spokesperson. On Trade and Investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis," said Swarup. India is keen to enhance its investment in Iran as there has been impressive prospect of the country's economic growth. The size of Iran's economy is around USD 400 billion, the second largest in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia,and the country is being seen as one of theworld's hottest investment destination as it has opened various critical sectors including oil and gas for joint ventures and foreign capital. Countries likeJapan, China, the US and a number of European nations are scrambling to take advantage of opportunities in the oil-rich nation after the sanctions were lifted in January. India has been eying deeper energy ties with Iran and has already lined up USD 20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there. India is also keen to increase oil imports from Iran from current 350,000 barrels a day. Both sides decided to enhance cooperation in Counter-terrorism and maritime security as they agreed that concerted global effort was required to combat the menace. They reviewed bilateral relations, in particular the progress in implementing the decisions taken at the last Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi in December 2015. "Both sides took note of the good cooperation between the National Security Council structures of the two countries and agreed to intensify this engagement," said Swarup. In terms of cultural cooperation, both sides agreed to promote and strengthen the existing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by observing "Weeks of Iran and India" in each other's country, publication of manuscripts, organizing conferences and events related to language, literature and religion. They also agreed on the establishment of a Hindi Chair in Tehran University sponsored by ICCR and to renew the Cultural Exchange Programme. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the recent exchange of visits and called for more high level exchanges to give fresh impetus to India-Iran relations. The two ministers also reviewed global and regional issues, in particular the situation in Afghanistan. Earlier in the day, the External Affairs Minister visited an Indian Gurudwara and the Kendriya Vidyalaya. She met the members of the small but vibrant Indian community in Tehran and assured them that she would take up issues of concern to them with the Iranian leadership. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today assured External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that his country can be a "reliable partner" for India's energy needs, as the two nations decided to significantly expand engagements in their overall ties, particularly in oil and gas sectors. Swaraj, who arrived here yesterday, called on Rouhani and held talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, besides meeting with Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei's Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati and deliberated on a range of issues. "Iran can be a reliable partner for India's energy needs," Rouhani told Swaraj. India has been eying deeper energy ties with Iran following lifting of nuclear sanctions and has already lined up USD 20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there. India is also keen to increase oil imports from Iran from current 350,000 barrels a day. Rouhani spoke of Chahbahar port as a "defining partnership which has the potential of connecting the entire region", Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told PTI. Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar port were the centerpiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues. Rouhani, whose country shares border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, also hoped for closer consultations with India on regional issues especially Afghanistan and the challenge of terrorism. On her part, Swaraj briefed him on her discussions with Zarif and said that India has always considered Iran as part of its extended neighbourhood, the spokesperson said. She apprised him about India's keenness in enhancing investment in various sectors including oil and gas in Iran. "Given our natural complementarities we should move beyond a buyer seller relationship to a win win partnership," Swaraj told the Iranian president. Rouhani recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ufa, Russia, and asked the minister to convey his regards to him, the spokesperson said. The president also called for intensified engagement with India in academic, scientific and technological fields. "India and Iran have had very rich cultural ties through history and this could pave the way for enhanced partnership in tourism and people-to-people ties," he told Swaraj. Earlier, during her talks with Zarif, the two sides agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to spur trade and investment. "The talks were very successful and would give new energy to our centuries old ties with Iran. In particular, the economic partnership will get considerable fillip as a result of today's forward looking talks," Swarup said. Sources said the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav was not at all raised by the Iranian side. Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country. Both sides discussed the progress on the Chabahar project and agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending USD 150 million credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the "very near future". Decisions on this line of credit, as well as USD 400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by India. Swarup said both sides discussed the energy partnership and Iran invited greater Indian participation in its oil and gas sector. "Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India." On Farzad - B oil field project, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad - B field outside the auction basket.The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner.Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ," he said. "In terms of connectivity, Iran said it supported India's desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor.IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan Railway link," said the spokesperson. On Trade and Investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis," said Swarup. India is keen to enhance its investment in Iran as there has been impressive prospect of the country's economic growth. The size of Iran's economy is around USD 400 billion, the second largest in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia,and the country is being seen as one of theworld's hottest investment destination as it has opened various critical sectors including oil and gas for joint ventures and foreign capital. Countries likeJapan, China, the US and a number of European nations are scrambling to take advantage of opportunities in the oil-rich nation after the sanctions were lifted in January. Iran will not be sending any representative to a key oil summit in Doha aimed at negotiating a production freeze, Tehran's petroleum minister said today. "The Doha meeting is for people who want to participate in the production freeze plan... But since Iran isn't expected to sign up to the plan the presence of an Iranian representative isn't necessary," Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the Shana agency. Tehran, which is aiming to increase crude output after the lifting of nuclear-related Western sanctions, had said Friday it would send its OPEC representative to the talks in Qatar that were due to start today. Iran used its annual Army Day parade today to showcase parts of a long-awaited air defence system ordered from Russia, a move likely to irk critics of the arms deal. The S-300 system has been on order since 2007 but Russia postponed the sale three years later after the UN Security Council passed a resolution relating to Iran's nuclear programme. A deal between Iran and six world powers over its nuclear activities which lifted sanctions in January removed the barriers to delivery but the fully operational system is still awaited. According to pictures published by the semi-official ISNA agency, S-300 missile tubes and the radar equipment were shown during the military parade held in southern Tehran. Iran insists the system is necessary to defend itself from threats of attack, including possible bombing of its nuclear facilities, and the S-300 would allow early detection of approaching aircraft. Israel and the US have hit out at the sale, which is seen as a means for Russia to maintain influence in the Middle East. Iran and Russia are also in talks on a sale of the Sukhoi SU-30 fighter, another proposal criticised by the US. Iran's current air force fleet dates from the pre-revolutionary era of the Shah. Speaking at today's parade, President Hassan Rouhani insisted Iran's plans to upgrade its military capabilities were defensive in nature, referring to the worst conflicts in the Middle East. "Our military, political and economic power is not directed against neighbouring countries and the countries of the Islamic world. "When Baghdad was threatened by terrorists, the Islamic Republic of Iran responded to the call of the people, the army and the Iraqi government to defend Baghdad and the holy places," he said, referring to the surge of the jihadist Islamic State group in June 2014. The same action was taken in Syria, where Iran has supported President Bashar al-Assad's regime with military and financial aid, he added. The upgrading of Iran's military following the nuclear deal has also alarmed Saudi Arabia, Tehran's regional rival. Riyadh routinely accuses Iran of interfering in Arab countries. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in January after a row broke out over the execution of Shiite cleric and activist Nimr al-Nimr by the Sunni kingdom. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani today vowed to defend Muslim countries against terrorism and Israel while insisting that its neighbours should not feel threatened. Speaking during a National Army Day parade in which Iranian forces displayed sophisticated air defence systems recently acquired from Russia, Rouhani praised Tehran's role in helping the Syrian and Iraqi governments roll back the Islamic State group. "If tomorrow your capitals face danger from terrorism or Zionism, the power that will give you a positive answer is the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said. But he added that Iran would only help if Muslim countries asked it to, and said its military power was purely for defensive and deterrent purposes. "The power of our armed forces is not against our southern, northern, eastern and western neighbours," he said. He appeared to be referring to Gulf Arab states, which have long viewed Iran as seeking to dominate the region. Saudi Arabia and Iran are longtime rivals that back opposite sides in the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars. During the parade, the army displayed Russian-made S-300 air defence missiles delivered earlier this month. In 2010, Russia froze a deal to supply the sophisticated systems to Iran, linking the decision to UN sanctions. President Vladimir Putin lifted the suspension last year following Iran's deal with six world powers that curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from international sanctions. The United States and Israel have expressed concern over the missile systems, fearing they could upset the regional balance of military power. Iran also displayed tanks, light submarines, short-range missiles and other weapons. Insurance regulator Irdai has imposed Rs 15 lakh fine on DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Company for violation of guidelines on outsourcing norms for corporate agents licensing. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) said the company entered into outsourcing agreement with entities owned or related to individual agents and extra payouts were done under this guise. "From the data and agreements available on record, it can be safely construed that the extra payouts were channelised under the guise of the service level agreements. The Authority as per the powers vested...Levies a penalty of Rs 5,00,000 for the violation," Irdai said in its order. Irdai further advised the company to be vigilant in future and not to enter into such agreements. While, in two cases of corporate agents licensing, Irdai imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on DHFL Pramerica Life. Irdai said the Life Insurer entered into agreements with the related parties of the corporate agents for obtaining services and making payment to those entities, which violated the Corporate Agency Guidelines. "Entering into additional relationships with corporate agents is in violation of extant guidelines in respect of licensing of corporate agents. The Authority...Levies a penalty of Rs 5,00,000 for the violation," it added. In another case of corporate agent licensing during 2007, Irdai found that the company named an individual holding a licence as individual agent as Corporate Insurance Executive (CIE) without issuing any certificate to act as CIE on behalf of the corporate agent. An individual agency licence and a certificate to act as CIE are distinct from each other, Irdai said, adding that if an agent wants to become CIE of an insurer he shall surrender his individual agency license and obtain a CIE certificate. DHFL Pramerica in its reply to the Authority said the reason for not issuing a CIE certificate was on account of the fact that these transfers took place in 2009 prior to issuance of Irda's circular in 2010. "Therefore, the contention of insurer which states that there was no regulatory mechanism prior to 2009 which differentiates CIE and agency license is not tenable. The Authority levies a penalty of Rs 5,00,000 on life insurer." "In conclusion, as directed under the respective charges, the penalty of Rs 15,00,000 shall be remitted by the Life Insurer by debiting shareholders' account," Irdai said. Italians were voting in a referendum today on oil and gas drilling concessions which brings to a peak a heated debate fraught with risk for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and fuelled by anger over a government corruption scandal. Campaigning has pitted environmentalists against the government and big business. Italians are to decide whether they want to repeal a law, passed in January, that says existing concessions within 19 kilometres of the coast should remain valid until the fields are depleted, infuriating campaigners for renewable energy. Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), keen to be seen as pro-business, has called on Italians not to vote in the hope the quorum will not be met -- sparking a backlash from opposition parties and deepening a split within his own camp. Under Italy's referendum rules, the outcome of a popular vote is only valid if at least 50 per cent of the registered electorate cast ballots. Environmentalists claim platforms near the shore present risks to health and protected habitats. They insist a "Yes" to reversing the law would send a clear signal the country wants to go green and put a stop to "dirty deals" which benefit oil companies. Polling stations opened 7 AM (1030 IST) and are scheduled to close at 11 PM (0630 IST), with nearly 47 million Italians eligible to vote. "It's a hoax referendum, they say it's about renewable energy, but actually it would mean shutting down working rigs with the loss of 11,000 jobs," Renzi said this week, with several leading political figures slamming him as a liar and criminal. A recent scandal in Italy that saw a top minister resign over alleged favours to French oil giant Total has spread concerns the law was changed "as a present to oil companies" such as Italian giant Eni. Nine regions asked for, and are affected by, the referendum, from the Basilicata, to Calabria, Sardinia and the Veneto - and nearly all of them are led by the PD, fuelling a bitter internal battle and bolstering attacks on Renzi's leadership. "It's unacceptable for the PM to be the head of the pro- abstention party," said Roberto Speranza, a leading PD rebel. Former president Giorgio Napolitano's unexpected defence of voter abstention this week underlined what is at stake: a "Yes" victory would be a heavy blow to Renzi ahead of a constitutional reforms referendum in October, on which the 41- year-old has bet his political career. With two consecutive drought years leading to distress among the farming community, Yogendra Yadav-led Jai Kisan Andolan, a peasants' rights movement, today launched a helpline number for farmers to share their issues. "Jai Kisan Andolan will act as a carrier for the voice of rural India and assist it in reaching the whole country and those in power," Jai Kisan Movement (Swaraj Abhiyan) said in a statement. A helpline number -- 011-66977663 -- has been released for the farmers and rural people, where the problems being faced by villagers can be recorded," it said. It said that the government never pays heed to the farmer's issues, "which always goes unheard". "We will appeal to the farmers via mediums of calls, press releases and pamphlets to communicate their problems to the Prime Minister during this campaign," it said. All the information received by us during this time will be made public on April 24, it said. "At a time when the the country is witnessing a serious agrarian crisis, Jai Kisan Andolan is making an attempt to use such opportunities to bring forward the grave problems being faced by rural India and build pressure through the masses to solve the problem of farmers and villagers," it added. (REOPENS DCM46) Farmer groups from across the country today came in support of agriculture ministry's move to regulate Bt cotton seed prices but also demanded a ban on all genetically modified organism (GMOs) including GM Mustard. Farmer groups also submitted a declaration in support of the agricultural ministry's decision to regulate the price of Bt Cotton Seed, signed by over 30,000 farmers to Deputy Commissioner in Agriculture Ministry D S Misra. Environmentalist Vandana Shiva who also joined the farmers asked the government to ban Bt cotton, which has been described by the Maharashtra Task force on Agrarian distress as a "killer crop". The declaration asked the government to recognise the seed sovereignty as the right of farmers in order to prevent the exploitation of rural Indian farmers at the hand of fraudulent corporations. The government should act sternly with corporations that are trying to loot the Indian farmers and should prevent seed monopolies from being created, the statement said. An army jawan died of a cardiac arrest today while he was engaged in target practice at a firing range here, police said. According to police, the jawan, identified as Baljit Singh, complained of chest pain during practice this morning and succumbed at the small medical facility at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. After a post-mortem, the body was handed over to army authorities, they said. Veteran actor Jeetendra and Anil Kapoor were today named for Maharashtra government's awards in memory of late Raj Kapoor. Jeetendra, 74, will be given Raj Kapoor Lifetime Contribution Award and the 59-year-old "Virasat" star will receive the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award, Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde said in a statement. The lifetime award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh while the special contribution award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, it said. The award ceremony will be held here on April 30. Anil made his Hindi film cameo appearance with Umesh Mehra's "Hamare Tumhare" in 1979 before gaining prominence with the hit "Tezaab". He shot to global fame with his role in Danny Boyle's Academy Award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire". Jeetendra, who featured in popular films like "Himmatwala", "Tohfa" and "Dharam Veer", was last seen in a cameo appearance in Shah Rukh Khan's "Om Shanti Om". Thousands of workers in Kuwait began an open-ended strike on Sunday to protest against a government proposal to cut their wages, the head of their union said. The strike, which could slash production if prolonged, comes as world producers gather in Qatar to negotiate an output freeze to boost prices. "Thousands of workers began their strike," the workers union chief Saif al-Qahtani told AFP, adding that production was partially halted without clarifying which sites had been affected. Read more from our special coverage on "OIL" "Observed since 7:00 am (0830 IST), this open-ended strike will continue until the workers' demands are met," Qahtani said. On Saturday, the union turned down an appeal from Kuwait's acting oil minister, Anas al-Saleh, to call off the strike. Hit by the sharp drop in crude prices on world markets, Kuwait is introducing a new payroll scheme for all public employees and wants to include the country's 20,000 oil workers, which would mean an automatic cut in wages and incentives. As the strike began, Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) spokesman Sheikh Talal Khaled al-Sabah said that the national oil conglomerate had activated an "emergency plan" to ensure that local and markets were not affected by the walkout. "Export operations are going ahead as planned and KPC is capable of responding to major market demands, based on agreements with clients," he said in a statement published on the KUNA news site. The plan ensures that all petrol stations will continue to be supplied as well as Kuwait's airport and companies operating at the facility, he said. He urged Kuwaitis "not to listen to rumours that the strike has affected the needs of the local market", adding that Kuwait's "reserves of gasoline and petrol derivatives is enough to meet the country's demands for 25 days and strategic reserves could suffice for 31 more days". KPC had offered to suspend all spending cuts if the union agreed to join a committee to negotiate a settlement. But the conglomerate said workers boycotted negotiations called for Thursday by the social affairs and labour ministry. The union is also protesting plans to privatise parts of the oil sector. Kuwait, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' fourth largest producer, currently pumps three million barrels per day. Large corporations, and not necessarily reputed tech schools like IITs or MIT, are the new garages as big businesses race to stay relevant, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra has said. "The new garage is not necessarily in the MIT or Stanford or the IITs. It is in fact, back in large companies. The cycle has turned, where large companies are not turning obsolete," Mahindra told PTI. Large corporations are emulating ecosystems within themselves, he added. "In a sense, what we are doing is putting up a Silicon Valley inside a company," added Mahindra. A corporate garage, unlike a dedicated venture capital or private equity fund, also has the advantage of being more flexible and staying invested for a long-term, he said. Terming the domestic ecosystem as "extremely robust", Mahindra said even though it trails the US and Israel at present, India is set to become the "hottest startup spot in the world." "You are only going to see more action. Whether it is about unicorns or cockroaches, you are going to see plenty of action," he said. Mahindra said people who launch startups within his group are called "intrapreneurs" and are spread across various verticals, including Tech Mahindra and the flagship auto company Mahindra and Mahindra. The close to $20-billion diversified group has a dedicated entity called Mahindra Partners that acts like the group's venture capital and private equity arm, and invests in companies both within and outside the group. "They have been given a notional allocation by our board. We have a very different approach. It is not a fund, because when you operate as a fund there is a point at which it is redeemed," he said. Mahindra Partners' website says it is a $900 million PE and VC division of the group. Tech Mahindra, the country's fifth biggest software exporter, has also earmarked $200 million for investments in startups. Citing the case of Club Mahindra, which he termed as one of the most successful startups floated by the group, Mahindra said the company turned around and started delivering profits in the ninth year, while a VC or PE fund would have been forced to exit early. The country is the third largest startup market in the world with over 18,000 units valued at $75 billion, employing 3,00,000 people, as of December last. These companies collectively raised funds worth $8.5 billion in 2015, up 64% over 2014, and saw over three times the number of deals compared to 2014. According to data compiled by technology and startup blog trak.In, there were 936 deals in 2015, three times more than the 304 deals in 2014. The e-commerce sector, which includes Flipkart, Snapdeal and Ola, dominate startup investments space with high valuations and marquee investors. Several industry titans, including Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy and former Infosys director T V Mohandas Pai, have invested in the new age companies. A local AIADMK secretary was hacked to death by a nine-member gang at a village in Sivaganga district, police said today. The victim, Kathiresan (55), a farmer, had some dispute with one Pandi of Kallupatti village, they said. He was herding his cattle back to his house, along with his wife, when he waswaylaid and attacked by the ganglast evening. He died on the spot, police said. His wife, who was injured, has been admitted to a hospital where her condition is stated to be stable. A case has been registered and a hunt is on for the assailants, police added. As police worked to determine why a person opened fire on firefighters who were responding to a call for help at a home in a Maryland suburb of Washington, the shooter was released from custody. John Ulmschneider, a 13-year veteran of the Prince George's County Fire Department, died Friday night after he was shot while trying to enter a home to make a welfare check, police said. Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, 19, also was shot, and was in serious but stable condition after coming out of surgery yesterday, department officials said. Swain, who authorities say was shot four times, is expected to survive. Firefighters had gone to the Temple Hills home after the brother of the man who lived there told authorities he was concerned about the man's safety, said Mark Brady, spokesman for the fire department. The man said his brother had trouble controlling his blood sugar and recently blacked out. He told authorities he was worried because his brother wasn't answering the phone or the door and his car was parked in the driveway, Brady said. When the firefighters arrived on the scene, the person inside was unresponsive, so they decided to force entry, police said. As that was happening, the person inside fired several rounds, striking two firefighters and his brother, authorities said. Police said that once officers got into the home, the gunfire stopped. There were no police officers present when the firefighters decided to enter the home, Prince George's County Police Department spokeswoman Julie Parker. Brady said that's something firefighters do fairly routinely when there's a concern about someone's safety. He said anytime there is an incident such as this, the department will review its protocols and possibly make changes. "The firefighter medics made a decision that this was indeed a reason they needed to get into that house as soon as possible. Time could have been of the essence," he said. As of yesterday, no charges had been brought against the shooter and he was released from police custody yesterday evening, according to a statement tweeted by the police department. Brady said Ulmschneider was described as a "good old hard working country boy who loved his job. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met the ailing Swami Atmasthananda Maharaj, president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission Order, whom he considers his 'guru'. This was his second visit after May 9, last year to the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan in the city, where the 98-year-old monk is recovering from age-related illness. "The PM spent about 15 minutes in the hospital. He went to the Maharaj's room, touched his feet and was blessed by the senior monk," the RKM Seva Pratisthan Secretary Swami Satyadevananda Maharaj told PTI. The two spoke in Gujarati and asked about each other's well-being during the short exchange, as the senior monk was not in a condition to talk much. Modi used to get spiritual guidance from Swami Atmasthanand when both of them were in Rajkot. After the meeting, the general secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Swami Suhitananda Maharaj, gifted the PM a holy shawl from the Belurmath temple and exchanged wishes. "The PM was treated with prasadam 'payesh' (Bengali variant of kheer) and 'sandesh' (Bengali sweet) from Belurmath," said Swami Satyadevananda Maharaj. As a young boy, Modi had visited Belurmath to join the Order but his request was turned down and was told that his calling lay elsewhere. The three-day national convention of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) here is expected to appeal to the Muslim youth not to join ISIS, and launch a special cell to monitor those who could fall prey to the terror group's propaganda, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar said. Issues such as waving of Pakistani flag and hailing that country, who should be the community's icons, how to discourage the practise of talaq, root causes of communal riots and promotion of education among Muslims would also be discussed by over 150 Muslims leaders, scholars and religious heads from across the country, Kumar said last evening. The convention started yesterday. On the opposition by some Muslim clerics to the chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan, Kumar said, "It is all matter of semantics. Saying Madar-E-Watan Hindustan Zindabad or Bharat Mata ki Jai is one and the same thing. But those issuing fatwa on it are fundamentalists promoting violence." Kumar also denied MRM is an offshoot of RSS, saying it's an "independent organisation of nationalist Muslims". Myanmar President Htin Kyaw pardoned 83 political prisoners on the country's traditional New Year today, a spokesman from his office said, as the fledgling civilian-led administration seeks to cast off the shackles of nearly half a century of military rule. The new government, steered by veteran democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, has spent its first weeks in power freeing scores of political activists prosecuted under the country's former military leaders. "All of the 83 prisoners that the president gave amnesty to today are political prisoners and prisoners concerned with political cases," Zaw Htay, the deputy director of the president's office, told AFP. A presidential pardon published today morning said the amnesty was granted to "make people feel happy and peaceful, and (promote) national reconciliation during the New Year". The former junta's routine jailing of dissidents was one of many repressive policies that garnered support for the democracy struggle led by Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD), which swept historic polls in November. The party is stacked with ex-political prisoners who were jailed for their activism under the former military regime. Suu Kyi, who spent some 15 years under house arrest during the dark junta days, oversaw her government's first amnesty push earlier this month, when authorities dropped charges against nearly 200 political activists ahead of the New Year holiday. The former quasi-civilian government that replaced junta rule in 2011 also freed hundreds of political detainees, but oversaw the detention of scores more. Local media aired joyful reunion scenes as released prisoners left jails across the country, carrying small bags of belongings and joining loved ones in song outside the prison gates. Among those pardoned today were five journalists handed 10-year sentences in 2014 over a report accusing the military of producing chemical weapons - which the government denied. The journalists' sentence, which was later reduced to seven years, was slammed by rights groups as "outrageously harsh". "We have been looking forward to hearing good from this new government," Yarzar Oo, one of the reporters from Unity Weekly News, told AFP by phone after his release from Pakokku Prison in Magway region. The group was greeted with flowers by their relatives, who gathered at the prison the night before after learning of their release, he said. Trains of the bygone era, Hindu deities and popular Bollywood posters - all come together as one evocative story on the canvas of Nepalese artist Uma Shankar Shah. Presented by Gallerie Ganesha, his first solo show in the city titled 'Roti- Beti' comprises paintings (oils and acrylics) and etchings is set to be exhibited at the Visual Arts Gallery, from April 18 to April 24. Shah is also exhibiting an 18-feet long, three-dimensional train installation - in fibre and metal - which with its roof and compartments, platform and human figures, aims to being alive the whole rail experience for the viewers. Says 51-year-old Shah, a Fine Arts Lecturer at Tribhuwan University,"Nepalese have been astonished by trains ever since their introduction in India by the British and it became a symbol of a search for new life in the hearts of Nepalese people." The establishment of the Indian Railway, which was to be an asset for the British economy at the time, brought about a variety of changes to the sub-continent. In the Rana regime, trains primarily served a purpose of transporting timber, wheat, jute as commanded by the British. The public was so intrigued by this system that people would climb on top of the goods that such trains carried. People would often travel from Raksaul to Amlekhgunj via train at the time, and crossed the hill Bhimphedi to travel to Kathmandu to get to the temples of Pashupatinath. The Railway system from Jainagar to Janakpur too started carrying people and was called the Nepal Janakpur Jainagar Railway (NJJR), which later extended all the way to Bijalpura. "While all this was happening and the railway system was becoming a center of attraction for the Mithila region people, I was also fascinated by trains as a kid and every day I would go to the railway station to watch the trains pass by," says Shah, born in Janakpur. "My happiness had no limits if I ever had the opportunity to touch those trains. In the 40 years that I have grown up with these trains, I have developed a sense of empathy with them where it feels as if I understand the moods of happiness, sadness, uselessness, loneliness of these machines and this is what I have presented in these works" he says. Data centre company Netmagic plans to invest about Rs 2,000 crore to set up two new facilities, one each in Mumbai and Bengaluru, by April 2018, apart from increasing its headcount to meet growing business. The Mumbai-based company operates eight data centres in the country across Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru. "When we launched our last projects in Bengaluru and Mumbai, we thought it would take 5-6 years to fill their capacity but within six months of the launch of Mumbai data centre, we have started to build two new facilities. We are seeing demand beyond our expectation," Netmagic Executive Director and President Sunil Gupta told PTI. He said there is huge demand from the e-commerce sector and the launch of 4G services will fuel demand for videos and high-definition content. "We have decided to invest about Rs 2,000 crore to set up two new data centres to meet the demand. One will be in Bengaluru with 3,000 racks capacity and other will be in Mumbai with 4,000 racks capacity," Gupta said. He added that Netmagic plans to increase its headcount from about 1,100 at present to 1,400 by March 2017. Netmagic had in October 2015 launched its data centre in Mumbai, which it says is the largest such facility in the country. "About 60 per cent of the data centre capacity has been contracted to clients and we expect to contract rest of the 40 per cent in other six months," Gupta said. The company has dedicated more than 80 per cent of its capacity to the e-commerce sector. "We are also aware of what global majors are talking about with the Indian economy growing. There are Japanese companies who have keen interest in India, especially in infrastructure space. "We see huge demand coming from them in near future. Therefore, we need to be ready with capacity," Gupta said. He said the company had earlier expected to close 2015-16 with revenue of Rs 445 crore, but exceeded the target by 20 per cent at about Rs 534 cr. Nine persons were injured, two of them seriously, when members of two communities pelted each other with stones in Jalgaon Jamod village in neighbouring Buldhana district, forcing police to fire shots in the air and impose curfew in some areas to bring situation under control. The incident occurred last night when devotees were collecting eatables from households for their distribution as 'prasad' marking the culmination of Ram Navmi festival. "Trouble started when a tractor distributing 'prasad' was stopped by some people," police inspector Vijay Patkar said today. Soon, members of two groups gathered at the spot and started hurling stones at each other. During the strife, some roadside kiosks were set on fire. Three police personnel were injured in stone pelting. Police opened fire in air to disperse the mob while the district administration imposed curfew overnight in the troubled areas of the town. Police enforcements were rushed to the village and the situation in under control now. After imposing total prohibition in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar plans to visit a number of states including Uttar Pradesh, where assembly elections are due next year, to lend support to anti-liquor movements as his party JD(U) seeks to widen its reach. Kumar, who is believed to be having a strong support base among women voters in the state, has got invitations from a number of women organisations engaged in anti-liquor movements in UP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Party General Secretary K C Tyagi said the Chief Minister has agreed to visit these states and hold interaction with women organisations which will be finalised after the national council meeting of JD(U) in Patna on April 23, which will give its approval to Kumar's election as party president at party's national executive earlier. "The women organizations, many of whom are associated with Gandhian and Sarvoday movements, have invited Kumar. "Invitations are from Jaipur in Rajasthan, Wardha in Maharashtra, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand and some places from Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister will be visiting these states in May," Tyagi told PTI. Around a fortnight ago, Nitish Kumar government had announced a complete ban on liquor, domestic and spicy (masaledaar), as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in Bihar. Women are believed to be somewhat a caste neutral constituency, which Kumar has wooed for quite some time starting with bicycle scheme for school girls in Bihar, which has been a key campaign issue of JD(U) in last few assembly elections in the state. Besides, steps like giving 50 per cent reservation to women in panchayat polls, reserving 35 per cent seats for women in government jobs and initiating several pro-women schemes like Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana, Akshar Anchal Yojana, Jeevika and Mukhya Mantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana are also cited by the party as proofs of its commitment to women empowerment. The understanding in JD(U) is that alcoholism being a major issue in the country particularly in rural India and women in the lower rungs of society being the worst sufferer of the rampant problem, Kumar's anti-alcohol stand puts him in good stead in these regions and gives the party a plank, which cuts across caste and community barriers. "JD(U) will kick off its social and political outreach programmes soon after April 23 during which over a thousand- member party National Council will put its stamp of approval on Nitish Kumar's election as party President in party's national executive meeting last week. "After April 23, the onoing process of merger with some parties as well as alliance with some others will also get a head start. "We cannotafford to wait longer. We have to start public campaign in Uttar Pradesh from May. Pushing for total prohibitionwill be a key theme for us," Tyagi said. With liquor being a major source of revenue for states, imposing prohibition will be a herculean as Kumar himself admitted some days back, comparing the feat of banning alcohol to scaling Mount Everest. While critics have questioned the feasibility of Kumar's liquor ban move, the Bihar Chief Minister is confident that the voice for liquor ban has begun to rise in other states. He also referred to the announcements of AIADMK and DMK in the run-up to the on-going Tamil Nadu polls to go for a liquor ban. Kumar feels that states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, which share border with Bihar, would see similar demands to ban alchohal there. In two of these states, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, the JD(U) is eyeing big. In Jharkhand it is finalising the process of merger of Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha while in Uttar Pradesh, Ajit Singh's RLD will join it besides alliance with smaller parties like Peace Party and a faction of Apna Dal. Oil-rich nations at a Qatar summit failed to reach an agreement today on a production freeze, saying officials needed "more time" to make the decision as Iran stayed home and vowed to keep pumping. The hourslong meeting in Doha, the Qatari capital, resembled a failed OPEC meeting in December that saw crude oil prices tumble on the cartel's indecision. The fact that producers couldn't agree to even freezing production at near-record January figures likely means oil prices will drop again as markets open tomorrow. Speaking to journalists after the summit, Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, Qatar's energy and industry minister, said the 18 countries gathered for the meeting believed "the fundamentals of the market are generally improving." However, he largely dodged the questions about whether another special summit will be called before OPEC's next meeting in June and whether Iran had anything to do with the breakdown of the talks. "We of course respect their position and ... We still don't know how the future will unroll but it was a sovereign decision by Iran," said al-Sada, who is serving as OPEC's president. "The freeze could be more effective definitely if major producers, be it from OPEC members like Iran and others, as well as non-OPEC members, are included in the freeze." Sunday's gathering follows a surprise Doha meeting in February between Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in which they pledged to cap their crude output at January levels if other producers do the same. They had hoped the cap would help global oil prices rebound from their dramatic fall since the summer of 2014, when prices were above USD 100 a barrel. Prices dropped briefly to under USD 30 a barrel, a 12-year low, in January, but have climbed to the mid-USD 40s this week, boosted in part by market speculation about the Qatar meeting. Western markets were closed Sunday and not immediately affected by the discussions, though the failure to reach a freeze likely will come into play tomorrow. Stock exchanges in Saudi Arabia and Dubai closed in negative territory Sunday, with the Saudi Tadawul down 1.48 per cent. Iran decided to stay home late Saturday after saying the day before it would send an emissary to the meeting. Speaking to Iranian state television, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh said it didn't make sense to send any representative from the Islamic Republic "as we are not part of the decision to freeze output." "We can't cooperate with them to freeze our own output, and in other words impose sanctions on ourselves," Zangeneh said. Oil-producing countries met today in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran's last-minute decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement. The attendees, including Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, silently swept past gathered journalists at a luxury hotel in Doha ahead of the meeting. Also on hand was Russia, another of the world's top oil producers. The US, now a major producer because of shale oil, did not attend. At least 15 oil-producing nations representing about 73 percent of world output were expected at the Doha meeting, Qatar's energy and industry minister, Mohammed bin Saleh al- Sada, has said. The gathering follows a surprise Doha meeting in February between Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in which they pledged to cap their crude output at January levels if other producers do the same. They hope the cap will help global oil prices rebound from their dramatic fall since the summer of 2014, when prices were above $100 a barrel, though no one is talking seriously about the more dramatic step of cutting production. Prices dropped briefly under $30 a barrel, a 12-year low, in January, but have climbed to the mid-$40s this week, boosted in part by market speculation about the Qatar meeting. Western markets were closed today and not immediately affected by the discussions. Iran decided to stay home late yesterday after saying the day before it would send an emissary to the meeting. "We reached the conclusion that the Doha meeting is for those who want to sign the oil freeze plans, and if we wanted to have a representative at the meeting, it was to show our support of this project," Oil Minister Iran;s Oil Minister said, according to a report by the ministry's SHANA news agency. "But since Iran is not going to sign this, there is no need for the presence of Iran's representative at the meeting." With many sanctions lifted under its nuclear deal with world powers, Iran began exporting oil into the European market again and is eager to claw back a market share. It produces 3.2 million barrels of oil a day now, with hopes of increasing to 4 million by April 2017. On Friday, the Iranian Oil Ministry reiterated it would not join a freeze "before it brings its oil exports to the pre-sanctions levels. Major oil producers gathered in Qatar today for crucial talks on capping production to boost prices, despite Iran's refusal to take part. Top energy officials from some 15 countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia were at the Doha talks, amid reports a draft agreement was in the works to freeze output at January levels until at least October. Major producers both inside and outside the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are anxious to stem a nosedive that has cost exporters billions in lost revenue. From above USD 100 in mid-2014, oil prices dropped to 13-year lows of around USD 27 in February due to a supply glut, though they have since rebounded to about USD 40. Officials held "consultations" in the morning and delayed the official start of the meeting from 0600 GMT to the afternoon, a member of the Ecuadorian delegation told reporters, declining to provide details. Other officials confirmed the delay. Ecuadoran Hydrocarbons Minister Carlos Pareja told reporters that his country would support a plan to freeze output until at least October. He said proposals under discussion also call for "setting up a committee to monitor the freeze," but provided no further details. Pareja warned that if no action were taken "there will be huge damage to the oil industry." Russia's RIA Novosti agency also quoted Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev as saying the draft included the output freeze at January levels until October. The meeting in Doha is a follow-up to talks in February between OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela plus Russia in which they first mooted the output freeze. Saudi Arabia has insisted that all major producers must be on board for the freeze to work, including fellow OPEC member and regional rival Iran. But Tehran, which has boosted production following the lifting of sanctions under its nuclear deal with world powers, has rejected any talk of a freeze. Iran had initially said its OPEC representative would participate in the talks but on Sunday Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh announced Tehran would send no delegation at all. "The Doha meeting is for people who want to participate in the production freeze plan... But since Iran isn't expected to sign up to the plan the presence of an Iranian representative isn't necessary," Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the Shana agency. "Iran will in no way give up its historic production quota," Zanganeh said. Influential Saudi deputy crown prince Mohamed bin Salman reiterated in an interview with Bloomberg published on Saturday that the kingdom would not accept a freeze without Tehran's cooperation. In a heavy turnout amid reports of sporadic violence, over 70 per cent of the electorate cast their votes till 3 PM in the election to 56 Assembly constituencies in the second phase of polling in West Bengal today. Overall, 70.82 per cent voters exercised their franchise in six north Bengal districts of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda, and Birbhum in south Bengal. In seven constituencies of Birbhum, polling ended early at 4 PM as they were marked as left-wing extremism affected. Voting will go on till 6 PM in the remaining constituencies. Controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal, who has been put under 24/7 surveillance by the Election Commission, stoked another controversy when he went to cast his vote sporting a batch of party symbol on his shirt. "I didn't realise it. But the presiding officer could have stopped me from going like this," Mandal, Birbhum district president of the party, said later. The Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the alleged violation of the model code of conduct by him. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who was in Kolkata today, alleged that booth-capturing and false voting continued in the state. "Despite the presence of central forces, there is a 'bhoot' (ghost) in the booths," he said. In Malda, a clash between CPI(M) and TMC supporters took place in front of a booth in the Englishbazar Assembly seat, in which two persons, including the TMC polling agent, were injured, the police said. Trouble began when the TMC polling agent protested against alleged booth jamming by CPI(M). The two sides clashed with lathis outside the booth with the central forces finding it difficult to control them, polling officials said. TMC agent Anup Sarkar was injured and admitted to the Malda Medical College and Hospital. Polling was stalled for 45 minutes and later began as additional central forces were rushed to the area to control the situation. TMC polling agent Asraful Hossain was beaten up at a booth in Chanchol constituency in Malda district allegedly by Chanchol ex-pradhan Maqbul Hossain of Congress, polling officials said. As a result, polling was temporarily stalled. Hossain has since been arrested, the police said. Earlier in the morning, a clash between BJP and TMC workers left eight persons injured in Dumrut village of Birbhum at around 6 AM before polling began, an EC report said. Three persons were later arrested by the police. TMC candidate from Siliguri Assembly constituency Baichung Bhutia complained of bogus votes being cast at Sriguru Vidayapith booth and a complaint has been registered with EC. The first phase of polling in West Bengal was held in two parts on April 4 and 11. In the second phase, over 1.2 crore electorate will decide the fate of 383 candidates, including 33 women. Defence Minister on Sunday arrived in Beijing on his first official visit to China for high-level talks with top military officials to consolidate ties between the armed forces of the two countries. Parrikar arrived from Shanghai by a special aircraft and will hold talks with top Chinese officials, including Defence Minister Gen Chang Wanquan and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Gen Fan Changlong on Monday. He is also due to call on Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Later, he would visit China's recently integrated western command military headquarters which has jurisdiction over the border with India. Parrikar is accompanied by senior officials from the army and navy, besides the defence ministry. Indian officials said that the visit is aimed at further consolidating the defence relations between the two countries which showed considerable improvement in the last few years with periodic high-level interactions between the two armed forces. Parrikar's five-day visit will be immediately followed by a visit by Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to hold the 19th Boundary Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi later next week. Doval and Yang, who are designated special representatives for boundary talks, also have a mandate to discuss entire gamut of bilateral issues. The contentious issue of China blocking India's attempts in the United Nations to ban Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mummad's chief Masood Azhar is expected to figure in their talks. Earlier on Sunday, before leaving for Beijing, Parrikar visited Urban Planning Exhibition Centre in Shanghai where he was briefed by the Chinese officials on the urban planning achievements in China's biggest metropolis which has a population of over 22 million. The briefing focused on the use of innovative technologies and smart city transportations, Indian Consulate in Shanghai said in a statement. He also addressed members of the Indian community at a meeting held at the Shanghai Consulate where he spoke of his government's "steadfast commitment" to securing the interests of Indians living abroad. The defence minister said that there was a significant momentum in India's economy, which had been successful in attracting large investments under the 'Make in India' initiative. He also answered questions from the audience on issues ranging from India's self-reliance in defence production, education to high-end technologies and retaining skilled talented students, the statement said. The 81-year-old pro-opposition magazine editor arrested and sent to five-day police custody was today interrogated for his alleged involvement in a plot to "abduct and murder" Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son in the US. Shafik Rehman, the editor of popular Bengali monthly magazine Mouchake Dhil and also a British citizen, was approached by three men in plain clothes who identified themselves as reporters and asked him to accompany them, said his wife Taleya Rehman, a former BBC journalist. Rehman worked as a speech-writer for former prime minister Khaleda Zia and his arrest is the latest in a series of cases that have sparked concern over freedom of speech. Police said Rehman was found involved in a plot to "abduct and murder" Hasina's son and Information and Communications Technology advisor Sajib Wajed Joy last year from the US last year in the US. A Dhaka court yesterday ordered him to be remanded in police custody for five days for interrogation. "He (Rehman) has been arrested on specific allegation and the matter is now under investigation. If he is found innocent, he will be released and if the allegation is proved, trial proceedings will run against him," Law Minister Anisul Huq said. Information Minister Hassanul Haq Inu said Rehman was arrested on specific criminal charges having no links to journalism. Police said their case statement suggested that Rehman was one of several suspects who met in the UK, the US and Dhaka and other parts of the country before September 2012 and conspired to abduct and kill the premier's son. Police yesterday said that Rehman, who has also worked with the BBC, was arrested in connection with a sedition case lodged with the Paltan police station in Dhaka last year. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), meanwhile, condemned the arrest and demanded Rehman's immediate release. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government arrested him to divert peoples' attention from its numerous failures. "The incident proves that there is no democracy in the country and nobody has the right to express his free opinion," Alamgir said. He is the third pro-opposition journalist to have been arrested by the government. Two other journalists associated with Bangladesh's leading Bengali and English newspapers have also been booked for defamation and sedition. Rehman has formerly served as a speech-writer for two-time former prime minister and opposition leader Zia who is also the chief of BNP. He shot to fame for his criticism of the government during General H M Ershad's dictatorship through in his weekly column after becoming editor of Jaijaidin weekly in the 1980s. Rehman had to leave Bangladesh facing the wrath of Ershad but returned after he was dethroned. 'Poppy seeds' or khus khus, used in Indian and middle eastern dishes, do not contain banned substances and are not addictive unless they are mixed with other parts of the plant, a toxicologist here has said. The observations by Mustafa Ali Mohd from Universiti Malaya's Department of Pathology come after Malaysian authorities said people consuming khus khus could be charged if tested positive for drugs. By itself, the poppy seeds havea negligible amount of codeine, which is unlikely to be detected in a urine test unless consumed in huge amounts, Mustafa said. "Many parts of the poppy plant are addictive and can cause euphoria, but not the seeds. The seeds can be eaten," he said. "The problem comes when the husks of the pods and the twigs are added into the seeds. These contain much more codeine and other addictive components," Mustafa said in an interview to a local daily. Kuala Lumpur Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department chief Wan Abdullah Ishak said recently that consumers eating food laden with poppy seeds could be charged in court and jailed or fined if tested positive for drugs. Mustafa said opium is derived from the coagulated latex of poppy pods. "Consumers too can take precaution by avoiding poppy seeds that are mixed with other parts of the plant," he said. Asked if seeds were considered part of the plant since it was illegal to consume poppy plants in Malaysia, Mustafa said poppy plants were deemed illegal because they contained illegal ingredients. "If it (the seed) does not contain the illegal ingredients, it cannot be illegal." Health Minister S Subramaniam said the ministry would not ban the import and usage of poppy seeds for culinary purposes as consumption in small amounts would not result in addiction. At least 77 people were killed when a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador, destroying buildings and a bridge and sending terrified residents scrambling from their homes, authorities in the Latin American country said today. Vice President Jorge Glas said the death toll will likely rise further in what he called the "worst seismic movement we have faced in decades." The quake, which struck at 2358 GMT last night about 170 km northwest of Quito, lasted about a minute and was felt across Ecuador, northern Peru and southern Colombia. "Oh, my God, it was the biggest and strongest earthquake I have felt in my whole life. It lasted a long time, and I was feeling dizzy," said Maria Torres, 60, in the capital Quito, which was rocked by the late Saturday quake. "I couldn't walk... I wanted to run out into the street, but I couldn't." Glas said early today that the number of confirmed deaths has reached 77, and that more than 588 people were injured. "We know that there are citizens trapped under rubble that need to be rescued," he said in a special TV and radio broadcast. Officials declared a state of emergency in the six worst-hit provinces. Police, the military and the emergency services "are in a state of maximum alert to protect the lives of citizens," Glas said. President Rafael Correa, on a visit to the Vatican, wrote on Twitter that he was immediately returning to Ecuador. In the Pacific port city of Guayaquil, home to more than two million people, a bridge collapsed, crushing a car beneath it, and residents were picking through the wreckage of houses reduced to heaps of rubble and timber, an AFP photographer reported. Ecuador's Geophysical Office reported "considerable" structural damage "in the area near the epicenter as well as points as far away as Guayaquil." The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the 7.8-magnitude shallow quake struck off the northwest shore of Ecuador, just 27 kilometers from the town of Muisne. The vice president gave a slightly lower measurement of magnitude 7.6. Ecuador lies near a shifting boundary between tectonic plates and has suffered seven earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher in the region of Tuesday's quake since 1900, the USGS said. One in March 1987 killed about 1,000 people, it said. At least 55 smaller aftershocks rattled the country after the main quake, Glas said. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning for the nearby Pacific coastline but later said that the threat had largely passed. President Pranab Mukherjee today greeted the Government and the people of Zimbabwe on the eve of their Independence Day. "On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings to the Government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe on the occasion of your Independence Day," Mukherjee said in a message to the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe's Independence Day falls on April 18. India and Zimbabwe enjoy warm and cordial relations, he said adding, "I am confident that the mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations will continue to strengthen and expand in the years to come. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today justified the move to impose a 20 per cent cut in water supply for breweries and distilleries in Aurangabad area, saying his government's "first priority" is to provide water for drinking. "The government's first priority is to give water for drinking purpose not to wine factories. I have directed the divisional commissioner and collector to cut water to breweries and distilleries," Fadnavis said. He was speaking at a multi-religious mass marriage ceremony organised by the BJP and Shivaji Maharaj Smarak Samiti at New Monda here. Faced with acute water shortage, Aurangabad authorities in parched Marathwada region yesterday announced 10 per cent cut in water supply for the industrial units and 20 per cent for breweries and distilleries in the industrial area. The CM conceded that the situation in Marathwada region is grim. Appealing to opposition parties to help government tackle drought, the CM said, "though State has debt of Rs 3.5 lakh crore, the government would not hesitate to take loan to help farmers. The government has already released a package of Rs 10,000 crore for farmers this year". On the move to supplying water through trains to parched Latur in Marathwada region, Fadnavis said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed Railway Minister to provide water through train to Latur". He said under Food Security Scheme, 68 lakh families have benefited. On the occasion, he announced a scheme under which Rs 25,000 will be given to a newly-wed couple belonging to SC and ST communities towards financial assistance and Rs 15,000 to those couples from Economically Backward Class (EBC) from general category. Fadnavis was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse, Education Minister Vinod Tawde, Co-operatives Minister Chandrakant Patil, Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde, MoS (Social Justice) Dilip Kamble and party MLAs. In his speech, Khadse, who came under flak recently after authorities in Latur district reportedly wasted 10,000 litre water for preparing a makeshift helipad for his tour, blamed media for raising "hue and cry" over a "non-issue". "The collector there used polluted water for building the helipad but the media blew the issue out of proportion and published news," he said. Today's mass wedding included couples of different religions, with maximum being Hindu (406). There were 94 Buddhist couples, followed by Muslim and Christian, 14 each. They hailed from Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Aurangabad and Jalna districts in Marathwada. Having scripted a place in weather record books for receiving torrential rain for years, Sohra, erstwhile Cherrapunjee, will now have a Rain Museum and a Research Centre, as per the plans mooted by Meghalaya government. The proposed centre on the lines of the High Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory set up at Mahabaleshwar, will showcase the uniqueness of the people and their culture besides providing necessary scientific back ups for high end research on rainfall. The Museum and the Centre will act as a premier capacity building institution where in visitors will be provided with all information of the place, the people and their culture and rainfall -- that has become part of their lives since time immemorial. "The state government, through the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (an agency constituted to implement the state's flagship Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme), has aptly decided to set up the Rain Museum and a Research Centre here," a senior MBDA official told PTI. He said the proposal is under process and is likely to get support from various interested institutions, both within the state and also from Central agencies. The fact that Sohra and Mawsynram (neighbouring town west of here), receive huge amount of rainfall for years continuously, despite being located away from the ocean, has intrigued many weather researchers and provides a unique setting to understand the mechanism of very heavy rainfall processes in the absence of cyclonic disturbances, a white paper prepared by the Kolkata-based National Council of Science Museums, said. Both these places are unlike the other wet places like the Hawaii islands in Pacific Ocean and La-Reunion in the Indian Ocean where they are both islands amidst vast oceans where cyclonic disturbances cause heavy rainfall. On the other hand, the vapour laden cloud from the Bay of Bengal proceeds northward over the plains of Bangladesh lying at almost sea level before abruptly climbing a 4500 feet height on its path on the southern edge of Khasi Hills where Sohra and Mawsynram lie. "This unique positioning attributes a very niche weather to Sohra making it a prominent research interest for the weather scientists," the paper stated. The Research Centre aims to establish state-of-the-art Met Instrumentation Laboratory which would provide facilities to national and international research community to carry out research in the areas related to very heavy rainfall, understand mechanism of very heavy rainfall and develop parameterisation schemes for prediction of very heavy rainfall, it said. It would also act as a premier capacity building institution even as the Museum part of the component will be segmented into the outdoor and the indoor facilities where in various historical facts of the place would be displayed. Cherrapunji Rain Centre intends to have state-of-the-art Observing Systems and Data Centre, working space for visiting Scientists to carry out high quality research work, according to the paper. While the Centre is aimed to be equipped with modern instruments in collaboration with other similar research organisations like the IMD, the official said various weather research projects will also be allowed to be carried out independently and also by institutional researchers. The state government hopes that the weather research centre will get strategic support and apt collaboration from the IMD office Cherrapunji which host the S-band Doppler Weather RADAR installed by ISRO for long range data collection and helps in flood early warning, thunderstorm and hailstorm nowcasting and several other applications, the MBDA official said. The proposed Sohra Rain Research centre would enable the study of very heavy rainfall over eastern India in general and over Meghalaya/Sohra region in particular, he said. In the wake of reports of clashes in Mehsana town, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today called up Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who apprised him on the prevailing situation there. During the telephonic talk, the Home Minister took stock of the situation in Gujarat's Mehsana district, where clashes broke out between protesters. Patel informed Singh about the steps being taken by the state government to control the situation and maintain peace, official sources said. Curfew was today clamped in Mehsana town in Gujarat and mobile internet service banned as a massive rally of the Patel community demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders turned violent with two buildings being set ablaze and some police vehicles damaged. A godown of Food Corporation of India and a district office were set on fire, police said, adding 15 persons have been detained in this connection. Five policemen and two officials sustained injuries in the incidents, police said while agitators claimed that 25 of their supporters were injured in police action. Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the 'Jail Bharo' agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC status. The incident brought fears of a revival of the Patel community's quota agitation. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that some information from Gujarat has come but the Central Government was awaiting for a detail report. "The Gujarat government is acting on it." he said. Former Union Minister of State for Railway Naran Rathwa has urged Railway minister Suresh Prabhu to withdraw Railway's decision to use train rakes from Vadodara division for Simhastha Kumbh which begins next week in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain. The Railway plans to utilise the DEMU (diesel electric multiple unit) rakes from Vadodara division to run running specials from Ujjain for the mega religious festival. "I have requested the Railway minister after Vadodara division (Western Railway) announced the cancellation of running of DEMU rakes from April 17 to May 29," Rathwa told PTI today. He said the decision was taken without any discussions with local authorities and the move will affect nearly 6 lakh commuters, mostly tribals. Rescuers in Ecuador raced to dig out people trapped under the rubble of homes and hotels today, after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 235. The quake reduced buildings to rubble, toppled power lines and sent terrified residents running from their homes when it struck the Pacific coast Saturday in a zone popular with tourists. Vice President Jorge Glas called it the "worst seismic movement we have faced in decades." In a conference on Sunday he raised the toll to 235 killed and 1,557 injured. The quake, felt across Ecuador, northern Peru and southern Colombia, struck at 6:58 local time Saturday evening (2358 GMT) and lasted about a minute. It was centered around 170 kilometers northwest of the capital Quito, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Among the worst-hit towns was the Pedernales, whose mayor Gabriel Alcivar estimated there were up to 400 more dead yet to be confirmed, many under the rubble of some 40 hotels that collapsed. "Pedernales is devastated. Buildings have fallen down, especially hotels where there are lots of tourists staying. There are lots of dead bodies," he told local media. "We need help. We need medicine, water and food to help people." Two Canadians were among those killed by the quake, their country's government told AFP by email. Around the town of Portoviejo, the quake reduced houses to rubble, brought down a market and left streetlights and debris scattered. "It was horrible, it is the first time I have felt an earthquake like this," resident Macontos Bibi, 57, told AFP. "I thought my house was going to collapse." Glas said 14,000 security forces, 241 medical staff and two mobile hospitals were being rushed to the most devastated areas, with reinforcements arriving from Colombia and Mexico. In the town of Abdon Calderon near Portoviejo, 73-year-old resident Nelly, who would not give her last name, told AFP in tears that she rushed into the street after the quake and saw that the covered market had collapsed. "There was a person trapped who screamed for help, but then the screaming stopped. Oh, it was terrible," she said. Ecuador's Geophysical Office reported "considerable" structural damage as far away as Guayaquil, Ecuador's biggest city with more than two million people. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the 7.8-magnitude quake struck near the northwest shore of Ecuador. Ecuador lies near a shifting boundary between plates of the earth's crust. It has suffered seven earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher in the region of Saturday's quake since 1900, the USGS said. One in March 1987 killed about 1,000 people, it said. "Daredevil" actress Rosario Dawson was arrested at in Washington, DC after taking part in a Democracy Spring protest and appeared to be in good spirits during her encounter with police. The 36-year-old actress was arrested by cops on April 15 along with many other people for crossing police line to stage a sit-in during the Democracy Spring rally in Washington D.C. She was fined for USD 50 after briefly detained, reported The Guardian. The group criticised the corruption in the US politics. They called for the overturn of "Citizens United" law that removes restriction about the campaign spending by outside organisations. The actress also showed support for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during the Capitol Hill protest. "I wanted personally to be in solidarity with the other folks who put themselves on the line and really just to bring attention to this because I think that's just vitally important," she said. "The police were really great with us, really lovely. I have to say that is not the case for so many people: Dreamers, Black Lives Matter activists, so many people are not seeing this kind of courageousness ... I hope that officers across the nation can take heed of that and recognise that the peaceful protests that are going around the nation should also be treated in the same way as we are being treated today. A woman Tahsildar, posted in Pune district and her team had a narrow escape when suspected members of a sand mining mafia allegedly blocked their vehicle while they were chasing a truck that was illegally transporting sand on Pune-Solapur highway, police said today. Varsha Landage, Tahsildar posted at Indapur had received a tip-off last night about illegal sand transportation activity in the area and had gone to nab the suspects, the police said. "On seeing Landage and her team, a truck driver, suspected of transporting sand illegally, sped the truck towards Pune. However the revenue officials started chasing the truck. During the chase, an SUV overtook their vehicle and suddenly blocked the way," police said. But the driver of the vehicle of revenue officials' team applied brakes, which prevented the two vehicles from colliding. Talking to PTI, Landage said, "We were speeding and suddenly the SUV overtook us and blocked our path. Had our driver not put the brakes, our vehicle would have rammed into the SUV." The revenue officials got down and nabbed two suspects, who helped the sand-laden truck disappear. "Both of them have been arrested for deterring a public servant from discharging the duty," Landage said. Over the last few months, the local administration has been taking strict action against illegal sand mining and destroyed several boats, used for sand mining purpose off Ujani dam in the district. Shahid Kapoor has finished shooting for "Rangoon", where he is donning his career's most demanding role. The 35-year-old actor, who is reteaming with Vishal Bhardwaj for the period drama, is receiving praise for his stint as a drug addict rockstar in his forthcoming project "Udta Punjab". "Morning tweeps. Last day on #Rangoon trailer launch of #UdtaPunjab big day. Feeling the vibes," he posted on Twitter yesterday. In "Rangoon", which also stars Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut, Shahid is playing an INA soldier. On his on-screen rockstar look where he is seen sporting long hair and tattoos on body, Shahid said, "Abhishek Chaubey was concerned with what I was doing with my hair we had discussions over it and then things worked out. I did not want to get a body of a body builder I wanted it of someone who has abused himself. We worked a lot on that." Given the unusual subject of the movie and his character, the 35-year-old star says telling a new story always involves a certain amount of risk. "I think good and new stories needs to be told. If you don't do it that way then you will never be able to discover things yourself and never be original. I feel new things are always risky," he said. "The story of the film is honest and the intention of the film is to give message to audience." he added. The film features Shahid Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt in key roles. The iconic Times Square was seeped in the colours of the Sikh culture as thousands of community members gathered here to celebrate Vaisakhi and educate fellow Americans about Sikhism in the wake of growing incidents of hate crimes and discrimination against them. Legendary Indian sportsman Milkha Singh graced the occasion and addressed one of the largest such celebrations in the US, calling on the Sikh community to educate the young generation about the significance of the Sikh culture. Hundreds of excited tourists and children queued up at the popular city destination to get turbans tied on their heads in bright colours by members of the Sikh community and took pictures and selfies wearing them as 'Turban Day' was also celebrated at the event. The participants jostled to get a picture clicked with the elderly 'Flying Sikh', who had travelled from Canada for the event. "Today if the Sikhs have a name, are known around the world, it is because of the turban. Milkha Singh is called a 'Flying Sikh' because I have the turban on my head and the beard on my face. My beard and turban are the reasons for the respect and recognition that I have across the world," Singh told PTI. Non-profit organisation Sikhs of New York and New Jersey and the event's organisers Bobby Sidana, Kawaldeep Sahni, Chanpreet Singh and Gurmeet Sodhi said the event aimed at not only celebrating the festival marking the spring harvest but also educating Americans and thousands of tourists about the Sikh culture. They said it would also make them aware of the significance of the Sikh articles of faith like turban and beard and to address the misinformation about Sikhism that leads to profiling and backlash against members of the community, particularly after the 9/11 attack. Lauding the organisers for putting together the event, Milkha Singh said such a celebration of Sikh culture will inspire and educate people across the city and country about Sikhism and its rich history. "People here should know that Sikhs are warriors, they have fought for other people and will do everything to help others. The event will inspire people here and educate them about the Sikh culture, they will get to know who Sikhs are," he said. In his message to the gathering, Singh said he would like to see "one more Milkha Singh" from the Sikh community spread across the US and the world. Lamenting that Sikh articles of faith such as the turban and beard are often still misconstrued and associated with terrorism, the organisers invited passers-by and those at the event to get a turban tied on their heads and to ask about the Sikh culture. (Reopens FGN14) Given the sharp uptick in cases of profiling, backlash and hate crimes against the Sikh-American community, the organisers underscored that such events will help spread the correct information about Sikhism and remove misconceptions that lead to discrimination. They also spoke about the recent landmark decision in which the US military allowed decorated Sikh-American soldier Captain Simratpal Singhto continue serving while keeping his beard and wearing a turban. They lauded the handful of Sikhs serving in the New York Police Department and hoped that in future many more Sikhs would be able to serve in the military and law enforcement agencies while maintaining their articles of faith. Placards were placed at the venue detailingnuances of the Sikh tradition and performers enthralled the gathering with traditional Sikh music and dance. Chanpreet Singh, one of the organisers of the event, said even in 2016, many Americans remain uneducated and misinformed about who Sikh-Americans actually are. He said Sikhs have been living in the US for several decades, yet not much has been done so far to educate the Americans about the Sikh culture. "We have done very minimal to educate people in the US about our identity. Next door in Canada, Vaiskahi was celebrated in the Parliament but in the US we are facing discrimination and hate crimes. It is about time that (we celebrate the Sikh culture) in the mainstream," he said. Chanpreet said people will have a better understanding of a culture and its history if it is explained to them firsthand. "Through the event we are providing the people an experience. They will remember this and next time when they see a Sikh with a turban, they will be able to recognise him and relate to his culture," he added. Carla, a young tourist from Spain, waited in line to get a turban tied on her head. "I learnt a lot of the Sikh tradition and what it stands for. Such an event will enable people to get to know about other traditions and respect them," she said as she got a red turban fitted on her. In the United States, there are at least 500,000 Sikh Americans who have been a crucial part of the US fabric. The event comes against the backdrop of increase in recent months in hate attacks targeting members of the Sikh community. Last year, on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary, 53-year- old Inderjit Singh Mukker of Illinois was brutally assaulted and called "terrorist" and "bin Laden" by a teenager. In March this year, hate crime charges were filed against an individual for brutally attacking Balwinder Jit Singh, a Sikh Los Angeles County bus driver. In 2014, Sandeep Singh, a Sikh father in New York City, was run over and dragged 30 feet after being called a "terrorist". In 2012, a gunman with Neo-Nazi ties walked into a Gurdwara and shot and killed six innocent Sikh victims in Oak Creek, Wisconsin in one of the most brutal attacks on the Sikh community in the US. Spanish police have seized 210 kilos of cocaine paste hidden in furniture that was imported from Peru, arresting 13 people during the operation, they said today. The paste, which is used as the basis for making cocaine, was found inside furniture that was shipped to the port of Barcelona and transferred to several nearby warehouses, officers said in a statement. They gave no estimate for the street value of the drug, saying only that it would be enough paste to make about one tonne of cocaine. The drugs ring is suspected of recruiting impoverished individuals who were sent to Peru where they lived for several months at the group's expense while pretending to work before returning to Spain. "When the organisation planned the return of these people to Spain they would hide the drugs inside the furniture that was supposedly part of their home during their stay in Peru," the police statement said. "The person would return to Spain by plane and the furniture was shipped by sea in containers that were sent to different storage facilities in Barcelona from where they would be picked up by members of the criminal group," it added. Spanish police detained eight men and five women suspected of making up the smuggling ring as part of their investigation which was carried out with the help of the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Among those arrested were people from Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Spain and Morocco, police said. Spain's close ties with its former colonies in Latin America have made it the main entry point used by drug smugglers to bring cocaine into Europe. Spanish authorities seized over 22 tonnes of cocaine in 2015, a 43 percent increase on the previous year. Sri Lanka's main Tamil party TNA is seeking a federal solution to resolve the long-pending issue of political independence for the counry's minority Tamil community. This was conveyed by the main opposition leader and Tamil National Alliance leader (TNA) R Sampanthan in Jaffna yesterday to TNA representatives. Commenting on the talks, the TNA northern provincial councilor M K Shvajilingam said Sampanthan had briefed them on the party's approach to the constitutional reform coming up at national level. The government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has already launched a process to formulate a new Constitution for the country replacing the 1978 statute. Shivajilingam said Sampanthan said the current government could be more responsive to a federal arrangement and therefore, the TNA local politicians must not act indifferently at this stage. "He said they are looking for a federal solution within an undivided Sri Lanka based on the merger of the north and eastern provinces," Shivajilingam said. He said if the government did not acceded to a federal solution, international pressure must be brought to bear upon it by the Tamils. The Tamil demand for a federal solution dates back to the days when Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, came to be granted independence by the British in 1948. Later, the campaign was extended to a separate state demand when the LTTE fought a decades old war with the government to carve out a separate Tamil homeland. With the defeat of the LTTE in 2009, the Tamil leadership has adopted a softer approach to give up on the separatist demand. A total of 16 large states are set to borrow more again this fiscal despite higher allocations from the Centre, with the cumulative borrowing likely to reach Rs 3.5 lakh crore from Rs 2.95 lakh crore in 2015-16, says a study. According to the study by Japanese brokerage Nomura, which was based on the 2016-17 budgets of 16 states, this comes on top the sharp 22 per cent rise in borrowings in the previous fiscal despite an increase in central transfers. "Taking four major risks into account, we expect the state fiscal deficit to rise to 3.3 per cent of GSDP in FY17 (ex-Uday loans), a notch higher than 3.2 per cent in FY16 (ex-Uday loans), but a slippage of 50 bps relative their FY17 budgets," India Chief Economist Sonal Varma said in a note. The four risks, according to her, are implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, interest payments on Uday bonds, over-budgeting of their share of tax transfers from the Centre and election-related spending. In the past financial year, these states borrowed 22 per cent more than budgeted, while in the previous fiscal year it jumped a whopping 70 per cent more than estimated. Accordingly, she says, "states market borrowings to rise to Rs 3.5 trillion in FY17 from Rs 2.95 trillion in FY16. The redemption profile, Uday-related interest burden and the implementation of the seventh pay commission in most states by FY18 will push their borrowings higher to Rs 3.9 trillion in FY18." The fiscal deficit of the 16 states rose to 3.2 per cent of GSDP (gross state domestic product) in 2015-16 (excluding the Uday loans), which is a slippage of 40 bps from budgeted levels, which rose due to shortfall in tax revenue. According to Nomura, the assessment comes even as these states have budgeted for a fiscal improvement in 2016-17 to 2.8 per cent (excluding-Uday loans) from 3.2 per cent in 2015-16, as it sees four upside risks to state finances this fiscal. "With both the Centre and states budgeting for consolidation, the combined fiscal stance is largely neutral with a fiscal impulse of 0.2 bps in FY17, lower than the 0.7 bps in FY16. However, we expect the states to slip on the fiscal front, leading to a mildly expansionary fiscal stance in FY17," she said. Varma also said this will push their borrowing costs higher with the state bond yield versus the 10-year G-sec yield spread to remain elevated at 50-70 bps. One of the key surprises in 2015-16 was the sharp rise in state borrowings. Total market borrowings by the states rose 22 per cent y-o-y to Rs 2.95 trillion, after rising a sizeable 70 per cent in the previous fiscal. State market borrowings accounted for just 12 per cent of general government gross market borrowing in FY17, but in FY16, it stood at 33 per cent. The rise was particularly surprising for two reasons. First, in the spirit of cooperative federalism, the 14th Finance Commission had recommended an increase in states' share of Central taxes from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. Higher tax allocations were partly offset by lowering grants to the states, but the Centre estimated that its net resource transfer to the states would rise from around 5.5 per cent of GDP in FY15 to around 6.2 per cent in FY16. While these states had budgeted an aggregate fiscal deficit of 2.8 per cent in FY16, the actual figure is much higher at 3.9 per cent of their combined GSDP, primarily due to accounting idiosyncrasies as several states (Rajasthan, UP, Haryana) have included bond issuances under the Uday scheme as part of their capital expenditure, it said. According to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, states are mandated to contain their fiscal deficit at 3 per cent of GSDP. Yet as many as 5 out of 16 states (Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar, MP, UP) have breached this limit, even after discounting for Uday loans. Thousands of Kuwait's oil workers began an open-ended strike today in protest at plans to cut their wages, action which saw the emirate's crude production plunge. A spokesman for the Kuwait Oil Co (KOC), Saad al-Azemi, said on Twitter that "average production reached 1.1 million" barrels in Kuwait today. Daily production in OPEC's fourth largest producer is normally around 3.0 million barrels per day. Azemi also said natural gas production was at 620 million cubic feet, down from Kuwait's daily average of more than 1.3 billion cubic feet. The strike comes as world oil producers gathered in Qatar aiming to negotiate an output freeze to boost prices. "Thousands of workers began their strike," the oil workers union chief Saif al-Qahtani told AFP, adding that production had been partly halted but without clarifying which sites were affected. "Observed since 7:00 am (0930 IST), this open-ended strike will continue until the workers' demands are met," Qahtani said. The cabinet strongly criticised the "unacceptable" strike, calling it a "clear violation of the law", and demanded legal measures against those involved. The government also urged Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) to mobilise the manpower needed to ensure continued production. Yesterday, the union turned down an appeal from Kuwait's acting oil minister, Anas al-Saleh, to call off the strike. Hit by the sharp drop in crude prices on world markets, Kuwait is introducing a new payroll scheme for all public employees and wants to include the country's 20,000 oil workers, which would mean an automatic cut in wages and incentives. As the strike began, KPC spokesman Sheikh Talal Khaled al-Sabah said that the national oil conglomerate had activated an "emergency plan" to ensure that local and international markets were not affected by the walkout. "Export operations are going ahead as planned and (KPC) is capable of responding to major international market demands, based on agreements with clients," he said in a statement published on the KUNA agency's website. The plan ensures that all petrol stations will continue to be supplied, as will Kuwait's international airport and companies operating there, he said. He urged Kuwaitis "not to listen to rumours that the strike has affected the needs of the local market". He said reserves of gasoline and petrol derivatives were "enough to meet the country's demands for 25 days and strategic reserves could suffice for 31 more days". KPC had offered to suspend all spending cuts if the union agreed to join a committee to negotiate a settlement, but said workers had boycotted negotiations called for Thursday by the social affairs and labour ministry. The union is also protesting against plans to privatise parts of the oil sector. A 23-year-old student union leader affiliated to the Nepali Congress would scale the world's highest peak Mt Everest carrying a copy of the new Constitution. Anish Luitel, Nepal Students Union (NSU) President of Dhulabari Campus in Jhapa district will climb Mt Everest where he will be unfurling the country's national flag and displaying a copy of the Nepal's new Constitution to mark the Student Union's anniversary. NSU Central Chairman Ranjit Karna handed over Nepal's national flag and a copy of the Constitution to Luintel at a press conference here today. "The country will now witness an economic revolution as the youth wants to see development in the country after the promulgation of the Constitution," Karna said. The student leader is attempting to scale the highest mountain in the world for the first time. He will leave Kathmandu for Mt Everest on Tuesday with 13 other members of a foreign expedition. In September last year, Nepal adopted its new fully secular and democratic Constitution, achieved after seven years of painstaking deliberations, amid violent protests by Madhesis over a seven province federal structure. Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with India, were demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. Mt Everest is Earth's highest mountain. Its peak is 8,848 metres above sea level. Four Yemeni soldiers were killed today in a suicide attack on a checkpoint near the international airport in second city Aden, home to a growing jihadist presence, a security official said. "A suicide bomber driving a bomb-laden vehicle blew himself up on Sunday upon arrival at a checkpoint near Aden airport," the official told AFP. "Four soldiers were killed and two others were wounded," he added, without blaming any group for the attack. Yemen has been rocked by more than a year of fighting between Iran-backed rebels and pro-government forces, supported by a Saudi-led coalition. Jihadists have exploited the unrest, with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group strengthening their presence in the south, including in Aden which is serving as the government's temporary capital. Both groups have claimed several attacks against army and government installations in the port city. On Friday, a car bomb exploded in the port city near a building housing the foreign ministry, without causing casualties, security sources said. IS claimed responsibility for that attack and also for a suicide bombing on Tuesday in Aden targeting army recruits that killed five. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have launched operations against jihadists in recent weeks, backed by the firepower of the Arab coalition. Late yesterday, five Al-Qaeda suspects were killed in coalition air strikes on two vehicles carrying jihadists in Jaar, a town in the southern province of Abyan, security officials said. Other strikes hit suspected militants in Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar, the sources said, without giving a casualty toll. Pro-government forces on Friday expelled Al-Qaeda fighters from Huta, another provincial capital close to Aden, and arrested 49 people suspected of being militants, security officials said. The United Nations has raised the alarm over the growing influence of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and the mounting civilian toll from coalition air strikes as it pushed all sides to come to the negotiating table for talks to be held in Kuwait tomorrow. A nearly week-long ceasefire, between the rebels on one side and the government and Arab coalition on the other, does not apply to jihadist groups. The truce has been repeatedly violated since it began at midnight last Sunday, with fighting continuing non-stop in Nahm in the north between rebels and loyalists. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today condemned the explosion at a gurudwara in Germany's western city of Essen and urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the issue of safety of Sikhs and their religious places with the German government. "The of a bomb attack on a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany called for concerted efforts to sensitize people across the world about Sikh religion and its unique concepts of peace and universal brotherhood," Sukhbir, who is also president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), said. He appealed to all Sikhs, particularly Gurudwara management Committees in various countries, including SGPC and DSGMC, to launch an awareness campaign in this regard. Badal said the Centre should also ask its embassy in Germany to provide immediate aid to the injured as well as work with the local Sikh community to help rebuild the Sikh shrine. A Sikh priest was among three persons injured when an explosion ripped through a gurudwara in Essen. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here today for the second leg of her two-nation visit, during which she will attend the annual Foreign Ministers' meeting of Russia, India and China. "Namaste Moscow! EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Russia to attend RIC Foreign Ministers Conference tomorrow," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj's two-day visit will see her attend the annual Foreign Ministers' meeting of RIC (Russia, India and China). Besides attending the RIC meeting, she is also expected to have a bilateral meet with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. On the sidelines of RIC, Swaraj is expected to meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during which she is likely to raise the issue of China blocking India's bid at the UN to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. In Iran, she had a wide rage of engagements with several top Iranian leaders, including President Hassan Rouhani. Rouhani has assured Swaraj that Iran can be a "reliable partner" for India's energy needs. Enhancing energy cooperation was the centerpiece of her visit to the powerful Persian Gulf nation. Ted Cruz today won all 14 delegates in the Wyoming State Republican convention, a resounding victory for the Texas senator ahead of Tuesday's crucial New York primary against the controversial presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Trump picked only up a single delegate in Wyoming county conventions on April 9 while rival Ted Cruz got nine. In the weekend's state convention, Cruz won all the 14 Republican National Convention delegates up for grabs. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has one delegate and the other four are uncommitted. "If you don't want to see Donald Trump as the nominee, if you don't want to hand the general (election) to Hillary Clinton, which is what a Trump nomination does, then I ask you to please support the men and women on this slate," Cruz said in his victory speech, holding up a piece of paper of 14 recommended delegates. Twelve members of that slate won. They are bound to the senator on the first ballot and have also made a non-binding pledge to stick with him as long as things go in Cleveland. For Cruz, the win in Wyoming is another signal that demonstrates how his campaign has organised party insiders and activists to make it difficult for Trump to capture the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the Republican Party nomination. With Saturday's sweep, Cruz can count on at least 24 of the 29 delegates from the state. The delegates were chosen by party members rather than ordinary voters. 69-year-old Trump - who did not actively campaign in the state - remains the Republican front-runner overall. However, the real estate billionaire could fall short of the number of delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination for the November 8 presidential election. That would mean a contested convention where voting for candidates starts again from scratch. Trump is concentrating on New York, which holds a key primary on April 19. New York will award 95 Republican delegates while the two Democratic candidates are fighting over 247 delegates in the city. A number of senior Republican leaders have backed Cruz, a Conservative Texas senator, fearing that Trump's controversial comments make him a weak candidate in the November election. The result from the Wyoming contest brings Cruz's tally from 545 to 559 delegates compared to Trump's 743. In the Democratic race, Clinton with 1,758 delegates is still ahead of her only remaining rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has 1,076 delegates. (Reopens FGN38) Trump hopes to produce a convention that helps to alleviate questions about his fitness to be president among many Americans but he starts facing an enormous deficit on that issue. The Post-ABC poll found that nearly six in 10 registered voters say he is not qualified to serve as president - with 49 per cent saying they strongly believe that. Meanwhile, Clinton is seen as qualified to serve as president by a 56 per cent majority of voters. Currently, the Democrats are slightly more united behind Clinton than are Republicans behind Trump. One goal of the Trump campaign is to leave Cleveland at the end of the week with the party more united and enthusiastic about their nominee. As of now, 86 per cent of Democrats back Clinton while 82 per cent of Republicans back their presumptive nominee. Independent voters lean toward Trump by 47-41 per cent, though winning independents is no guarantee of winning the presidency. Four years ago, Mitt Romney won the vote of independents while losing to President Barack Obama. Of seven issues tested, Clinton has double-digit advantages over Trump on three - race relations, handling an international crisis and immigration. Clinton has smaller edges on looking out for the middle class and handling terrorism, while Trump holds small edges on taxes and the economy. Across six attributes, Trump has an 11-point margin among registered voters on the question of which candidate does most to bring needed change to Washington. By a margin of five points, he is seen as more honest and trustworthy. Clinton has a similar edge on empathy with people's problems and representing people's values, and holds double- digit edges on having better judgment and having presidential personality and temperament. The Post-ABC poll was conducted July 11-14 among a random national sample of 1,003 adults reached on cellular and landline phones. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points; the error margin is 4 points among the sample of 816 registered voters. Around 7,000 people marched through Brussels against jihadist violence today, nearly a month after coordinated suicide attacks in the Belgian capital killed 32 people and wounded hundreds of others. Organised by civil society groups, the so-called "march against terror and hatred" was aimed at putting on a show of unity after the bloodshed. But turnout was less than half of the 15,000 people they had hoped for. Around 6,000 people set off from the Gare du Nord railway station and joined up in the city centre with around 1,000 marchers who had started from Molenbeek, the rundown district that has gained an unwelcome reputation as a jihadi haven. Many clutched flowers and emblems of peace. "When our fellow citizens, defenceless civilians, are cut down in a cowardly attack, all citizens should stand up to express their disgust and solidarity," said Hassan Bousetta, a local councillor from the city of Liege, who helped organise the march. "It is a moment of reflection, a message of compassion for the victims and a moment when citizens come together," he told AFP. Carrying a banner in French and Flemish reading "#alltogether against hatred and terror," the main group of marchers was led by families of the victims, followed by representatives from various religious communities. A dozen members of an association for inter-religious dialogue carried a banner with drawings of doves emblazoned with: "Together in peace" while a Muslim group carried a placard reading: "Love is my religion and my faith." In the group that set off from Molenbeek, children chanted, "Daesh, off you go, Brussels isn't for you!" using an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group, which claimed the attacks. Thirty-two people were killed in the March 22 bomb attacks, which targeted Zaventem airport and a subway train at Maalbeek station, near the European Union (EU) institutions in central Brussels. At the ceremony, the names of the dead were read out before relatives of the dead and witnesses took turns to speak. Three NLFT insurgents, who recently escaped from their base camp in the Chittagong Hill Tract of neighbouring Bangladesh, have surrendered to police at Kanchanpur in North Tripura district, police said today. The militants, belonging to the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura, surrendered to police last night, police officials said. They informed the police that many of their colleagues were trying to leave the camp to return to normal life, they said. Two insurgent outfits - NLFT and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF)- were banned by the Union Home ministry in 1997. Clashes between two Arab tribes in Sudan's conflict-hit East Darfur state left up to 20 people dead, tribal leaders said. One of the tribal leaders said the clashes between the Arab Maaliya and Rizeigat yesterday seem to have been sparked by a livestock theft, nearly a year after fighting between the two groups left dozens dead. "When cars pursuing the thieves stopped at an army checkpoint, they were shelled by artillery and one car was destroyed and another seized," said Murdas Jumaa, head of the Maaliya Shura council. "Ten of our men were killed and another five wounded," he added. A senior leader from the Rizeigat tribe, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the clashes had taken place. "From our side, ten men were killed and the same number wounded," the source said. "Government forces were present in the area and did not intervene to break up the clashes," they said. However, a member of the Rizeigat Shura Council, Mohamed Issa Aliu, said he could not give precise casualty figures but confirmed the group had suffered several members killed. Aliu blamed the clashes on longstanding grievances between the tribes. The two groups have a history of tensions over land ownership rights and allegations of cattle theft. Khartoum limits international media access to Darfur so it was not possible to independently verify the toll and Sudanese authorities could not be reached for comment. Darfur has been hit by conflict since 2003, when ethnic minority insurgents mounted a rebellion against President Omar al-Bashir, complaining that his Arab-dominated government was marginalising the region. Bashir launched a brutal counter-insurgency and at least 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict, the United Nations says. Another 2.5 million people in the region have been forced to flee their homes. Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges related to Darfur, which he denies. Since 2003, parts of the region have been further destabilised by conflicts between Darfur's myriad ethnic and tribal groups, as well as rising criminality. Conditions are "desperate" inside a Palestinian refugee camp home to about 10,000 civilians in Damascus, the UN said today, as civilian casualties mount elsewhere from indiscriminate attacks across the country, despite a nominal cease-fire. The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said violent battles between extremists have left residents of the Yarmouk camp without food or water for more than a week. "Civilians in Yarmouk are facing starvation and dehydration alongside the heightened risks of serious injury and death from the armed conflict," said UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness. The camp, a built-up neighborhood once home to an estimated 150,000 people, has been ravaged by fighting between the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, while government forces regularly shell it from outside. Syria's warring factions have returned to violence in recent weeks, spoiling a period of relative calm brought about by a partial cease-fire that went into effect in late February. In the last two days, five children, including three siblings, and three others have been killed by indiscriminate shelling on government-controlled areas of Aleppo, Syria's largest city, a monitoring group said today. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebels were responsible for the shelling, while airstrikes killed six in the opposition-held parts of the city's old quarters. Air strikes near Jisr al-Shughour in opposition-held Idlib province killed three civilians, the Observatory reported, and pro-government forces intensified their shelling and bombing on an opposition-held pocket north of Homs, the country's third-largest city, according to the activist Local Coordination Committees network. Government and opposition delegations have been engaged in indirect peace talks in Geneva since Wednesday as the UN looks for ways to bring an end to the country's five-year conflict, but the opposition's chief negotiator urged insurgents to strike at pro-government forces. "Don't trust the regime and don't wait for their mercy," Mohammad Aloush wrote in a militant post on Twitter today. More than 250,000 people have died in the conflict, which began as a popular uprising demanding government reforms. As it prepares for Assembly polls in the key state of Uttar Pradesh next year, a state Congress leader has appealed to party president Sonia Gandhi to convene a special meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) to help boost the morale of partymen. The party's state general secretary Umesh Pandit has written to Gandhi, underlining that such a meeting would help revive the party in the state. He said the CWC meeting could be held in Lucknow or Allahabad before the monsoon sets in the state. Congress, which has been out of power for 27 years in the state, has roped in poll strategist Prashant Kishor to assist the Uttar Pradesh unit in preparations for the polls. The US Supreme Court will decide on a major case on Monday that could impact the fate of millions of people facing possible deportation and further raise the stakes in the 2016 White House race. The eight justices are due to determine the legality of an ambitious bid by President Barack Obama to shield from deportation nearly five million undocumented immigrants. is already an explosive issue in the presidential race, where Republican front-runner Donald Trump has sharpened fault lines by vowing to build a wall along the Mexican border, and deport all 11 million or so undocumented migrants living in the United States. But the Supreme Court hearing also puts the spotlight on Obama's efforts to circumvent a hostile Congress, with his detractors accusing him of unfair, even illegal, overreach. At stake are a series of executive actions taken by Obama in November 2014, after he failed to enact a promised reform with a Congress held by his Republican foes. One initiative shields from deportation people who have lived in the country since 2010, with no criminal record, and with children who are American citizens or lawful residents. Another protects immigrants who entered the United States before they turned 16. The US federal government under Obama has upheld the policy of deporting migrants, at a rate that rose from 390,000 the year he took power in 2009, to peak at almost 440,000 in fiscal year 2013, according to figures from the Department of Homeland Security. In unveiling his actions, however, Obama stressed that wanted to prioritise deportations of "felons, not families. Criminals not children. Gang members, not a mom who's working hard to provide for her kids". Twenty-six states, almost all of them Republican-led, have refused to apply the measures, securing a string of court rulings that found Obama to have overstepped his authority. Republicans brought the legal dispute as part of broader efforts targeting signature Obama reforms such as the sweeping health care law commonly known as Obamacare. "This lawsuit to stop President Obama's illegal immigration policy is about a concept as old as the nation's founding the separation of powers," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. Finance ministers and governors from central banks of top countries have showed a rare anxiety on the implication of slowdown of the Chinese economy, the world's second largest, which may pose serious challenges to the global economy. China after nearly three decades of rapid growth has been showing signs of slowness and India has now replaced China as the fastest growing major economies of the world. As a result of the economic slowdown, the Chinese economic model, traditionally based on manufacturing, investments and exports, is currently transitioning towards a model focused on domestic consumption, services and innovation. "This rebalancing, which is being implemented in a resolute manner, inevitably affects China's economic partners, even if it is still too early to determine its precise impact. Yet, in any event, we will have to be ready to accompany these development," the French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said in his address to the IMF yesterday. Wolfgang Schauble, the German Finance Minister attributed global economic slowdown to the Chinese slowdown. "This slowdown is related to the necessary ongoing transition of the Chinese economy, to lower commodity prices, to earlier exaggerations and domestic shortcomings in some countries, like insufficient structural reforms," he said. The British Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne underscored the shared interest of the international community in supporting China as it grapples to enhance the resilience of banks and corporates and ensure the sustainability of local government finances and credit. "Structural measures such as state-owned enterprise and financial sector reforms and steps to reduce excess capacity will support China's economic transition," said the US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. Signs of weaker-than-expected Chinese growth, volatility of the Chinese renminbi and persistent capital outflows has led to growing anxiety in the financial markets-despite plenty and strong buffers that emerging market and developing countries (EMDC) have accumulated in recent years, said Alexandre Tombini, Governor, Central Bank of Brazil. The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek noted that the spillovers and uncertainties emanating from the historic transition in the Chinese economy and the normalisation of the unconventional monetary policies in some advanced economies along with tumbling commodity prices pose important challenges for the global economy. However, the Chinese leaders attending the annual Spring meeting of International Monetary Fund and the World Bank tried to assure the world leaders in almost every meetings they have had in the past few days and over the weekend that their economy continues to be strong and there is no cause of worry for them. A 22-year-old IT professional, suspected to be mentally unstable, today allegedly attacked five members of his family here with a machete, injuring two of them seriously, before hanging himself, police said. Ashwin, who was working in an IT firm in Coimbatore, reached home in Badiyadukka yesterday morning and attacked his father, mother, grandmother and two other relatives with a machete around 2.30 pm today, Sub-Inspector Damodharan said. Neighbours rushed to the house on hearing the screams, after which Ashwin fled the spot. They informed the police and rushed the injured to a private hospital here, Damodharan said. Police shifted the injured to a private hospital at Mangaluru where the condition of his mother and grandmother, who suffered head injuries, was stated to be serious. Later police found Ashwin hanging from a tree at a nearby plantation. Ashwin was previously working in an IT company at Bengaluru, Damodharan said. The reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, he said, adding, the youth is reportedly a drug addict and mentally unstable. A case has been registered under section 174 of CrPC (police to inquire and report on suicide, etc) and further investigations are on, he said. By Ho Binh Minh CU LAO DUNG, Vietnam (Reuters) - While China has been releasing water from a hydro-electric dam in the upper Mekong River to help relieve drought down river in Southeast Asia, little of it has flowed to Nguyen Van Thach's sugarcane farm in southern Vietnam. After feeding his six cows with grass uprooted from a village nearby, Thach took a knife and cut a slice of sugarcane from his withered crop. "It's too salty," the 62-year-old farmer said, grimacing as he licked the piece of cane. "Even cows can't eat this." Thach has quit growing sugarcane and is building houses instead to repay loans after his farm in Soc Trang province in Vietnam's Mekong Delta rice bowl lost 10 million dong ($449). The sprawling Mekong Delta has been worst hit by salination in a region that provides half of Vietnam's rice and 60 percent of its shrimp and fish. Low river levels have allowed seawater to penetrate 90 kms (56 miles) inland, ruining vast swathes of cropland in the fertile delta. Vietnam says the salt water intrusion in the delta is unprecedented. It could be the new normal along the mighty Mekong, the 4,900 km (3,044 mile) river that sustains 60 million livelihoods as it flows through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. At least 39 hydro-electric dams are being built or under development in China, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia to meet the industrial demands of developing economies. Environmentalists say they are also endangering traditional agriculture downstream, where there is now less fresh water for drinking and irrigation. The water China is discharging from its existing dams upstream has had little discernible impact as it dissipates into the expansive delta region where Thach and nearly 20 million other people live. Vietnam is also suffering its most severe drought in 90 years, blamed partly on the El Nino weather phenomenon, which produces drier and hotter weather in Asia. Climate change is also factor in the drought, said Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent expert on the Mekong Delta's ecology. "In the context of climate change, this kind of crisis (in the Mekong Delta) is forecast to happen more often, for example it could be once in 20 years instead of once in 90 years." HITTING COMMODITY EXPORTS Moreover, the delta, much of which is only two metres or less above sea level, has been sinking in recent years due to rising sea levels and heavy groundwater extraction from an ever increasing number of wells. Depleted water tables cause the ground to compact, allowing seawater to intrude into cropland and water supplies. The drought and sea water intrusion is sapping Vietnam's economy, which leans on commodity exports. The agriculture sector contracted 2.69 percent in the first quarter of 2016 and overall economic growth of 5.56 percent was the slowest in two years. Vietnam is a major global exporter for rice, coffee, pepper, fish and shrimp. Preliminary losses for those crops so far this year are at 5.57 trillion dong ($250 million), according to a government report as of April 14, nearly 70 percent of which was in the Mekong Delta. The drought has affected a third of the coffee farms in the Central Highlands coffee belt, said the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association. Vietnam is the world's second-biggest producer of the beans. The agriculture ministry said sugar refineries reported an 11 percent drop in the cane volume to 10.23 million tonnes. The government says 240,000 hectares (593,000 acres) of paddy have been destroyed in the world's third-largest rice exporter. Southwest of the delta in Bac Lieu, a major shrimp-raising province, signs are planted on dried-up shrimp ponds advertising land for sale or for lease. Vietnam, a major shrimp exporter to the United States, produced 91,900 tonnes in the January-March period, down 1 percent from a year ago, government data says. To Viet Tien, 61, has been raising shrimp since 1982 and has never seen it so bad. "It's been too hot toward the bottom of the pond and shrimp can't stand it," he said. "On this (salty) soil, it's impossible to switch to another crop," Tien said. HOSTAGE TO HYDROPOWER Mekong Delta farmers are beholden to those managing the river beyond Vietnam's borders. Up to 70 percent of the water irrigating their crops comes from the river. Pianporn Deetes of International Rivers, a U.S.-based advocacy group, said China has "absolute control" of the Mekong: "The region is being held hostage by hydropower development." Environmental groups have waged campaigns for years to stop the dam construction to no avail. Thailand, Cambodia and Laos have 11 new dams planned between them, potentially affecting 82 percent of Mekong river's water. Laos is building its economy around hydropower production to become the "Battery of Southeast Asia". The big dams not only reduce water volume, but also retain alluvial soil, needed to consolidate subsidence in the sinking Mekong Delta. "The dams are killing the Mekong Delta," said Duong Van Ni, a lecturer at Can Tho university. "A shortage of fertile soil is the unavoidable death." China will continue to release more water from its Jinghong dam in Yunnan province until the "low water period" is over, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday. The action was hailed as a goodwill gesture in the region, but also underlined the power China maintains over one of the world's great river basins. (Additional reporting by Prak Chan Thul in PHNOM PENH, Amy Lefevre in BANGKOK, Marcy Nicholson in NEW YORK and David Brough in LONDON; Editing by Bill Tarrant) By Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine DOHA (Reuters) - Oil producing countries meeting in Doha on Sunday appeared close to agreeing on an output freeze to prop up crude prices, the first such deal in 15 years, official sources told . A draft agreement circulating in Doha and seen by says countries' average daily crude oil production in each month would not exceed the level recorded in January this year. The freeze would last until Oct. 1 this year, and producers would meet again in October in Russia to review their progress in engineering "a progressive recovery of the oil market", the draft reads. Final agreement has not been reached on the draft, but several senior sources in national oil ministries said they believed a deal could be achieved. "I am optimistic," acting Kuwaiti oil minister Anas Khalid al-Saleh said on Saturday of prospects for a deal. "?There is only one proposal. Freeze at the January level till October," another delegate said, declining to be named because of political sensitivities. "There is a proposal to meet in October and to look forward." "We have a deal," a third senior oil source told . Over a dozen oil-producing countries inside and outside OPEC have officially confirmed they would attend the meeting in Doha - although major producer Iran has said it would not participate as it could not accept proposals to freeze its production. During the freeze, producers would continue to consult on the best ways to bolster the oil market, and the deal would be open for other states to join, the draft agreement says. The draft provides for the creation of a "high level monitoring committee" of two oil ministers from OPEC countries and two from non-OPEC countries; they would be assisted by a working group of experts. Although a freeze would be a significant step for oil producers, it would have only a limited impact on global supply and the market is unlikely to rebalance before 2017, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. The role of Iran, which wants to ramp up production after the lifting of economic sanctions on it in January this year, is a key issue overhanging the Doha talks. "We have told some OPEC and non-OPEC members like Russia that they should accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market," Tehran's oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh was quoted as saying by his ministry's agency SHANA on Saturday. "If Iran freezes its oil production at the February level, it means it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." Publicly, Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg in recent days that the kingdom would only restrain its output if all other major producers, including Iran, agreed to freeze their production. It was not clear if Saudi Arabia would stick to this position at the talks. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Writing by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Stephen Coates) DOHA (Reuters) - A draft agreement among oil producers meeting on Sunday in Doha says average daily crude oil production in each month would not exceed the level recorded in January this year, according to a copy of the draft seen by . The freeze would last until Oct. 1 this year, and producers would meet again in October in Russia to review their progress in engineering "a progressive recovery of the oil market", the draft reads. Final agreement has not been reached on the draft, but several senior sources in countries' oil ministries said they were optimistic that a deal would be reached. Producers would continue to develop the process of consultation between them on the best ways to bolster the oil market, and the deal would be open for other states to join, the draft says. OPEC member Iran has said it will not participate in Sunday's meeting as it could not accept proposals to freeze its production. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Writing by Andrew Torchia) By Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine DOHA (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia demanded on Sunday that Iran join a global deal on freezing oil output, jeopardising an agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC producers that was supposed to help ease a glut and prop up the price of crude. Some 18 OPEC and non-OPEC countries, including Russia, had been meant to meet on Sunday morning in the Qatari capital of Doha and rubber-stamp a deal - in the making since February - to freeze output at January levels until October 2016. But the meeting was postponed after OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all OPEC members to take part in the freeze, according to OPEC sources. Riyadh had earlier insisted on excluding Iran from the talks because Tehran had refused to stabilise production, seeking to regain market share after the lifting of Western sanctions against it in January. With the deal running into trouble, oil ministers in Doha met with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - who was instrumental in promoting output stability in recent months. But a new draft seen by thereafter contained none of the binding points of the previous outline. It said producers in and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries should agree to freeze oil production at "an agreeable level" as long as all OPEC countries and major exporting nations participated. Ministers started talks after 1230 GMT, according to sources, but the prospects of a comprehensive deal looked slim. "I am not sure you can call it a freeze," one OPEC source said. A senior oil industry source said: "The problem now is to come up with something that excludes Iran, makes the Saudis happy and doesn't upset Russia." Failure to reach a global deal would signal the resumption of a battle for market share between key producers and likely halt a recent recovery in prices. "If there is no deal today, it will be more than just Iran that Saudi Arabia will be targeting. If there is no freeze, that would directly affect North American production going forward, perhaps something Saudis might like to see," said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande. SUPPLY GLUT Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to have refused to participate in the freeze. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday OPEC and non-OPEC should simply accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market: "If Iran freezes its oil production ... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." Although a freeze would be a significant step for oil producers, it would have only a limited impact on global supply and the market is unlikely to rebalance before 2017, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine; Additional reporting by Sam Wilkin, Katie Paul and Tom Finn; Writing by Andrew Torchia and Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Dale Hudson) By Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine DOHA (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia demanded on Sunday that Iran join a global deal on freezing oil output, jeopardising the chances of an agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC producers that was supposed to prop up the price of crude. Some 18 countries, including Russia, had been due to meet on Sunday morning in the Qatari capital of Doha to rubber-stamp a deal - in the making since February - to stabilise output at January levels until October 2016. But the meeting was postponed after OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all OPEC members to take part in the freeze, according to OPEC sources. Riyadh had earlier insisted on excluding Iran from the talks because Tehran had refused to stabilise production, seeking to regain market share after the lifting of Western sanctions against it in January. After the deal ran into trouble, oil ministers in Doha met with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - who was instrumental in promoting output stability in recent months. Following that meeting, a new draft communique emerged containing none of the binding points of the previous outline, sources said. The document said producers in and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries should agree to freeze oil production at "an agreeable level" as long as all OPEC countries and major exporting nations participated. Ministers started talks after 1230 GMT and were still debating the draft almost five hours later, according to sources. The Saudi and Russian delegations disagreed on the wording, the sources said, dimming the prospects of what would be the first production deal between OPEC and non-OPEC countries in 15 years. "I am not sure you can call it a freeze," one OPEC source said. A senior oil industry source said: "The problem now is to come up with something that excludes Iran, makes the Saudis happy and doesn't upset Russia." Failure to reach a global deal would signal the resumption of a battle for market share between key producers and likely halt a recent recovery in prices. "If there is no deal today, it will be more than just Iran that Saudi Arabia will be targeting. If there is no freeze, that would directly affect North American production going forward, perhaps something Saudis might like to see," said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande. SUPPLY GLUT Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to refuse to participate in the freeze. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday OPEC and non-OPEC should simply accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market: "If Iran freezes its oil production ... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." Although a freeze would be a significant step for oil producers, it would have only a limited impact on global supply and the market is unlikely to rebalance before 2017, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine; Additional reporting by Sam Wilkin, Katie Paul and Tom Finn; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Andrew Torchia; Editing by Dale Hudson) DOHA (Reuters) - OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers meeting in the Qatari capital of Doha will start talks at around 1200-1230 GMT on a deal to freeze output, hours behind schedule as the initial plan has run into complications, sources said. Talks were meant to begin early Sunday morning but were postponed due to what looked like a new spike in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, sources told . (Reporting by OPEC team; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Dale Hudson) The Saudi Arabian government has threatened to sell of hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets should the U.S. Congress pass a bill that could hold the kingdom responsible for any role in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the New York Times reported on Friday. The newspaper reported that Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir told U.S. lawmakers last month that " would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in Treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts." The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year, would take away immunity from foreign governments in cases "arising from a terrorist attack that kills an American on American soil." The New York Times, citing administration officials and congressional aides, said "the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon." It added that the Obama administration had lobbied Congress to block the passage of the bill. The State Department said it stood "firmly with the victims of these acts of violence and their loved ones." "We remain committed to bringing to justice terrorists and those who use terrorism to advance their depraved ideology," said State Department spokesman John Kirby. In September a U.S. judge dismissed claims against by families of victims of the attacks, saying that the kingdom had sovereign immunity from damage claims by the families and from insurers that covered losses suffered by building owners and businesses. By Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine DOHA (Reuters) - A deal to freeze oil output by OPEC and non-OPEC producers fell apart on Sunday after Saudi Arabia demanded that Iran join in despite calls on Riyadh to save the agreement and help prop up crude prices. The development will revive oil industry fears that major producers are embarking again on a battle for market share, especially after Riyadh threatened to raise output steeply if no freeze deal were reached. Iran is also pledging to ramp up production following the lifting of Western sanctions in January, making a compromise with Riyadh almost impossible as the two fight proxy wars in Yemen and Syria. Some 18 oil nations, including non-OPEC Russia, gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for what was expected to be the rubber-stamping of a deal - in the making since February - to stabilise output at January levels until October 2016. But OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to take part in the freeze, including Iran, which was absent from the talks. Tehran had refused to stabilise production, seeking to regain market share post-sanctions. After five hours of fierce debate about the wording of a communique - including between Saudi Arabia and Russia - delegates and ministers announced no deal had been reached. "We concluded we all need time to consult further," Qatar's energy minister Mohammed al-Sada told reporters. Several OPEC sources said if Iran agreed to join the freeze at the next OPEC meeting on June 2, talks with non-OPEC producers could resume. Russian oil minister Alexander Novak called the Saudi demand "unreasonable" and said he was disappointed as he had come to Doha under the impression that all sides would sign the deal instead of debating it. Novak said Russia was not shutting the door on a deal but the government would not restrain output for now. Russia is a key ally of Iran and has been defending Tehran's right to raise output post-sanctions while also supporting the Islamic Republic in many of its conflicts with Riyadh. TOUGH SAUDI STANCE The failure to reach a global deal could halt a recent recovery in oil prices. "With no deal today, markets' confidence in OPEC's ability to achieve any sensible supply balancing act is likely to diminish and this is surely bearish for the oil markets, where prices had rallied partly on expectations of a deal," said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande. In December, OPEC failed to agree on output policy for the first time in years after Iran disagreed over a production ceiling proposed by Saudi Arabia, arguing again that it wanted to boost output post-sanctions. "Without a deal, the likelihood of markets balancing is now pushed back to mid-2017. We will see a lot of speculators getting out next week," said Deshpande, who added that prices could fall close to $30 per barrel. Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Amrita Sen of Energy Aspects said oil prices could fall below $40 on Monday in a knee-jerk reaction. "While today's lack of a freeze deal has no negative impact on balances - since Iran is really the only country likely to raise output substantially - it has a huge negative impact on sentiment especially as the deal had been hyped up so much," she said. Gary Ross, the founder and executive chairman of New York-based consultancy PIRA, said the failure to reach a deal was negative but would not have a long-lasting impact. "The market has recently moved up due to tightening balances. We see geopolitical risks to supply rising, we see U.S. production declining. In many respects, the rebalancing has already started," he said. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to refuse to participate in the freeze. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday OPEC and non-OPEC should simply accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market: "If Iran freezes its oil production ... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." (Reporting by Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine; Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Sam Wilkin, Katie Paul and Tom Finn; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Andrew Torchia; Editing by Dale Hudson) If you are in love with selfies, then LG's K10 should save you from all the hassles for a picture perfect one. The company's first ever "Made in India" smartphone, available for Rs 13,750, is an interesting launch by the South Korean giant. LG is vying to gain a foothold in a heavily competitive market dominated by the likes of Lenovo, Samsung, Motorola and Xiaomi. However, the latest launch does not look very attractive as the specifications it offers are not on a par with the hole it burns in your pocket. The dual-sim phone comes with built-in memory of 16 GB (with an option to expand it to 32 GB) coupled with a not so effective 2GB of RAM. The K10's competitors, namely the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, LeEco Le 1s, Lenovo Vibe K4 Note, and the Motorola Moto G Turbo Edition are going to make it difficult for LG to capture a pie of the fiercely contested market share. The Lenovo Vibe K4 Note offers better specifications than the K10. The K4 Note runs on an octa-core Mediatek MT6753 processor, whereas the K10 boasts of a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor. The K4 Note is backed by a bigger 3,300mAh battery as compared to the 2,300mAh one that features in the K10. And to top it all, Lenovo's model is priced at Rs 11,999. LG has kept the graphical user interface of the phone very basic yet informative. The contemporary pebble look laced with a 2.4D arc glass adds an overall style statement to the phone. The standout feature of the phone, however, is the camera and the features that come along with it. It has an interesting fist recognition ability that helps click selfies when you place your fist in front of the camera. It also comes with a front camera flash that enhances the quality of the pictures clicked. The battery backup is quite decent and does not give any trouble while charging either. But, can brilliant camera add-ons save the day for LG which is trying to compete with the big boys of the smartphone arena? Can LG's new offering carve out a niche for itself in such a crowded space? The answer is for you to find out; go ahead and lay your hands on it. LG K10 Rs 13,7505.3-inch, 720 x 1280p142 gAndroid 5.12GBSnapdragon 410 quad-core16GB8MP/5MP2,300 mAh LOGAN A 22-year-old Utah State University student and fraternity member, Griffin Ford was arrested Thursday, accused of secretly recording himself and another student having sex at a frat house, and then showing the video to his friends. Logan City Police Capt. Curtis Hooley said officers took Ford into custody for questioning and later booked him into the Cache County Jail on suspicion of voyeurism. He was later released after posting $1,950 bail. Officers learned of the crime after receiving a call from the victim, who is in her 20s. She reported finding the video supposedly on Fords laptop computer while she was borrowing it. The file had her name on it and showed her and Ford having sex. Hooley said officers believe the two students had a consensual encounter in September or October that Ford secretly recorded on his cell phone. He then reportedly showed the video to two friends. According to Fords Facebook page, he is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and is originally from Murfreesboro Tennessee. Hooley said there is no indication that Ford posted the video on the internet. Formal charges are pending an investigation. In March 2015, police arrested another member and former president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Ryan Wray. He later pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female student at the frat house during a party and was sentenced to six-months in jail.
will@cvradio.com SHARE Tuesday Uranium Energy rep to discuss industry The Association of Desk and Derrick Clubs will host guest speaker, Uranium Energy Corp. senior adviser Harry Anthony to talk about an introduction to In-Situ Recovery Uranium at 11:30 a.m. at Portis Country Kitchen, 615 N. Upper Broadway St. Suite B. Cost: $12 for lunch. Reservations needed by April 15 at SNash@dewbre.com or DorothyJ@headingtonenergy.com WEDNESDAY Business financial aid seminar offered The Small Business Administration will offer a seminar on financial assistance to start or expand a business from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 1823 N. Chaparral St. SBA Guaranty Loan Programs can be an option to take care of financial needs, including working capital, land and building purchase, equipment, inventory and leasehold improvements. Information on government contracting and business consulting services will be provided. Information: 361-879-0017, ext. 301 or elizabeth.soliz@sba.gov THURSDAY Get social in Rockport-Fulton The Small Business Administration and SCORE Corpus Christi will present at Rockport-Fulton's Chamber of Commerce Simply Social event from 1:15-2:15 p.m., 319 Broadway St. Free. Information: 361-879-0017 ext. 301 or elizabeth.soliz@sba.gov. Friday Luncheon set for accounting students The Corpus Christi Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs will host a luncheon for accounting students and CPAs at 11:30 a.m. at Katz 21 Steaks & Spirits, 5702 Spohn Drive. Free for accounting students and $15 for CPAs. Information: 800-428-0272 ext. 279. Compiled by Natalia Contreras CONTRIBUTED PHOTO McCullough Someone who graduates from college as a liberal-arts major can have only one of two outcomes. That person will be put in charge of everything or they will be unemployed. I told that to a liberal-arts major recently and his heart sank. "Oh, no." I had to explain that this was my idea of a joke. But liberal arts majors, unlike students studying to be lawyers, or doctors, or tax accountants, always have to explain why they are liberal arts majors. I got the same questions from my own family when I was an English major in college. Are you going to be a teacher? Are you going to teach it in college? I never knew really what to say. It seemed pretty lame to say I just liked the stuff. Now, I know what to say. I want to be David McCullough. McCullough, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, spoke Tuesday at Christus Spohn Health System's Lyceum. Speaking about the Wright brothers, the subject of his latest book, and of President Harry Truman, whose biography won him one of his Pulitzers, McCullough focused on how much of their life preparation came in their early years of reading. The home of Orville and Wilbur Wright was stocked with encyclopedias, the works of the classical Greeks, American and European histories as well as works by Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Darwin's "Origin of the Species" as well as John Milton's "Paradise Lost." Neither brother went to college. Yet neither did Truman. Which is not say they were uneducated. Like the Wright brothers, Truman was well read, especially in history. And both the Wright brothers and Truman had a sure grasp of the English language. They knew how to speak and write in clear and solid English sentences. Their writing, depending on the purpose, could be compelling, instructive and wholly transparent in its meaning. In essence, they were liberal arts majors. Of course, just being well read didn't lead the Wright brothers to become the first to build an airplane and then, at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903, make the first heavier-than-air human flight. That took qualities of character determination and discipline and of mechanical prowess. But the groundwork was laid by a lifetime of reading about ideas, studying and discussion of those ideas. Touting the benefits of a liberal arts education can be an elusive thing. Families who are toting a heavy bill for college tuition, books and fees might not be persuaded about the salability of a liberal arts degree on the weight of its ability to "transform" a graduate. What they want to know is, how much is the kid going to make? And given the hefty price of college, who can blame them? Neither does the Texas Legislature seem to value liberal arts education. If it did, legislators would give much richer support in its formula for funding to all those English, political science, psychology, foreign language and other liberal arts classes than it does now. In Texas' public schools, it's always the "fluff" courses such as journalism, speech, music and theater that get the ax when the budget cutters start doing their work. Yet these are the courses where kids learn how to express themselves, to speak before an audience and how to organize thoughts on their feet. Yet, like so many at the Lyceum, I was enthralled by McCullough and his ability to tell a story that not only entertains, but teaches and inspires. Isn't this the product of a liberal arts education? And this is my own thought you're not going find that kind of education on your iPhone. Where do you find such a liberal education? "Read, read, read," McCullough said. "Learn a language other than your own, travel and live somewhere you have never lived before." Perhaps now, at a time when a presidential candidate can propose draconian measures for difficult issues, is when a liberal arts perspective is more needed than ever. The knowledge that comes with studying history, literature and human institutions now becomes critically necessary. Not everyone can be a David McCullough. But the famed author, who was an English major at Yale, had another piece of advice that we all can follow. "You have to ask questions and be curious about your surroundings." That, too, is part of being a liberal arts student. Nick Jimenez has worked as a reporter, city editor and editorial page editor for more than 40 years in Corpus Christi. He is currently the editorial page editor emeritus for the Caller-Times. His commentary column appears on Wednesdays and Sundays. The City Council is on a fact-finding mission regarding how to regulate transportation network companies, which is great because I'm 100 percent pro-fact. It has been a life's mission. The question is, which facts? Because the council was given plenty of those in the weeks before March 8, when it approved an ordinance governing transportation network companies, or TNCs, a preferred term for nontraditional taxi services summoned and paid for via phone app. The council didn't make its decision in an information vacuum, and that includes its decision to require fingerprinting as part of the driver background check. Council members knew that the popular TNCs Uber and Lyft had a history of disputing fingerprint requirements for their drivers, and of leaving town rather than submit Houston being a rare exception. The council knew that Uber insisted that its method of background-checking drivers was more effective than fingerprinting, and that our police chief and other law enforcement authorities insisted otherwise. So the fact-finding must not mean those known facts. Nor could it mean the detailed letter from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to Mayor Nelda Martinez, the one dated March 28, in which Turner described Uber's explosive growth in Houston despite fingerprinting supposedly being to Uber what water was to the Wicked Witch of the West. That letter also disclosed some alarming facts about driver applicants who slipped through Uber's background check but not the fingerprint check such as the woman with 24 aliases, five birthdates, 10 Social Security numbers and a warrant for her arrest. The fact-finding couldn't mean those facts because Martinez, a fingerprint advocate, shared Turner's fact-filled letter with the council. Perhaps the facts in need of finding are the ones that came out of a court earlier this month in California, where Uber agreed to pay at least $10 million to settle a lawsuit. Prosecutors in California accused Uber of misleading customers by claiming falsely that its background-checking of driver applicants was the most comprehensive available. This would seem to be a key fact if the council is to make a fully informed decision about whether it erred when it voted in favor of fingerprinting. This also is actual new information that wasn't available March 8 because it hadn't happened yet. But, on second thought, it's not the right kind of fact because it doesn't lead to the conclusion that appears to be the point of the fact-finding. The council has so much to learn from this mission. And who better to teach it than its newest, youngest member, Michael Hunter? Hunter, 28, whom the council appointed to finish out Lillian Riojas' unexpired term, says there is much to be learned from looking into what other cities have done. A novel approach indeed. "This," he told reporter Matt Woolbright, "is the start of the process of doing it the right way." As his older council colleagues no doubt are grateful to have been taught, his process of doing it the right way can't start until their process of doing it the wrong way stops. The thing is, what other cities have done is not new news to the other eight council members. They knew that Austin is facing a rollback referendum on its fingerprint requirement. They also knew that other cities, having discovered nothing wrong with fingerprinting other than that Uber either had left or would leave if they required it, made the more fully informed decision not to require it. But it would be ill-advised for Corpus Christi to decide not to fingerprint without having explored how best not to do it. Some on the council, including Mark Scott, are interested in knowing more about how College Station came to adopt a TNC ordinance without fingerprinting. Apparently there is something special about College Station's method of not requiring fingerprinting. Perhaps chemists at Texas A&M University found the right mix of elements. The quest for a specific fact that will justify not fingerprinting is understandable. Vocal pro-Uber customers have this endearing tendency to insist to fingerprint proponents that they don't have all the facts. Seeking said facts is just good representative government. The irrefutable fact is that there's a minuscule risk that a TNC driver will rape or kill a passenger. The risk is minuscule because most people aren't rapists or murderers, not because fingerprinting is of no value. Here are two more facts already known to the council: Fingerprinting can't flag all criminal TNC applicants, but it can find some. The real fact that the council needs to discover is how a majority of its members will vote. The kind of fact being sought exists only in the word "manufacture." CALLER-TIMES file Rodeo Corpus Christi will start at 2 p.m. Sunday at American Bank Center. SHARE SUNDAY RODEO: Rodeo Corpus Christi will start at 2 p.m. at American Bank Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd. Cost: Tickets range from $15 to $30. Information: www.BucDays.com THEATER: The Aurora Arts Theatre will present "Our Lady of the Tortilla" at 2:30 p.m. Cost: $15, general admission; military, student, seniors and children discounts available. Information: 361-851-9700, www.auroraartstheatre.com. PETS: The Nueces County Animal Control will host rabies vaccination clinics for Coastal Bend residents from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bluntzer Fire Station, at the corner of Farm-to-Market roads 666 and 624. Cost: $8. Information: 361-387-5701. MONDAY FOOD: Kona Ice will offer free shaved ice on National Chill Out Day on Monday. Kona Ice will be at Coastal Community & Teachers Credit Union, 6810 Saratoga Blvd., from 11 a.m. to noon and at Pete's Chicken-N-More, 4101 S. Port Ave., 12:30-1:30 p.m. Cost: free. Information: www.kona-ice.com. MEETING: The Gulf Coast Antiques and Collectibles Club will meet at 7 p.m. at the Lindale Senior Center, 3135 Swantner Drive. There will be a short business meeting and a program on "Wall Pockets" by James Gerdy. Bring an item for Show and Tell. Cost: Free. Information: 361-852-7700. VEHICLE: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will host an AutoCheck Motor Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the first entrance to the campus. In three to five minutes, AutoCheck measures harmful pollutants emitted from vehicles. Cost: Free. Information: 361-825-3070. CONCERT: The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Department of Music presents the University Symphonic Winds Concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The Symphonic Winds performance includes original works for band, transcriptions, marches and music of all styles, with an emphasis on new music. Cost: Free. Information: 361-825-3756. THEATER: The Port Aransas Community Theatre will host auditions for "Bye, Bye, Birdie" from 6-8 p.m. at 2327 State Highway 361, Port Aransas. Cost: Free. Information: 361-749-6036. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Corpus Christi Police Cmdr. David Blackmon and Senior Officer Tracy Roberts walk through the Corpus Christi Housing Authority properties in January. Blackmon and Roberts work off-duty as private security for the housing authority. Employing private security is one of the measures the housing authority takes to keep residents safe. Police data indicates a high volume of domestic violence calls in the S. Port Avenue, Ayers Street and Tarlton Street area. Much of the neighborhood is composed of public housing. By Kirsten Crow of the Caller-Times Outside a beige pier and beam home police find the woman, petite and broken, crouching on the sidewalk in her socks. She presses a cellphone to her ear, her hand barely visible behind a curtain of long, dark hair. Her face is wet with blood and tears. Her shirt is stained with thin crimson streams. It's about 4 a.m. An officer walks her boyfriend toward a squad car. He twists his neck to shout. "Get out of here," he says. "Bitch." She was punched in the face and has a swollen lip, an officer tells medics. Medics examine the 24-year-old woman's face as it is alternately illuminated red, then blue, in the flashing cast of light bars atop the police units. They try to assess her injuries. Does your nose hurt really bad? Are any teeth loose? Her face is so small, it nearly disappears behind an ice pack. Her lip is split, but she decides a trip to the hospital isn't necessary. The call is one of four domestic violence reports Corpus Christi police officers working the Delta district respond to on a graveyard shift in early January. It's among the first cases of the year. Data on 911 calls indicate the neighborhood an area centered around South Port Avenue, Tarlton Street, and Ayers Street is active for emergency calls for domestic violence. Responding to those calls, police are expected to restore the peace, break up fights, document incidents, help victims secure emergency protective orders and make arrests. The scene outside the beige house is, in grim fashion, like many domestic violence calls in the city. They can be dangerous. They're messy. And the minutes between a 911 call and police arrival can see building pressure and explosion. Behind a chain-link fence, family members bicker: should they have cleaned up the blood? I told you, don't clean it up they need it as evidence, a woman says to her husband. Officers piece together a narrative through differing witness accounts. He came home from a strip club drunk, the woman says. She confronted him; they argued. Locking the bedroom doors, he beat her, hitting her face seven times, she tells officers. Her parents used a knife to pry open the door. Then he ran. Sitting in the back seat of a police unit, the woman's boyfriend tells officers she accused him of being at a strip club. They argued and he ran out of the house, hopping a fence as she gave chase. She fell when she tried to go over the fence, landing face-first in the driveway, he says. That's how she got hurt. Officers point out there is no blood on the driveway. Although the woman's father started cleaning up, officers find a small pool of blood on the porch. Inside, there is a trail to the bedroom, and in the bedroom, police find blood on the wall and door handle, the officer's report shows. The bedroom door is damaged, showing signs it was forced open. The woman refuses to give police a statement. She doesn't want him arrested. "I'm sure he does feel bad," the officer counters. "But the argument already escalated. That's why I'm here." Her boyfriend is arrested on suspicion of assault-family violence causing bodily injury and unlawful restraint, both Class A misdemeanors. The cases are pending. LIVING WITH VIOLENCE A digital heat map, based on 2015 police data collected and analyzed by the Caller-Times, serves as a blueprint of domestic violence calls spread among Corpus Christi's estimated 113,376 households. It's a framework of what could seem to be random bright patches of blues, yellows, oranges and reds. The splashes of color represent clusters of those calls. Last year, detectives investigated eight homicides suspected as the final acts of violence between family members and intimate partners. In 2014, there were 14 people killed in domestic violence-related incidents. Most offenses are misdemeanors that draw less attention, but represent manifestations of a potentially deadly relationship dynamic. Of the 4,500 emergency calls for domestic violence in 2015, more than half at least 2,800 could qualify as misdemeanors. That includes about 2,400 reports of assault with bodily injury. Emergency calls to police often are only made when an altercation rises from routine abuse to crisis. Laid out across the city, locations for those 911 calls capture the reach of an underlying disease incubated beneath the rooftops of family homes, stretching the length and width of Corpus Christi's boundaries. The map identifies numerous areas with higher emergency call volumes. A bird's-eye view shows more "hot spots" in older, more central areas of the city that taper off when approaching Corpus Christi's extremities to the north and south. Experts say domestic violence cuts across all races, cultures, religions, educational backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. Underreporting is common, and the variables that push victims to place 911 calls can be difficult to track. One neighborhood that shows clusters of domestic violence 911 calls includes South Port Avenue, Ayers Street and Tarlton Street, where a large red blotch hovers. It's on the edge of that area where the victim told police her boyfriend locked her in a bedroom and beat her. Much of the area is composed of Corpus Christi Housing Authority properties. In the neighborhood, some calls are never made, said James Ritter, who lives in one of the larger housing authority properties. On a warm weekday afternoon in January, the complex was quiet other than the stirs of children returning from school, holding the straps of their backpacks tight to their chests while walking against the strong breeze. But on Friday and Saturday nights, domestic abuse is a part of life, Ritter said, standing on the porch of his apartment. He's lived there for two years and has learned not to interfere. He once came to a victim's defense, only to be attacked by the abuser and the abused, he said. Many people won't call the police, Ritter said. And he no longer calls he doesn't consider it helpful. Ritter added that making reports to law enforcement could make the caller a target in the neighborhood. What has generally improved is the housing authority kicking out people who shouldn't be there, he said. His young daughter has witnessed domestic violence, Ritter said, prompting him to ingrain a message. "With (my daughter) seeing a man hitting a woman, I don't want her thinking it's all right for her boyfriend to hit her," he said. HOUSING AUTHORITY The Corpus Christi Housing Authority campus bounded by Ayers Street, Tarlton Street, Roosevelt Drive and South Port Avenue comprises six complexes and more than 1,000 units. Domestic violence victims many of whom have a limited income, or whose abuser controls the finances are frequently referred to the housing authority to begin their new lives. Federal guidelines give preference to domestic violence victims for public housing. There are limitations on addressing domestic violence, housing authority officials said. But they do what they can, including facilitating educational efforts, maintaining a security service staffed by off-duty Corpus Christi police and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy. Last year, the Women's Shelter of South Texas put on two presentations, one an outreach program on healthy relationships, and another an overview of emergency shelter and other services. Sign-in sheets for the presentation at La Armada I and II in February 2015 show seven people attended. Traditionally, there has been low attendance for women's shelter programming, said Marisa Smithwick, the housing authority's senior vice president of asset management. "Typically, victims of domestic violence are not going to be allowed to attend these kinds of functions or more on point, are scared to attend," she said. Frequently, trouble is linked to people who are not on the lease commonly, husbands or boyfriends who move in, bypassing the housing authority's requirement for yearly background checks of everyone age 18 and older, officials have said. When there is an incident, victims are required to meet with staff, Smithwick said. It's a window to reach out. "I always tell the staff, when we meet with the clients it's our opportunity to talk to them ... are they going to school? What are their aspirations?" she said. "There are different opportunities that we have to kind of grab them and see if they're going to break through or they're going to talk to them and we can guide them and give them assistance." Victims who are attempting to escape their abuser can request an emergency transfer, said Gary Allsup, CEO and president of the Corpus Christi Housing Authority. There were three such transfers in 2015. Residents are encouraged to report any violence, Allsup added. There is a "one-strike rule" that applies to crimes such as assault. It's an immediate eviction for the aggressor. Those not on the lease are legally banned from the property and can be arrested if he or she returns. "You won't see many repeat offenders with us," Allsup said. If there were more the housing authority could do, they would be doing it, Smithwick said. "I think it's everywhere, and we do our part, I think, to help it. But I think the schools need to do their part, I think the women's shelter needs to do their part," she said. "I can go to sleep at night knowing that I think we do above and beyond getting our clients whatever help they need." ON PATROL They walk in a steady stride, side by side, between the faded stucco facades of the 1940s-era military barracks turned low-income housing. Consulting a thick binder, the officers review the inventory of follow-ups and complaints before setting out on their patrol of the housing authority's campus. Part of the work of the Housing Authority Police Patrol also known as HAPP is following up on criminal reports and quality of life concerns, said Corpus Christi police Cmdr. David Blackmon, who works off-duty as private security with Sr. Officer Tracy Roberts. Blackmon, who has worked for the housing authority about 19 years, knows many of the residents, he said. The layout of the campus requires foot patrol, which fosters opportunities to meet tenants and for residents to get to know police. Sometimes that's how issues are brought to the attention of law enforcement, Blackmon said. He enjoys the community policing, Blackmon said, and has continued the work with the housing authority even as he moved up in the ranks most recently, promoted from captain to commander in January. He disagreed with a resident's assessment that officers are ineffective. Police take cases of domestic violence seriously, Blackmon said. He added that it's important to report family violence. When making a report to police or the housing authority's Crime Lead and Fraud hotline, residents can remain anonymous. Anytime there is a concentrated population, "there is a potential for increased crime," Blackmon said. "Domestic violence isn't exempt from that." HAPP patrols housing authority properties at least four hours per day, twice a week. In cases of family violence, officers regularly check on units where there has been reported trouble, Blackmon said. "We'll go back and revisit the complaints ... we'll talk to people that are adjacent to these properties to find out, 'Have you heard anything else, does everything seem to be going good?'" Blackmon said. "Because oftentimes if things aren't going good, then you don't hear from that victim." He believes residents are generally open to talking with police, Blackmon said. The housing authority has an ear to the community, raising a consideration of whether "family violence higher than average here or are they more willing to report than in other areas of the city?" he said. HAPP officers have played a role in helping at least five women get out of violent relationships, Blackmon said. Those individual cases matter, he said. "If you have one win, you've had an effect." QUESTIONS ON CALLS Although there are hot spots for emergency domestic violence calls shown throughout the city, the majority appear in older, lower-income neighborhoods. Population density should be considered when analyzing comparative data, experts say. There's also a question about how repeat calls from the same addresses affect the data. A higher 911 call volume in lower-income areas likely has to do with resources, said Frances Wilson, president and CEO of the Women's Shelter of South Texas. Women with more means may have greater opportunity to get away without involving police. "I think it's probably happening just as frequently in the more affluent areas. We say one in four across the board," she said. "We don't say one in four if you make $25,000 per year or less for a family of four." With fewer resources, "survival is more immediate," said Margaret Bassett, director of the expert witness programs in the University of Texas' Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Information on abusive relationships in wealthier areas is elusive, she said. Those victims are less likely to call police, go to shelters or use social services. Calling police is usually a last-ditch effort to end an abusive incident meaning reaching the end point may be closer for women who lack resources. And it could be that "calling the police works," she said. EMPLOYMENT A FACTOR Population density wouldn't account for the various concentrations of dots on the heat map, said Assistant Police Chief Mark Schauer, pointing out the number of large apartment campuses going up on the Southside. The city's population is shifting south. Schauer doesn't think it's a cultural issue, density issue, income issue or related to "the price of the homes." Domestic violence is underreported and can affect anyone, he said: It's a complex topic with many unknown variables. "There's not a very good, solid reason why we're getting calls in cluster areas," he said. There are various possibilities, from the proximity of neighbors to the response of neighbors. One variable could be related to unemployment and underemployment. When it comes to complex issues like crime, different studies can suggest different conclusions, he noted. But one study on domestic violence found that recidivism was shown at a lower rate for men who were employed versus those who were unemployed, Schauer said. It's possible that it could partly come down to what's at stake. Someone who works a minimum wage job can likely get another after an arrest but a bank president would have a difficult time finding similar employment after facing an embarrassing charge, he said. That could influence whether or not domestic violence is reported. Emergency calls are frequently driven by whether a victim has reached a breaking point, Schauer added. "That's why I believe a lot of it is still underreported until it gets to a critical stage where it just blows up and they can't contain it anymore," Schauer said. EDUCATION AND PREVENTION There's not a way to go "proactively into those neighborhoods and somehow keep people from assaulting" each other, Schauer said. Unlike some other crimes, there often are no immediately visible precursors that give police a chance to prevent the abuse. "Family violence, it's behind closed doors. So we're driving by, we don't hear it, we don't see it," Schauer said. "And you could just get off work as a person going to beat his wife, and all we see is a person getting off work and going in the house." It's a crime that can't be reduced through increased patrols, Blackmon said. There is hope some measures can prevent subsequent assaults safety planning, for example, and the police department's recent institution of lethality assessments, which can help police identify higher risk of abuse and brief victims about the likelihood of serious harm. It also puts victims in touch with advocates immediately after an incident. Knowing the alternatives to remaining in an unhealthy relationship plays a meaningful role, experts say. But the most effective proactive measures likely lead back to the earliest years reaching children when they are young, and possibly bringing life skills classes to schools, Schauer said. Prevention includes instilling expectations in relationships, Wilson said: It's about raising children who, as adults, wouldn't think of using "power or control or any type of abuse to get their way, and to learn how to communicate with one another, and create the relationship they really want." "If we don't do that work (prevention), then basically what we are is just a shelter," Wilson said of the nonprofit's role. "And we're going to just keep being a shelter and keep seeing victims. And the goal is not to have victims." Twitter: @CallerCrow Contributed photo Ximena and Scarlett Torres were baptized on April 9, three days before they underwent a long separation surgery. "We're hoping they're going to lead fully functioning lives," said Dr. Haroon Patel, the pediatric surgeon who headed the 12-hour procedure. "We want to get them to (be) fully functioning individuals, to be able to go to school, to go to college, and go to work and be productive members of society. There's no reason they cannot be." SHARE Contributed photo Scarlett (left), Ximena (right), and their sister Catalina were born May 16 at Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area Hospital. Scarlett and Ximena, conjoined at the pelvis, were surgically separated Tuesday at Driscoll Children's Hospital. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES file Silvia Torres holds her daughter, Catalina, at the Ronald McDonald House on April 6. Catalina's twin sisters, Ximena and Scarlett Torres, who were conjoined at the pelvis at birth, underwent a 12-hour surgery to separate them Tuesday. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Dr. Haroon Patel (right), the pediatric surgeon and urologist who was the team leader of the Torres' separation surgery, speaks about the procedure at Driscoll Children's Hospital on Friday. Patel led a team of 13 other doctors and more than 30 nurses and other medical professionals during the 12-hour operation. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Paramedics from Driscoll Children's Hospital Transport Team transfer Catalina Torres to an ambulance on May 21 at Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area Hospital in Corpus Christi. Catalina's twin sisters Ximena and Scarlett were born conjoined at the pelvis. They underwent successful separation surgery Tuesday. Related Coverage Meet the Driscoll doctors who successfully separated twins By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times Detaching them was one thing. Now, a tiny pair of formerly conjoined twins, face a long journey of medical challenges, doctors say. But at least they've got a path. Officials for Driscoll Children's Hospital on Friday celebrated the successful separation of Ximena and Scarlett Torres, who were born in Corpus Christi nearly a year ago connected at the pelvis. However, data concerning conjoined twins can be sobering; recovery after such surgery is never guaranteed. Still, doctors who performed the historic procedure say separating the infants likely bought them more time. It may have also bettered their chance at a normal life. "We're hoping they're going to lead fully functioning lives," said Dr. Haroon Patel, the pediatric surgeon who headed the 12-hour procedure. "We want to get them to (be) fully functioning individuals, to be able to go to school, to go to college, and go to work and be productive members of society. There's no reason they cannot be. "They will have some challenges ... but with some adjustments there's no reason they can't do all the things any other 5- or 10- or 15-year-old does. Only time will tell." Silvia and Raul Torres, of Brownsville, came to Corpus Christi on vacation last April. Silvia Torres, 22, was pregnant and delivered Ximena, Scarlett, and a third daughter, Catalina, by cesarean section May 16, just a day short of 34 weeks. Scarlett and Ximena were joined at the midsection and shared bladders, a rectum, intestines and other lower extremities. Months of conference calls, leafing through medical journals, even mock surgeries all came down to Tuesday. That's the day a team made up of Patel, 13 other doctors and more than 30 nurses and other medical professionals went to work to separate them. The procedure lasted 12 hours. Ximena and Scarlett have been resting in separate rooms and have been assisted by breathing machines ever since. Births of conjoined twins, whose skin and internal organs are fused together, are rare. Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births, and their survival is anything but assured. Forty to 60 percent of conjoined twins arrive stillborn, and about 35 percent survive only one day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Jake Herrin can relate to what the Torres family is likely going through. He was in their place not that long ago. Herrin and his wife, Erin, learned 18 weeks into the pregnancy their twin daughters, Kendra and Maliyah, were conjoined. They were born in Salt Lake City on Feb. 26, 2002 at 32 weeks connected at the abdomen and the pelvis. They shared several organs, including a liver and large intestine. Experts claim such surgery tends to be more successful early in the children's life, within the first year or so. The Herrin girls had to be patient. They just one functional kidney between them at birth. Surgery would have meant putting one of them on dialysis. Maliyah's body at the time simply wasn't strong enough for that, Jake Herrin recalled. It wasn't until the twins were 4.5 years old that doctors were confident they both could withstand the procedure and recovery. Kendra and Maliyah were separated in August 2006 after two procedures that totaled 26 hours. The girls celebrated their 14th birthdays just two months ago. "They're into social media and videos on Facebook and have their own friends," Herrin told the Caller-Times in a phone interview from his home in North Salt Lake, Utah. "They're just like any other teenage girls." To date, there have been about 250 successful separations in which one or more twins survived over a long period. Most of them have occurred in the past 15 to 20 years, according to the American Pediatric Surgical Association. Herrin said the health challenges of formerly conjoined twins doesn't end with the separation surgery. Maliyah went on dialysis after the separation in 2006. Erin Herrin donated one of her kidneys nine months afterward. Jake Herrin said Maliyah's body is now rejecting the organ. That means she will need a transplant from a live donor soon. Herrin, a devout Mormon, encouraged Raul and Silvia Torres to lean on their faith, which they say they've done. "I'm sure there will be doctors visits and surgeries for a very long time," said Herrin, 35. "You just have to take things day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Otherwise, they can just get overwhelming." Some challenges already have emerged since the surgery. Ximena has undergone additional procedures to clear up infects that developed after she was separated from her sister. Doctors removed one of her kidneys, which was nonfunctioning, Patel said. A urologist rewired her ureter, the duct by which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder. The aim was to lower the risk of more infections. Patel said Ximena, like many people, can live normally with one kidney. "We had this complicated surgery and didn't want to have to come back again to an area ... that's already been operated before," Patel said. "It was the safest thing to do." What started as just a tour of Driscoll last week, just before the surgery, evolved into something inspiring for Texas Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa. While there, he met and spoke with Silvia Torres, whom he described at an attentive mother. "It's amazing the type of teamwork that goes on there, day in, day out, but especially for these two little girls," said Hinojosa, D-McAllen. "It felt like you were experiencing a miracle." Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam TORRES TIMELINE May 16: Triplets Catalina, Ximena and Scarlett born at Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area Hospital at 10:52 p.m. Ximena and Scarlett are born joined at the pelvis. May 20: Ximena and Scarlett are moved to Driscoll Children's Hospital. Catalina eventually is released to her parents, Silvia and Raul Torres Sr. September: Doctors clear Ximena and Scarlett for separation surgery. The target date is in March. Late February: Surgery is postponed when the twins get sick. Tuesday: Separation surgery commences. The complex procedure runs from 8:37 a.m. to 8:47 p.m. Wednesday: Ximena develops a kidney infection. Undergoes additional surgery. Friday: Doctors perform another surgery on Ximena because of another infection. UNDERSTANDING CONJOINED BIRTHS HOW THEY'RE FORMED Conjoined twins are genetically identical, and are, therefore, always the same sex. They develop from the same fertilized egg, and share the same amniotic cavity and placenta. In the case of conjoined twins, a woman only produces a single egg, which does not fully separate after fertilization. The developing embryo starts to split into identical twins during the first few weeks after conception, but stops before the process is complete. The partially separated egg develops into a conjoined fetus. A HISTORY OF CONJOINED TWINS One of the earliest documented cases of conjoined twins were Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, born in Biddenden, England, in 1100. They were joined at the hip and lived for 34 years. The sisters were wealthy and, when they died, they left a small fortune to the Church of England. In honor of their generosity, it was customary for English citizens to bake little biscuits and cakes in the sisters' images and give them to the poor. Another set of famous conjoined twins was Eng and Chang Bunker, born in Thailand (then called Siam) in 1811. The term Siamese twins was coined as a reference to Eng and Chang, who achieved international fame shortly after leaving Siam as teenagers. The term is considered derogatory. The Bunker twins were joined at the lower chest by a narrow band of flesh, which connected their livers. They were exhibited in circus shows around the world before settling in the United States, where they married two sisters and had nearly two dozen children. They were successful businessman and ranchers in Wilkes County, North Carolina, where they lived until 1874. They were 63 years old when they died. TYPES OF CONJOINED TWINS Thoracopagus twins: There are nearly a dozen different types of conjoined twins, though this is one of the most common classifications. These twins are connected at the upper portion of the torso. Many times they share a heart, which, depending on how closely they are joined, makes it nearly impossible to separate them and save them both. Thoracopagus twins make up about 40 percent of all conjoined cases. Omphalopagus twins: Connected from the breastbone to the waist. About 33 percent of all conjoined cases are categorized in this manner. These twins may share a liver, gastrointestinal or genitourinary functions, but rarely share a heart. Craniophagus twins: Joined at the head. One of the rarest types of conjoined twins; only 2 percent of all conjoined twins are joined in this way. Source: University of Maryland Medical Center SHARE Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, right, looks at one of special prosecutors during a pretrial motion hearing at the Collin County courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, in McKinney, Texas. Paxton is accused of encouraging wealthy investors to pump more than $100,000 into a tech startup called Servergy without revealing he was being paid by the company. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News Via AP, Pool) Even the most committed partisan Texas Democrat should find no joy or humor in the situation Republicans walked into, eyes wide open, when they elected Ken Paxton attorney general and Sid Miller agriculture commissioner. There is nothing for Texans of any political persuasion to gain from the damage being done to our state as long as these two remain in office. Republicans should drop party-loyal pretense and repudiate these two for the sake of all Texans. It may be too early to demand Miller's resignation but Paxton's should have been solicited long ago. Miller at least deserves a round of denouncements from top party officials. The Paxton situation could be seen coming before he made the primary runoff in 2014. Already he had admitted that he recommended investments without informing investors that he received compensation if they invested. That's not just a technical error and it's not just dishonest. It's the dishonesty of someone who used self-righteous piety as a career steppingstone. Paxton's admission was attempted damage control in which he thought he could pay a fine and move on. But last year he was indicted on criminal charges, and last week the Securities and Exchange Commission piled on with federal charges mirroring the state's charges. Never mind that the established facts should preclude his being attorney general regardless of whether they result in a conviction. As a practical matter, he's too distracted by his criminal defense, and how to pay for it, to be a full-time attorney general. He can't use campaign funds or make the state pay his legal fees because the charges have nothing to do with the official duties of the elected offices he has held. Also, he's too ethically compromised to represent the state in ethics cases. Miller went into office clean but didn't stay that way. Since taking office, Miller took two trips that initially were booked as state business but that afterward he had to reimburse because no state business was conducted. He went to Oklahoma, chatted up some officials who weren't expecting him and got a controversial painkiller treatment known as the "Jesus shot," purporting to end pain for life without first having to die. He went to Mississippi, where he competed in a rodeo, which is easier to do pain-free. He has claimed that his intended visits with Mississippi agriculture officials fell through. The Texas Rangers are investigating these two trips. No matter what they find, Miller's cavalier attitude toward our tax dollars is an established pattern. Republicans are supposed to despise that sort of thing. Right now we should be extolling Republicans for having denounced these two. Not only has repudiation not been forthcoming, but Paxton has benefited from a cult of defenders who choose to denounce his accusers as witch-hunters with political agendas. It's a left-wing conspiracy, don'tcha know. What really happened was that a grand jury in Paxton's extremely conservative Collin County indicted him after the Texas Rangers, not known as a haven for lefties, investigated Paxton, who had the intimidating benefit of being a state senator at the time. In this overwhelmingly Republican-run state, the party is replete with honorable people who could replace these two. It had safe, ethical options during the 2014 primary. The party needs to quit acting like getting rid of Miller and Paxton would be a Democratic victory and stop rewarding Paxton, in particular, for having chosen the winning team. Policing its own would be a Republican victory. It would be what's best for all Texans. SHARE At the age of 4, Leiliana Rose Wright died from horrific child abuse in Grand Prairie. As shocking as the circumstances of her death are, given what we knew and when we knew it, our failure as a community to protect her is more shocking. For years, Child Protective Services investigators have struggled, sometimes doing a little better or a little worse, but always struggling. We have long known why low salaries and high workloads leading to constant caseworker turnover. For example, it's been reported that the CPS investigator assigned to Leiliana's case had 70 other cases. Under national standards, he should have had no more than a dozen. Critical tasks went undone and critical actions untaken. With so many cases, tragic outcomes were inevitable. When Texas does bring children into state care, the kids face new problems. Just this past December, a federal court found the states foster care system to be unconstitutionally unsafe because of high caseloads and a lack of foster homes. Recently we learned that children were sleeping in state office buildings or living in psychiatric hospitals because no placement was available. Attracting more foster parents requires recruiting, training and supporting them as part of a professional treatment team. Right now, though, the state pays only 85 percent of the cost of providing services. In Fort Worth, the state has a model program called Foster Care Redesign that is producing great outcomes, but with extra money from the community. So far the state won't commit to funding it statewide. Very few of our state leaders have called for an increase in spending on child protection or foster care. In fact, shortly after the federal court decision, I predicted that our lawmakers' instinct will be to look for cheap solutions, such as replacing leadership or reworking our practice model. The prediction recently came true. With Gov. Greg Abbott applauding, the head of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced the appointment of retired Texas Ranger Chief Henry "Hank" Whitman as the new top dog for CPS, saying, "I can't think of anyone better than a Texas Ranger to protect our most vulnerable Texans," and going on to tout Whitman's strength as an investigator. I have great respect for the Texas Rangers and wish Whitman the best of luck. If he is able to leverage his credibility to secure the resources CPS needs, his appointment will be a godsend. As Leiliana's case illustrates, though, being a great criminal investigator will be of little help to Whitman. The problem in Leiliana's case wasn't that CPS couldn't figure things out. The problem was that CPS was too overwhelmed to act. The announcement of Whitman also hints at a new law enforcement model and promises "high accountability." Although this sounds reassuring, it would actually be counterproductive. Child protection is primarily social work. Most cases involve neglect primarily due to poverty, substance abuse, and mental illness not abuse. Because of this, providing real help to the family is the best course for the kids, and that means spending money. Holding people accountable for not doing more than is humanly possible is an unfair and a punitive approach that leads only to increased burnout and higher turnover. We see that happening right now. Top leadership positions are vacant and morale is low. Public servants feel unfairly blamed for the problems of their underfunded agency and are worried their heads will roll next. Whoever is in the job will face the same intractable problems. Accountability simply doesn't work unless coupled with the resources to do the work. Nevertheless, every three years or so, the state announces a new commissioner who is going to fix everything. We know better. We have been to this rodeo before. There are solutions, but they will cost hundreds of millions of additional dollars. Knowing what we know, unless we as a community are willing to demand real action, we can't escape complicity in the death of the next Leiliana. F. Scott McCown is a clinical professor of law and director of the Children's Rights Clinic at The University of Texas at Austin. SHARE Revelations about the widespread use of shell companies and offshore banking by politicians and business figures have challenged the traditional model of investigative reporting. It could be the new way investigative reporting is done. The "Panama Papers" 11.5 million files, 2.6 terabytes of digital information in what one newspaper called "history's biggest data leak" came from a Panamanian law firm that specializes in setting up offshore companies. An anonymous source leaked them to a German newspaper, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which proceeded to share them with a network of other media outlets. This is new territory for journalists who usually pursue exclusives, the vaunted "scoop." Instead, this was a partnership model, coordinated by a nonprofit group that had been launched by another nonprofit group called the Center for Public Integrity, which allowed global collaboration. It was all based on trust rather than competition among journalists from different countries with differing objectives. The project did pose new challenges. Some technical, such as how to reverse-engineer databases to make the documents useful, and some more traditionally journalistic, such as how to put the information in context. But potentially more important than changes in professional reporting methods is the question of the appropriate target for investigative reporters in mainstream news media. Should the focus be on violations of norms and laws within the existing system the sphere to which conventional reporters have typically limited themselves or the nature of the system itself? The stories emerging from the Panama Papers identified specific individuals tied to illegal activity, but it also reminded us that these practices of the rich and criminal are routine. Follow-up stories, for example, have pointed out that the laws of some U.S. states, such as Delaware, allow the same shenanigans at home. The next step might be to point out that such strategies of maximizing profits without regard to the social costs are, well, kind of the way capitalism works. That could lead to people challenging the assumptions of the economic system, even if the political and business elites try to convince us that "there is no alternative," to quote the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. But whether mainstream journalism can move into a deeper analysis of the routine workings of the economic system depends on the politics outside the newsroom. The freedom journalists have to report critically about an amoral wealth-concentrating economic system depends not only on freedom from government censorship, but on freedom from corporate constraints. Media owners rarely have much interest in funding and promoting such reporting, unless there are social movements demanding it. A vibrant public conversation, not just about electoral politics and the platforms of the two major parties, but also about the viability of the system itself, gives journalists more room to deepen their reporting. With a more robust public sphere, collaborative projects such as the Panama Papers will help individual journalists and small newsrooms push harder and further than we've seen in recent decades. Is this activist journalism? Perhaps. But when journalists ignore basic questions about the viability and fairness of an economic system, no one accuses the news media of being activist in favor of the wealthy. It's only when journalists challenge power at its core that the activist label is trotted out, to scare off both journalists and the public. The growing frustration of ordinary people to the everyday business practices of large corporations, combined with new models of journalistic collaboration using sophisticated techniques for analyzing data, could spark a flowering of democracy, around the world and in the United States. There are signs in newsrooms across the country that such progress is possible, as social movements for racial, gender and economic justice challenge the status quo. The success of reactionary demagogues at home and abroad reminds us such progress is not inevitable. An invigorated investigative journalism can help, not by yoking itself to any particular politician, party or program, but by keeping focused on how the routine cons and crimes of the wealthy and powerful are not only a product of individual corruption but of unjust economic and political systems. Robert Jensen is a professor in the School of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and the author of "Plain Radical: Living, Loving, and Learning to Leave the Planet Gracefully." He can be reached at rjensen@austin.utexas.edu. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. Despite the high level of security intelligence in Britain and Australia, another attack seems inevitable, simply because there are too many persons of interest to monitor effectively. It is assessed that there are as many as 1000 Islamist extremists in the UK, and perhaps 200 in Australia. Many of them want to go and fight for IS, but are being prevented from carrying out what they regard as their religious duty so inevitably their focus is on attacks closer to home. 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. The South Korean company is planning to build a new EV battery plant in Poland, in order to meet the increasing demand from European manufacturers. A source with knowledge of the matter spoke to Reuters, saying that the plant will be completed in about 18 months. The factory will be located in Wroclaw, Poland and will have a production capacity of 229,000 EV batteries per year, making it the second-biggest factory of its kind for LG Chem, following their production facilities in China. The company is supplying with battery packs a total of 25 car companies globally, including VW, Audi, Volvo and Renault in Europe while they are also GMs official battery supplier for the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt. They have production facilities established also in South Korea and USA, with a spokesman previously saying that they were considering adding a new production facility without providing more info. LG Chems new battery factory news came after their rival Samsung SDI -who provide batteries to BMW among others- said they were also considering building a factory in Europe and a report on Tesla discussing the possibility of using one of Frances former nuclear plants as a manufacturing facility. Note: Chevrolet Bolts Battery pack pictured PHOTO GALLERY If youre still unsure about those leaked images showing the upcoming, second generation Peugeot 3008s interior that surfaced on the web this week, a new set of scoop photos from China leaves no doubt about their authenticity. Peugeots new 3008 compact crossover will get a completely new, and very contemporary, dashboard that seems to mirror the one of the Peugeot Quartz Concept presented two years ago, in Paris. The images posted on WorldScoopforum reveal a free-floating display for the infotainment system, sitting right next to the digital instrument panel, squared-off steering wheel and fighter jet-like toggle switches that sit under the center air vents. Other features noticeable include electronic parking brake and a joystick gear selector. Peugeots 2017 3008 will be underpinned by PSAs EMP2 platform used on the 308 and Citroen C4 Picasso. The 308 compact hatch will lend most of its 3- and 4-cylinder turbocharged powertrains and, just like most modern crossovers, it will be offered with FWD. However, the automaker will probably add an AWD plug-in hybrid, later on. An exact reveal date hasnt been announced yet, but its highly likely that it will debut in Paris this fall. PHOTO GALLERY Our travelling photographer for this week's Trip Shot is Mark Boucher. As he pointed out to me, one picture is worth 1000 words, and with that in mind you're looking at the equivalent of over 10,000 words, give or take. Jack, my brother-in-law, is an avid road cyclist. However, he has never mountain biked, so he was in for a real treat, exchanging clip pedals for flat pedals. The trip started in Phoenix, Arizona. We had seven days to see and do it all, and lucked out with beautiful weather, great riding conditions, and no crowds at his time of year. We did Black Canyon and Sedona, both are a mountain biker's dream. We had a blast - enjoy the pics! __________ Been on a trip lately? Around the world, around the country, around the block, or around anything that felt like a journey? If you took pictures and want to share, drop me a line. [email protected] This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: Google Street View The Lake Country Fire Department got to church just in time Friday morning. A Lake Country city councilor was driving by St. Edwards Catholic Church Friday morning at 10:30 when he noticed a fire had started beside the building. Fire crews arrived at the scene just as the fire, which began amongst some cedar trees, was crawling up the side of the church. It broke a couple windows and had actually just started to get into the attic space when the fire department arrived on scene, said Steve Windsor, Lake Country fire chief. Probably another five or 10 minutes and it would have been a whole different story, thats for sure. Fire crews quickly sprang into action, putting out the potentially devastating blaze. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but Windsor says there were no obvious signs of an ignition source, so theyre classifying it as suspicious. Photo: Contributed UPDATE: 7:23 p.m. Hua Hai Mai has been found and returned home. Vancouver Police are searching for eighty-five-year-old Hua Hai Mai, who was last seen in the 1500 block of East 57th Avenue around 11 a.m. MaI, who suffers from dementia, is likely wearing a black blazer, dress pants and white runners. He also uses a brown cane. He is Asian, 5'9" tall, has a skinny build and short black hair. Mai, who does not speak English, likes to take transit and has a bus pass on a lanyard around his neck with his name, address and phone number on it. . Anyone who sees Mai is asked to call 9-1-1. Photo: Contributed Police responded to more gunfire in Surrey, late Saturday. Surrey RCMP were called to the 16000 block of 93rd Avenue, in the Guildford area, about 10:30 p.m. Officers located evidence to support that shots had been fired in the area, however, no one was injured in the incident. Witnesses told police a light-coloured SUV was seen fleeing from the scene. Officers were canvassing the neighbourhood and speaking with witnesses late into the night, Staff Sgt. Joe Johal said in a press release issued after midnight. Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca. Photo: Flickr/RCMP Kamloops RCMP arrested a man for making threats with a gun, Saturday night. About 8:30 p.m., police received reports of a man in possession of a firearm, who had allegedly fired it and made threats to harm himself and others. Rural and city officers responded with backup by the Emergency Response Team, police helicopter and a dog unit They attempted to make contact with the man at his last known location, on Kootenay Way. He was found at a nearby home on West Shuswap Road and was arrested without incident. A search of the residence located a firearm believed to be associated to the incident. Nobody was injured in the events, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Cheryl Bush said in a press release. The 26-year-old is in custody, facing multiple firearms and threat-related charges. The suspect has a criminal record and is known to police. Photo: CTV UPDATE: 11:30 a.m. Vancouver police are continuing to investigate a fatal hit-and-run collision that resulted in the death of a skateboarder. Around 2:30 a.m., two men were skateboarding in the area of Heather Street and West 54th Avenue when one of the men was hit by a northbound car in the 6900 block of Heather Street. The driver of the vehicle left the scene without stopping. The skateboarder, a man in his twenties from Ontario, was rushed to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. The Vancouver Police Collision Investigation Unit remained at the scene throughout the night, and investigators are continuing to gather physical evidence from the scene and video from the surrounding neighbourhood, says Sgt. Randy Fincham. Police are looking for an older silver Mitsubishi car that is believed to have been involved in the collision, with fresh driver's side front-end and wheel damage.: Fincham says the cause of the collision has yet to be determined, but the driver is encouraged to come forward. Police are asking for anyone who sees a vehicle matching this description, or knows of a vehicle that matches this description that has since been taken off the road, or has been otherwise concealed, to call police. Anyone with information about this collision is asked to call the Vancouver Police at (604) 717-3012 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477. ORIGINAL: 6:45 a.m. A skateboarder was killed in a hit-and-run collision in Vancouver overnight. Vancouver Police spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham says two men were skateboarding in the area of Heather Street and West 52nd Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Sunday when one of them was hit by a car. The driver of the vehicle left the scene without stopping, Fincham said in a press release. The skateboarder died as a result of his injuries. The VPD collision investigation unit has been called to the scene. Further information is expected to be released this morning. In an effort to get British Columbians out their front doors and exploring their own province, Destination BC has launched a major in-province marketing and media campaign. From print to billboards to social media and videos, the campaign aims to grab the attention of residents within the provincial borders. Those interested are invited to visit the Explore BC website which offers trip ideas, travel tips and deals. Visitors are also encouraged to tag #explorebc in social media posts when they share their images and experiences, locally visitors are asked to tag #explorekelowna too. The video above was posted to the Destination British Columbia Facebook page last week, and it already has more than 1,200 shares. The video highlights areas from around the province, including a vineyard of the sunny Okanagan. British Columbia, wilderness at civilization's edge. Mountains, ocean, rainforest and cities beckon us to explore, writes Destination BC. Dr. Charles Robert Ireland, of Signal Mountain, died on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Alexian Village. He was born in 1919 in Tifton, Ga., to the late Eschol Lawson and Mary Gertrude Ireland. Dr. Ireland served in the Medical Administrative Corps in WWII. After a period of training at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine, he served as laboratory officer, Station Hospital, Mississippi Ordnance Plant, Flora, MS. After discharge from the service, he attended the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia, where he graduated with honors and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. After a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Cardiology he began his practice in Macon, GA, He participated in the establishment of a Coronary Care Unit (the second in the state) at the Medical Center of Central Georgia and the Coliseum Park Hospital. Dr. Ireland was a charter member of the Board of Trustees, Coliseum Park Hospital and served at various times as chief of Staff at Coliseum Park, the Medical Center, and Middle Georgia hospitals. He is a past president of the Bibb County Medical Society. He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlyne in 2007. He is survived by his son, Bob Jr. and his wife Terry, daughter, Kathleen Mary and her husband Brian, four grandchildren, Stuart, Anne, Eric, and Ed, and stepson, Robert Ronald Hudson. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Caritas or a charity of your choice. Funeral services will be held in the chapel at Alexian Village on Wednesday, April 20, at 11:15 a.m. Interment will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road. A sign in support of net neutrality stands outside the Federal Communications Commission headquarters on May 14, 2014, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg) If you thought the battle over net neutrality ended when the Federal Communications Commission slapped a series of unprecedented rules on Internet providers last year, think again. For months, the tech and telecom industries have been waiting for a court decision on net neutrality. It's the result of a legal appeal filed last year by companies such as AT&T and trade groups like the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. The lawsuit could overturn some or all of the rules, and nobody is quite sure how it'll turn out. Advertisement Any day now, the court is expected to release its decision - and many in Washington are bracing for the result. Here's why it's so important, and what you need to know to get caught up. 'Net neutrality.' Remind me again? Advertisement It's been a while, so as a refresher: Net neutrality is the concept that all Internet traffic should be treated equally by your broadband provider. Under this idea, companies such as Verizon and Comcast shouldn't slow down or block websites or online content that they don't like, and they shouldn't allow some to go faster just because they've paid a fee. Net neutrality advocates would consider this to be discriminatory behavior and say that it would completely change the nature of the Web. In light of that, the FCC moved to preempt that kind of activity with its rules last year. And then the industry sued? Yes, in hopes of getting those rules overturned. This is actually not the first time that net neutrality has been taken up in court: Today's rules are a direct result of the FCC having to redraft its regulations after Verizon successfully persuaded a court in 2014 to toss out many of the old rules on the books. So how is the court likely to rule now? Anything could happen. But court-watchers on both sides say that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will uphold the most important piece of the FCC's new regulations: reclassification. Reclassification? In order to legally impose a ban on the blocking and slowing of Internet traffic, the FCC needed to "reclassify" Internet providers under a different category of the law. By defining them differently, the FCC gained additional authority over broadband companies, allowing the agency to regulate them as it does with legacy telephone companies. Internet providers in the lawsuit said the agency didn't have the right to do what it did, and they worry that it gives the FCC too much power to impose new privacy requirements, levy fees or even directly set prices for service. That's one reason for the lawsuit. Advertisement So the court could uphold the reclassification decision? That's what many in Washington are expecting it to do, anyway. But, they add, the three judges may rule differently when it comes to the FCC's rules for wireless carriers such as Sprint and T-Mobile. Industry officials have argued that even if the FCC can legally reclassify providers of wired, fixed broadband, the law still doesn't allow the FCC to sweep wireless carriers under the same umbrella. The FCC has said that it is confident the rules will survive judicial scrutiny. Could this go to the Supreme Court? Maybe. Some legal scholars think it won't get that far. The ruling could spur Congress to finally write legislation addressing net neutrality that would resolve the impasse once and for all. Or, the Supreme Court may receive a petition but not act on it, as it generally tends to intervene when A) there's a clear question of constitutional interpretation involved or B) there are two competing rulings from different courts on the same issue. An appeal to the Supreme Court also carries a bit of risk for whoever is escalating the case. Here's why. With Justice Antonin Scalia's seat still empty, a 4-4 tie vote at the Supreme Court automatically allows the lower court's ruling to stand. Suppose you're an Internet provider and you "lose" at the D.C. Circuit. If you appeal to the Supreme Court and there's a split decision, you've still lost. Advertisement Still, other analysts believe that a Supreme Court confrontation is inevitable, because somebody could file a lawsuit on net neutrality in another appellate court, potentially provoking a circuit split for the high court to solve. Or they could bide their time until there's a ninth justice on the bench, which could offer more clarity as to the path forward. And there is a First Amendment component to the lawsuit that essentially amounts to Supreme Court bait, but it's unclear how much traction it will have with the highest court in the land. Sounds complicated. And you're not wrong. But important issues often are. A mother has accused two Georgia elementary school administrators of giving her an ultimatum: Allow your 5-year-old son to be paddled or face jail time. "They told me if he could not get a paddling he would have to be suspended and if he got suspended for even one day I WILL go to jail for truancy," Shana Marie Perez wrote in a Facebook posting that included video of son Thomas in a struggle with two administrators. "I could not go to jail or my kids would have nothing . . . I can't take care of my kids in jail." "I couldn't do anything to stop them," she added. Perez told NBC affiliate WXIA that the incident amounted to abuse and that she's considering legal action. The video, which has been shared nearly 60,000 times, was filmed Wednesday and shows the principal and the assistant principal of Jasper County Primary School in Monticello, Ga., attempting to bend the boy over a chair and spank him with a long wooden paddle as he resists and pleads for help. Perez, who pretended to be texting, filmed two more videos showing the altercation, which eventually resulted in the boy being paddled, according to NBC News. In response to the videos, the Jasper County School District posted a statement on its website last week saying the district is barred by state and federal law from commenting on the details of the incident. "The District respects every student's right to privacy," the statement said. "However, we can speak generally about the District's code of conduct which allows corporal punishment as one of the consequences for behavior. That code of conduct is provided to all parents. When corporal punishment is used, it is with parental consent." "The District is investigating the incident and looking into its discipline policies at this time," the statement added. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office released this statement in response to the controversy on their Facebook page. Perez told WXIA that the incident was the culmination of an ongoing dispute she has had with her son's principal over his spotty attendance record. She claims a medical problem has resulted in the boy missing 18 days of school this year, but administrators had her arrested for truancy, the station reported. When her son faced punishment for a disciplinary problem that arose last week, she told the station, administrators informed her that if she attempted to stop them from paddling her son, the boy would be suspended. Perez was out on bond when the incident occurred and feared that a suspension would land her behind bars, which would force her to miss work and be unable to take care of her children. Perez told WXIA that she declined at the beginning of the year to give school administrators permission to use corporal punishment. She said that when she met with administrators last week to discuss the recent disciplinary issue, she felt helpless to stop administrators from paddling her son. She called what happened "emotionally devastating." If she could go back, she said, she would have stopped the paddling - regardless of the possibility of landing in jail. "I feel like she manipulated me," Perez told the station, referring to the principal. "She knew that I was scared. She kept saying he couldn't miss any more days of school." "She said nothing is going to stop him - not a timeout, not an ISS, nothing but a paddle - because he doesn't have a consequence at school." The most widely shared video shows Principal Pam Edge and the assistant principal, Lynn McElheney, attempting to hold Thomas down while they calmly tell him that he's going to be paddled. McElheney tells Thomas that they will hit him only once on the buttocks. "Unless you wiggle around," Edge adds. While they struggle to keep Thomas still, he screams and squirms before appealing to his mother. "Mommy, help me," he cries. The fight to keep the doors open at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, which has been called the mother church of Polish parishes on the city's West and South sides, is the latest in a series of ongoing skirmishes between historic preservationists and church officials. The scaffolding that shrouds the church's twin 185-foot towers symbolizes a broader conundrum: Which churches should be saved? And how to go about saving them? The uniform and portrait of Army Specialist Christopher Patterson was front and center during a ceremony Saturday in North Aurora. (Linda Girardi / Beacon-News) A section of Illinois 31 in North Aurora was renamed Saturday to honor Army Spc. Christopher Patterson in a ceremony attended by about 250 people, including Gov. Bruce Rauner. Patterson was 20 years old when the Humvee in which he was riding struck an explosive device in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan on Jan. 6, 2012, killing him and three other members of the 713th Engineer Company on board. The West Aurora graduate was a member of the Indiana National Guard. Advertisement "I never thought a day like today would happen to my family," Mary Patterson said of her son's death and the subsequent honor he received. Christopher Patterson's family, friends, military colleagues, Valparaiso University classmates and local dignitaries attended the ceremony at the northeast corner of Illinois 31 and State Street. West Aurora Air Force JROTC members held U.S. flags during a staged procession to the site. Advertisement "My hope is every time you drive down this road and see the signage, you will think of all those who paid the ultimate price for your freedoms," Mary Patterson told those gathered. "Christopher, you will always be in my heart. May your love of humanity be with all those who read this sign in the future." Rauner rode with about 50 motorcyclists from the Illinois Patriot Guard in a motorcade that escorted Patterson family members from their home to the staging area. A soldier's uniform and Christopher Patterson's portrait were front and center. A U.S. flag measuring 60 feet by 30 feet erected by the North Aurora Fire Department waved in the breeze over the gathering. Gold Star families filled the first three rows of seats. Patterson was studying music at Valparaiso University in Indiana when he was deployed to Afghanistan. "His last concerts will always be close to my heart. I loved hearing his tenor voice I could usually pick it out of the choir," Mary Patterson said. "I will never forget his high school solo. It brought tears to my eyes because it was so beautiful." Her son had a strong faith and brought others "to Christ by sharing Bible verses with them," she said. He talked about becoming a chaplain when he joined the Army, she said. "Christopher would always have a smile or hug if he saw people were sad. ... He was special to so many. He served his country because it was the right thing to do," his mother said. Robert Patterson described his son as thoughtful and selfless. "To him, it was about everyone else. He wanted to be sure everyone succeeded. That's what drives me today," he said. Advertisement Rauner said he knew the sacrifice the Patterson family made, saying, "There is a hole in your hearts no one can fill." He also recognized the Gold Star families in attendance. "We can never bring your loved ones back, but what we can commit to do is never forget," Rauner said. Army veteran Douglas Rachowicz, the sole survivor of the Humvee attack, described Christopher Patterson as a highly skilled soldier who often would assist others in areas that were not "in their lane." Renaming part of a road in Patterson's hometown was fitting for the kind of person he was, Rachowicz said. "Nothing will ever be enough because we can't bring him back, but this is definitely a nice way to remember him," the Army veteran said. He wears a memory bracelet with the names of his comrades killed that day. The other three who died were Staff Sgt. Jonathan Metzger, Sgt. Brian Leonhardt and Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr. Advertisement Patriot Guard Capt. David Grier approached the governor's office about renaming part of Illinois 31 to honor the fallen soldier. "The Patterson family paid the ultimate price. No one should ever have to bury a son," Grier said after the ceremony. Alums from Patterson's Valparaiso music fraternity Matthew Maske, of Hampshire, and Mark Mackeben, of Yorkville were among those who attended the event. The group opened the ceremonies with an a capella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. U.S. Marines veteran Carl Patterson, 23, received word of his brother's death the day he finished boot camp and officially became a Marine. "I am glad we can do this. I hate that we have to do this," he said, speaking after the ceremony. "Chris knew life was about doing what you can for your fellow man. ... That's how he lived his life." Advertisement State Reps. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora; Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego; and Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago; and state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, attended the event, as did North Aurora Mayor Dale Berman. Holmes said she did not know Christopher Patterson personally but that did not diminish her "debt of gratitude" for the ultimate sacrifice the young man paid for his country. "For families, the loss never goes away," Holmes said. "There will always be an empty place at the holiday table, and the hole in their hearts can never be filled, especially for a young man whose life shone as brightly and as honorable as Christopher's," Holmes said. Chapa LaVia, an Army veteran, presented the House resolution designating the roadway as Spc. Christopher A. Patterson Memorial Highway. The designation will remain "for eternity," she said. Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. After many years of battling bipolar disorder, Kevin Hines jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge only to survive and make it his life's mission to tell his story in the hopes of helping others living with mental illness. He will speak to students during the day, and the public is invited to hear him at no cost at 7 p.m. April 28 at East Aurora High School. A 54-year-old Antioch Township woman hit a man with a pipe then shot him in the hand during an early Saturday domestic dispute, police said. Vickie V. Orsini-Harvey and the man had gotten into an argument that escalated when she hit him with a metal pipe at her home in the 25400 block of West Hilldale Avenue, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's office. Advertisement Orsini-Harvey then left the room to get a handgun, which she fired twice about 12:30 a.m., police said. The first shot damaged her home and the second struck the man in the hand, according to the release. The man, who police did not identify, called 911 and an ambulance took him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he was treated and released, police said. Advertisement Orsini-Harvey "admitted her role in the shooting" and was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated domestic battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to the release. She is being held at the Lake County Jail on $500,000.00 bail and scheduled to be back in court May 10. emcoleman@tribpub.com Twitter @mekcoleman You are here: Home A college student in southwest China's Sichuan Province remains in police custody after he allegedly stabbed his roommate to death on March 27. Police of Longquanyi district of Chengdu city on Friday confirmed the detention and the incident. The victim, identified by his surname Lu, was a freshman in Sichuan Normal University. He was stabbed over 50 times and beheaded by his roommate, identified by the surname Teng, around midnight, according to Lu's cousin who was informed of the murder by the university at 1:10 a.m. on March 28. Lu, born in 1995 in Gansu Province, was raised by his uncle, following his father's death when he was just a toddler. The cousin said Lu had been outgoing and friendly. Lu allegedly got into an altercation with Teng on March 26, as Teng objected to Lu singing in the dormitory, but two other roommates helped the two make amends. Teng left the campus on March 27, and returned to his dormitory late at night, and asked Lu to accompany him to a nearby study room. Teng later returned to the dormitory, asking the other roommates to call the police and went back to the study room and locked the door. Teng was arrested at the school. Campus murders resulting from dormitory disagreements in recent years have raised concerns about students' psychological state and interpersonal relationships. In 2004, Ma Jiajue, 23, a biochemistry student at southwest China's Yunnan University, killed four roommates after what were described as "trivial squabbles." Another famous case involved a medical student ,Lin Senhao, who poisoned his roommate Huang Yang at Fudan University in Shanghai in 2013. A Chinese mainland spokesman on Saturday urged Taiwan to give fraud suspects "the punishment they deserve," stressing that the release of them will only make fraud more rampant and harm cross-Strait law enforcement cooperation. Taiwan police earlier on Saturday released 20 fraud suspects who were deported from Malaysia Friday evening, citing a lack of evidence. They were among 52 people from Taiwan arrested in Malaysia for suspected telecommunication fraud. "By releasing the suspects, Taiwan authorities disregarded many victims' interests and harmed them a second time. It also harmed the two sides' cooperation in jointly cracking down on crimes," said An Fengshan, the spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. Late last month, Malaysian and Chinese mainland police cooperated on an investigation into five transnational telecommunication fraud cases involving victims on the mainland, and arrested a total of 119 suspects, including 65 from the mainland, 52 from Taiwan and two from Malaysia. The spokesman urged Taiwan to "immediately rectify their mistakes, eliminate the adverse impact, seriously pursue these suspects' wrongdoings and give them the punishment they deserve," so as to protect the victims' interests and prevent greater damage to the development of cross-Strait relations. Syndicates led by suspects from Taiwan and based in Southeast Asia, Africa and Oceania have been falsely presenting themselves as law enforcement officers to extort money from people on the Chinese mainland through telephone calls, according to the police. In the past few years, police from the mainland and Taiwan have arrested more than 7,700 suspects, about 4,600 from Taiwan, in 47 joint operations to fight telecom fraud based in Southeast Asia. In many cases handled by Taiwan judicial organs, Taiwan suspects were not brought to justice and victims on the mainland were unable to retrieve their lost money, An said earlier this week. Kenyan police deported 77 Chinese telecom fraud suspects, including 45 Taiwanese, to the Chinese mainland over the past week. Countdown [By Zhai Haijun / China.org.cn] If the European Union was a nation it would have the largest economy in the world; but a century after the First World War, can Europe produce enduring prosperity and permanent peace? Over the last five centuries, European states unified the world under their dominion but internal conflicts and contradictions dominate European history. And the 52 sovereign states of Europe are divided by geographical complexities and long-term historical conflicts that are sporadically reawakened and undermine prospects for unity. Norman Angell's 1910 book, "The Great Illusion," argued that the integration and interdependence of Europe would prevent future wars. However, between 1914 and 1945, wars and political conflicts killed 100 million Europeans. From 1945 until the early 1990s, the continent was occupied by the Soviet Union and the United States. This maintained a peaceful balance of power based on the fear of a nuclear war - driven by the conflict between contradictory socio-economic systems. At that time, the idea of a unified Western Europe was supported and promoted by the United States. After the collapse of the Communist-led governments in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, members of the European Union signed the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. It was designed to foster prosperity and to draw new European states into an ever-closer union. However, the United States orchestrated a number of so-called "color revolutions" in Ukraine, Georgia, and other new countries surrounding Russia. In 2008, the Russian invasion of Georgia showed that Russia would not take this encroachment into their previous spheres of influence lying down. When the 2008 economic crisis struck, it shattered illusions of economic stability and competence in Western capitalism. Europeans lacked a concentrated and unified means of interstate decision-making to contain and control the crisis. This is largely because the interests of different European capitalist states conflicted with each other. Germanic political and economic structures are based on a different model than U.S. capitalism. Indeed, the Germanic and American models can be seen as two basic but distinct types of capitalism, the Germanic variety being more controlled and interventionist and the U.S. variety being more closely aligned to free market philosophy. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. You are here: Home Flash Suspected Rwandan rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) attacked a police station in overnight raid in western Rwanda, the army said on Saturday. "During the night of 15-16 April 2016, suspected FDLR terrorists elements infiltrated our country from the Democratic Republic of Congo and attacked a Rwanda National Police Station in Rubavu District, Bugeshi Sector, Kabumba Cell," Lt Col Rene Ngendahimana, the deputy army spokesman said in a statement. He said the attackers were repulsed back by National Defense and Security Forces to DR Congo, and the situation on the ground was reported to be under full control. The statement said any other development related to the incident will be communicated later. Bugeshi Sector lies on the Rwanda-DR Congo border where the rebels were blamed for attacks and sometimes fire exchanges with Rwandan army. FDLR is made up of elements blamed for the 1994 genocide. Flash Jean-Marc Ayrault, French Foreign Minister(2nd L) and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier(1st R) attend a press conference in Tripoli, Libya on April 16, 2016. French and German Foreign Ministers on Saturday said their countries will support the new Libyan government.(Xinhua/Hamza Turkia) French and German foreign ministers on Saturday flew to Libya in a sign to support government unity which they called "a major step towards establishing a government representing the whole of Libya." French top diplomat Jean-Marc Ayrault and his German counterpart Walter Steinmeier, expressed full support to Libya and vowed their determination to help to restore security, fight terrorism and provide public services for the benefit of all Libyans, France's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Ayrault and Steinmeier also called on all parties in Libya "to act responsibly at this decisive time for the future of their country by facilitating an immediate peaceful handover of power and by providing full support to the government of national accord." Unity government headed by Fayyez Sarraj, should "swiftly assume their rightful role in exerting sole control over all public bodies and security and military forces in Libya, in order to respond to the numerous expectations of the Libyan people, " they added. The top diplomats of Europe's two key powers pledged to reopen their embassies in the North African country "as soon as security conditions would allow," according to the statement. Since Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011, Libya has been plunged into chaotic violence, putting at risk the security in the Maghreb region. After four-year-long political vacuum, delegates from Libya's rival factions signed, on December 2015, a UN-brokered deal to form a national unity government. Parents cry after confirming that their daughter was found dead at their collapsed house after earthquakes in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo April 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] A total of 41 people have been killed in two strong earthquakes in Japan. At least 32 people were confirmed dead after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan's southwestern Kumamoto Prefecture in the early hours of Saturday. The Japanese Meteorological Agency said that the massive quake on Saturday was the main event while the 6.5-magnitude quake earlier that killed at least 9 people was a foreshock. The agency also warned that severe aftershocks might still follow, and as heavy wind and rain was predicted in the Kyushu area from Saturday night, residents should be wary of landslides and other secondary disasters. The prefectural governments of Kumamoto and Oita have required 160,000 residents in the danger zones to evacuate. The 7.3 magnitude quake that struck Kumamoto at the depth of about 12 kilometers early on Saturday triggered a tsunami warning which was later lifted. Numerous aftershocks followed the massive quake. As of 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, more than 30 shocks over magnitude 4 have been reported, causing extensive damages to the stricken region. Local media also reported a "small-scale" eruption at Mount Aso, a large active volcano in Kumamoto. The Japanese Meteorological Agency said later that the volcano was still active on Saturday afternoon but the eruption was not linked to the quakes. Over 2,000 people were reported injured in the quakes. In Kumamoto Prefecture, some 91,000 people were evacuated to over 680 shelters, and over 1,700 houses damaged, including 1,400 in the village of Nishihara. BEIJING -- China has banned unauthorized online lottery sales, citing risks to lottery players' interests The Ministry of Finance pointed to "rampant irregularities" in online lottery sales and said that lottery sales organizations have also entrusted Internet companies with sales services without official authorization. According to a statement, some Internet companies have even sold fraudulent lottery tickets. Online lottery sales must now be officially approved by authorities including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the General Administration of Sport and the Ministry of Finance. Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin said recently that the central government would spend 100 billion yuan ($15.3 billion) in the next two years to help resettle 1.8 million laid-off workers in coal, steel and other sectors that suffer from overcapacity. This shows the central authorities' determination to reduce overcapacity as well as resettle laid-off workers. But the resettlement of laid-off workers should not depend only on the central government's 100 billion yuan allocation. Enterprises have to play the principal role in the resettlement, and local governments should plan and coordinate the entire process. Four essential arrangements have to be made for the resettlement of laid-off workers in industries with overcapacity: internal arrangements in enterprises, job transfer and start-ups, early retirement schemes, and creation of public welfare posts. The parties involved in the process should shoulder their responsibilities according to the demands of the arrangement plans, and the resettlement fund should be channeled to the laid-off workers no matter which plan they choose. Internal arrangement in enterprises means enterprises should create new posts depending on their existing facilities and the technologies they use, in order to help laid-off workers get new jobs. In this process, the enterprises have to take the major responsibility and inject more funds to ensure laid-off workers are re-employed, and local authorities should offer preferential policies, funding support and subsidy to the enterprises. The enterprises should also use more resources to start targeted job-transfer training programs for workers who are likely to be laid off. Local governments, on their part, should start re-employment support programs, and expand their special re-employment and unemployment insurance funds. And to make the entire process effective, the authorities should strengthen monitoring and supervision of the support programs. For those workers who will retire within five years and could voluntarily seek early retirement, the enterprises could sign agreements with them to change the labor contracts according to the law. However, the enterprises still have to provide the basic living allowance to such workers and pay their basic pension insurance and medical insurance premiums. In case of enterprises that are likely to close down, they should terminate the labor contracts according to the law with employees who are close to the retirement age and ensure the resettlement funds are directed to them. As far as the workers are concerned, they could choose to get one-time monetary compensation, or receive basic living allowance from government-appointed organizations till they reach the retirement age. During this period, their basic living allowance, and pension and medical insurance premiums have to be paid by the government-appointed organizations using the enterprises' funds earmarked for the purpose. Since enterprises play a big role in reducing overcapacity, they should offer monetary compensation to laid-off workers, and pay their due salaries and social insurance premiums as well. Moreover, local governments should improve their tax and financial policies to help enterprises reduce overcapacity according to the central government's guideline. The local authorities, for example, could offer rewards to industries that are under huge pressure to resettle laid-off workers, in a bid to encourage enterprises to accomplish the task. And local governments are responsible for the resettlement of laid-off workers in respect of social security. The authority should encourage employees to join social insurance project, make sure they enjoy the benefit of social insurance including unemployment insurance and re-employment supportive policies, and guarantee the basic living of laid-off workers with financial difficulties. The central government, too, has responsibilities to fulfill. It should establish special funds, for instance, to guide, support and reward those enterprises that reduce overcapacity through mergers and acquisitions, debt restructuring and bankruptcy liquidation. The resettlement funds for laid-off workers are aimed at protecting workers' vital interests, and helping expedite reform and industrial restructuring. Therefore, the responsibilities of enterprises, the central government and local governments should be clearly demarcated, in order to prevent one party from passing the buck to another, motivate all parties involved to deliver results and raise funds for the resettlement of laid-off workers. The author is deputy director of Social Security Research Institute, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Taiwan police on Saturday released 20 fraud suspects who were deported from Malaysia Friday evening, citing a lack of evidence. Most of the suspects wore masks upon their arrival at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. Taiwan police released all of them at about 2 a.m. Saturday due to "incomplete evidence for any crime and a lack of arrest warrants." They were among 52 people from Taiwan arrested in Malaysia for suspected telecommunication fraud. Late last month, Malaysian and Chinese mainland police cooperated on an investigation into five transnational telecommunication fraud cases involving victims on the mainland, and arrested a total of 119 suspects, including 65 from the mainland, 52 from Taiwan and two from Malaysia. Chang'an Automobile's driverless cars (silver cars at the bottom lane) run across the Yellow River Bridge on Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, April 15, 2016. Two driverless cars produced by Chang'an Automobile in China started a 2,000-km test drive from Chongqing to China's capital Beijing on April 12 and arrived in Beijing on April 16. Chang'an is aiming to put driverless cars into commercial use in 2018. Worldwide, at least 18 companies are developing autonomous cars, including BMW, Audi and Toyota. China's contenders include auto makers BAIC group, GAC Group, SAIC Motor, Chang'an and BYD. [Photo/Xinhua] CHONGQING - Two self-driving cars on Saturday afternoon wrapped up a 2,000-km (1,240 miles) journey in China's first long-distance road test for autonomous vehicles. The vehicles, produced by Chang'an Automobile, left the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing on Tuesday and arrived at Beijing at about 5 p.m. Saturday. The cars successfully drove distance from other vehicles, changed lanes, overtook and performed other maneuvers including three-point turns automatically but still need the help of a driver in certain road sections and gas stations, the designers said. The maximum speed of the cars reached 120 kilometers per hour. Tan Benhong, deputy director of the Chang'an Automobile Engineering & Research Institute, said they would improve the technologies based on the results of the test and then to prepare for mass production. Chang'an plans to put driverless cars into commercial use in 2018, Tan said. Worldwide, at least 18 companies are developing autonomous cars, including BMW, Audi and Toyota. China's contenders include auto makers BAIC group, GAC Group, SAIC Motor, Chang'an and BYD. A pedestrian looks at his smartphone in front of an advertisement for taxi-hailing app Uber in Jinan city, east China's Shandong province, in this Dec 15, 2014 file photo. [Photo/IC] BEIJING - Undaunted by ride-hailing app Didi's dominance in the Chinese market, Uber sees potential to chip away at the company's virtual monopoly outside first-tier cities. Uber said on Thursday its ride-hailing service in Hefei, provincial capital of east China's Anhui Province, grew by over 30 percent daily since launching in March, the fastest uptake rate the company has seen in about 400 cities around the world where it operates. Uber now accounts for more than 50 percent of ride-hailing service in the city. UberPool, which allows drivers to pick up more than one paying passengers at a time, was launched last year to compete directly with Didi in ride-sharing services. China's "sharing economy" is booming, and ride services are gaining popularity as an alternative to public transportation for daily commutes. While conventional wisdom holds that top-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are the easiest places for a business to launch in China, Uber has had far better success in China's second- and third-tier cities, said Wen Yilong, who runs Uber's Hefei operations, in a company press release. Hangzhou in eastern China and the southwestern economic powerhouse Chengdu, both second-tier cities, used to be Uber's two best performing cities in the world. Smartphones and mobile Internet are closing the gap between China's megacities and the rest. That puts cities big and small on the same starting line because "apps used by people in large cities are also used by their peers in small cities," Wen said. Like many foreign companies, Uber has made inroads into the Chinese market through top-tier cities since 2014 and began to penetrate smaller cities during the second half of last year. The ride-hailing app seeks to expand its presence in 100 Chinese cities this year, including previously uncovered northeastern and western regions. Uber's ride-hailing service is currently available in 50 cities. Rival Didi has a far bigger presence, operating in more than 400 Chinese cities and held 84.1 percent of the ride-hailing market nationwide as of February, according to data compiled by iResearch. Liu Zhen, head of strategy for Uber China, said the company is eyeing a disciplined expansion in China and will weigh the decision to enter new cities based on a number of criteria, including local population, level of development and consumption patterns. Uber's global CEO Travis Kalanick said last month that the company is using profits earned from other foreign markets to fund operations in China, where he thinks competition and growth are both unrivaled. File photo of Shao Ziyan. [Photo from web] A woman died at the young age of around 20 but not before giving new life not only to a pair of twins, but also to four other people. Shao Ziyan had been in coma since Feb 23 when she gave birth to twin boys. After 53 days of treatment at intensive care unit (ICU), her heart stopped beating at 10:01 am April 15, Friday. Hours later, her heart, kidneys and liver were successfully transplanted to four people. Her corneas were also donated and frozen and would be used in the future, local online news portal in Zhejiang province zjol.com.cn reported Saturday. Shao's story was shared on the social media Friday night by doctors and moved many people. Donations surged since then and exceeded 230,000 yuan ($35,500) by Saturday. Shao's family launched an online donation appeal about six days ago. The story of the young mother who died at a blooming age is sad. She met and fell in love with hair stylist Chen Shanhai in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, two years ago and they decided to marry in the second half of this year after childbirth. However, Shao was diagnosed with acute liver enlargement due to pregnancy on Feb 22, and multiple organs failure. It was more than 40 days before the expected date of delivery, and both she and the unborn children were in critical conditions. The boys were safely born in C-Section the next day and were hospitalized for about one month and recovered from infections accompanying early birth. Shao was not as lucky as her sons. She had been in deep coma since then. The hospital in Jiaxing pronounced her brain dead and the family transferred her to a better hospital in Hangzhou, the provincial capital, on April 12 to have a final try. "The doctor told us that by donating organs the life of my daughter could be resumed in other people. It feels like she were still alive and had never left me," Shao Wanhua, Shao's father, said. It is extremely difficult in China to get donated organs, according to Dr Wu Xiaoliang with the First Hospital of Zhejiang Province in Hangzhou. Only one in 30-50 patients could get transplanted organs, and currently there are more than 2,000 patients waiting for organs in the hospital, said Wu. China has faced a severe shortage of donated organs because of traditional beliefs that many people cannot accept the idea of their body being buried incomplete. Because of the lack of organs, some patients have had to wait for months or even years for suitable organs. Only two in every one million deaths said they would donate organs after death in China, compared to 30 in developed countries, according to Wu. The organ donation system has developed fast since China decided to stop using organs from executed prisoners for transplant surgery on Jan 1 last year, making voluntary donations from citizens the only source, Huang Jiefu, chairman of the National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, said earlier this month. TAIPEI -- Political parties and media outlets in Taiwan have denounced telecom fraud and said the suspects must be brought to justice, after Taiwan police on Saturday released 20 fraud suspects who were deported from Malaysia. The Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday released a statement saying that the party was concerned about the harm born by the victims and the negative impact the fraudsters' actions have had on the image of the island. The party called for a joint denouncement of the criminals and called for justice to be served. Hung Hsiu-chu, the newly-elected chair of the KMT, warned that Taiwan should avoid becoming known as an "exporter of fraud rings." Taiwan police on Saturday released 20 fraud suspects who had been deported from Malaysia Friday evening, citing a lack of evidence. They were among 52 people from Taiwan arrested in Malaysia for suspected telecommunication fraud. Taiwan's New Party said the immediate release of the fraud suspects at the airport triggered public outcry from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. The prevalence of fraud rings in Taiwan have harmed numerous innocent people across the Strait, it said, adding the general public in Taiwan were outraged by the light punishment and what appeared to be the condoning of criminal activity. An article carried by Taiwan's Want Daily newspaper said Taiwan's handling of the fraud suspects rubbed salt into the wounds of the victim, making the island synonymous with the title: "a heaven for fraudsters." Netizens in Taiwan also condemned the crimes and called for penalties for any law breakers. MOSCOW -- Russia will work together with China to safeguard regional peace and international security, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov has said. The direction and form of Russia-China military cooperation have been determined by the two countries' heads of state, Antonov said Friday during a joint interview with Xinhua and China Central Television (CCTV). "The cooperation between China and Russia in the military sphere is not directed against someone," he said. "Our interaction is aimed at strengthening the security of our countries, taking into account the international obligations of China and Russia, and the fact that both countries are permanent UN Security Council members," he added. Antonov went on praising the two countries' joint military activities, including various kinds of drills, which "secure the best compatibility and mutual understanding of our armed forces." Moreover, he said, multilateral military cooperation has improved markedly in the past three years within such frameworks as the UN Security Council, the UN Conference on Disarmament, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, a thriving cooperation mechanism that groups the world's five leading emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. "A more tight interaction between the military departments corresponds to the national interests of all the SCO member countries, and we expect this interaction to proceed," Antonov said. With more and more interaction between the Russian and Chinese defense ministries every year, Antonov said, prospects for cooperation with China have become much brighter. "There is a lot we can do together to strengthen security of China and the Russian Federation," he said when particularly mentioning the threat of terrorism in the region, which probably could spill over from the unstable Afghanistan. The issue of fighting terrorism has been chosen as a key topic for the Fifth Moscow International Security Conference scheduled for April 27-28, Antonov said. The anti-terror fight "requires common approaches, common understanding and common solutions," Antonov said, noting that several countries in the Asia-Pacific region are infiltrated by militants of Daesh, also known as the Islamic State or IS. He also blamed the United States for planning to deploy elements of a missile defense system in the Asia-Pacific region, which, besides presenting a direct threat to China and Russia, has a wider implication as to undermining the global security system. By saturating the region with warships, fighters and bombers and setting up different kinds of military bases, the United States does not contribute to strengthening regional peace and security, Antonov said. Countries in the region should take the initiative and make joint efforts for the establishment of a new and broader security system, he noted. Debris is pictured after an earthquake struck off Ecuador's Pacific coast, at Tarqui neighborhood in Manta April 17, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] QUITO -- The strongest earthquake to jolt Ecuador in decades has killed 233 people, the country's President Rafael Correa said on Sunday, as rescuers raced to dig out survivors trapped in the rubble. At least 233 people have been confirmed dead so far, up from an initial count of 77 dead and nearly 600 wounded, Correa wrote on Twitter while flying back from Italy to deal with the 7.8-magnitude temblor which struck off the country's Pacific coast Saturday night. Vice President Jorge Glas was heading to Portoviejo, the hard-struck city on the Pacific coast, Correa added. The earthquake struck at 18:58 local time (2358 GMT) with its epicenter at a depth of 10 kilometers located in northwest of Ecuador's coast. The quake, felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, cracked highways and collapsed buildings in a swath of western towns, causing panic as far away as in the capital city of Quito when buildings were swayed. A state of emergency has been declared in six provinces. There were deaths in the cities of Manta, Portoviejo and Guayaquil, all of which are located several hundred kilometers from the center of the quake. Pedernales, a tourist spot town of 40,000 near the quake's epicenter, were largely flattened. The quake was the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979 and accessing the disaster zone was extremely difficult due to landslides in the hilly country. Up to now, over 135 aftershocks, some as strong as 5.6 on the Richter scale, have been reported in the wake of Saturday's powerful quake, the country's seismological institute said. Ecuador's Risk Management agency said 10,000 armed forces have been deployed to help and 3,700 national police and firefighters were heading to the towns of Manabi, Esmeraldas and Guayas. In addition, five shelters have been set up for evacuation. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami threat from the quake has now mostly passed. Police officers check a collapsed house after an earthquake in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo April 17, 2016.[Photo/Agencies] A group of 20 Chinese tourists have been moved away from an earthquake-hit area of Japan, China's consulate-general in Fukuoka said on Sunday. The tourists were moved on Saturday, with weekend quakes also reported in Ecuador in South America and the Pacific island nation of Tonga. The consulate-general warned Chinese tourists not to visit the Kyushu area of Japan, where a quake jolted Kumamoto prefecture on Thursday night. Forty-one people were killed and 1,500 injured. There were no reports of Chinese casualties. On Saturday morning, a magnitude-7.3 quake hit Kyushu's other prefectures of Oita, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. In Ecuador, the Risk Management Agency said 10,000 armed forces personnel were deployed to help people in a coastal area stuck by a magnitude-7.8 quake. The country's vice-president put the death toll at 77, with 588 people injured. A magnitude-6.1 quake hit Tonga on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said. It struck 277 kilometers southeast of the capital Nuku'alofa at a depth of 66 kilometers. In Japan, rail services on the Kyushu Shinkansen line were suspended and road links cut. The Chinese consulate-general in Fukuoka, which sent two teams to Kumamoto prefecture, said it was trying to help Chinese citizens, Chinese employees in the China-funded companies and travelers from the country. The Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Saturday asked Chinese citizens in Japan to take measures to safeguard themselves from earthquakes and other disasters. Japanese seismologists fear that a series of quakes jolting Kyushu could trigger tremors elsewhere on the southwestern island, according to the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun. The epicenter of Thursday's quake is gradually moving eastward, Ichiro Kawasaki, professor emeritus of seismology at Kyoto University, was quoted by the newspaper as saying. He said that when a quake occurs, different pressure is exerted on other faults around it, which could trigger further quakes. In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, Takashi Furumura, a professor of seismology at the University of Tokyo, said Thursday's quake occurred in an area with a complex structure of multiple fault lines running next to each other. "There is a possibility of a larger aftershock than what we have seen so far, and vigilance is needed," Furumura said. The Japanese government mobilized 25,000 members of the Self-Defense Forces for rescue operations in the disaster-stricken areas. Cheng Yonghua, China's ambassador to Japan, sent a letter of sympathy to Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima on Friday, expressing his condolences to families of those who died. Residents stand in front of the debris of houses after an earthquake in the city of Chone, Manabi Province, Ecuador, April 17, 2016. The strongest earthquake to jolt Ecuador in decades has killed 233 people, the country's President Rafael Correa said on Sunday, as rescuers raced to dig out survivors trapped in the rubble. [Photo/Xinhua] QUITO - The strongest earthquake to jolt Ecuador in decades has killed 262 people, as rescuers raced to dig out survivors trapped in the rubble. The official death toll from Saturday's devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake has risen to 262 dead and 2,527 injured, Vice-President Jorge Glas, visiting the quake zone, said on Sunday. At a press conference broadcast live on television, Glas said the priority was to continue searching for survivors in the rubble and to help the injured. The earthquake struck at 18:58 local time Saturday (2358 GMT) with its epicenter at a depth of 10 kilometers located in northwest of Ecuador's coast. The temblor so far has generated at least 189 aftershocks of various strength. The quake, felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, cracked highways and collapsed buildings in a swath of western towns, causing panic as far away as in the capital city of Quito when buildings were swayed. Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in six provinces and has mobilized around 14,000 army and public security personnel to affected areas. "We will overcome this. I send a message of calm and my deep solidarity to those who lost their relatives," said Glas, who is in charge of coordinating emergency response. Glas visited the affected cities of Manta and Portoviejo in the northeastern province of Manabi, the hardest-hit and difficult to reach due to damaged highways. "We are facing logistical difficulties," said Glas, noting that specialized rescue teams have reached the worst-hit zones, with technologies and supplies. (Photo : GETTY IMAGES) Giants pandas pause from eating bamboo in an enclosure at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on June 30, 2015 in Chengdu, China. Twin female cubs were born by artificial insemination to seven-year-old Kelin at the center on June 22. China's Sichuan province is home to the majority of the the world's nearly 1,900 endangered giant pandas. Advertisement Shanghai Zoo will be the home of two male giant pandas starting on Sunday after the zoo's two female giant pandas left on Friday morning. Ya'er and Xing'er came from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding located in Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Chengdu is the largest hub for giant pandas in the mainland. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The two male pandas have distinguished behaviors, according to park officials. Ya'er is described as curious and active, while Xing'er always climb trees. "Ya'er is a naughty boy and he liked romping with his mother in childhood, while Xing'er loves rolling around and playing in water," said Pan Xiuwen, a park official in Shanghai Zoo. The two giant pandas left Chengdu on Saturday and arrived in Shanghai on Sunday night. Predecessors Two female giant pandas previously lived in Shanghai Zoo, namely Shuangxin and Shuangxi. The twins were born in August of 2011 and were transferred to Shanghai in 2014. Shuangxin and Shuangxi are already four years old, the age when giant pandas reach sexual maturity. They were sent back to Chengdu where they will be partnered with their mates to procreate. The twins were put on a flight to Chengdu on Friday morning after eating apples, their favorite food, and undergoing medical checkups. However, the two did not went quietly. "Shuangxin is a good girl and always listen to us, but she did not cooperate this time. She probably knew it was her last day here," zookeeper Tang Pinggui said. Advertisement TagsGiant Panda, giant pandas in Chengdu, Ya'er, Xing'er, Shanghai Zoo, breeding giant pandas, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuna province (Photo : Weibo) Customs officials in Chengdu intercepted live ants from Germany. Advertisement Customs authorities in Chengdu said on Saturday that customs officers found more than 100 live ants in a package that came from Germany. This is the second time in less than a year that live ants were sent to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Officials said that each black ant were 1.5 to two centimeters long. The ants were contained in test tubes with some water. The species of the ants are still unknown. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Three ant queens measuring three centimers long were also found. Small ants have hatched from the ant queens' eggs. On October 30, Chengdu customs also seized a parcel filled with 400 live black ants around 1.5 to 2 centimeter long and were also sealed in a test tube. Authorities were able to trace the package and found out that another similar delivery will arrive on November 1. Another 400 black ants were confiscated in the second package. Both were addressed to the same recipient, who did not have a live animal quarantine license. The packages came from Hamburg, Germany, and was shipped to Dubai and South Korea before arriving in China. The ants were identified as Paraponera clavata ants, commonly known as bullet ants due to their powerful venom. They also reproduce rapidly, with the queen laying up to 2,000 eggs each day. It is unclear if the recipient of the latest confiscated ants is also the recipient of the two previous packages. The first quarter of 2016 saw 707 batches of non-native hazardous plants and animals trying to enter Henan province, its quarantine bureau said. "At least 400 alien species of animals, plants and microorganisms have invaded China. Of the globe's 100 most dangerous alien species, more than 50 have invaded China," said Chen Hai, head of the Sichuan quarantine bureau. Ants such as the bullet ants are not native to China and can hurt the environment as it has no natural predator in the country. Advertisement Tagslive ants, weird news in China, live ants in customs, ants found in package, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China customs officials, Germany China, hamburg (Photo : Reuters) Google is withdrawing support for Adobe's Flash Player on Chrome. Advertisement Tech companies are always pushing customers to, as much as possible, use newer versions of softwares and hardwares. True to this practice, Google has announced that its flagship Internet browser, Chrome, will drop support for operating systems older than the Windows 7 and the Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement With this announcement from Google, the Chrome browser will no longer support Windows XP, Windows Vista and older Windows operating systems. On the side of the Mac, any versions of the Apple operating system that are older than the Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks will no longer be supported as well. Google Chrome is considered by many tech analysts as the most popular Internet browser. Due to rampant incidents of online hacking and identity theft, Google announced that the recently released Chrome version 50 will require a computer that runs at least on Windows 7 or OS X 10.9. Google added that the reason for this requirement is security related. Older versions of Chrome will still continue to run on older operating systems. However, these versions of the Internet browser will not receive regular updates and security patches which could leave users vulnerable to hackers. Aside from Google, Microsoft, in the past, has also expressed its decision to stop releasing security updates for older versions of its once mighty Internet browser, the Internet Explorer. Some tech analysts consider this decision as part of a marketing strategy in order to sell Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 10. However, some security experts said that it is more than just for commercial gain, but also for the benefit of the users. Microsoft is pushing users to use its new Edge browser. Windows users, who still prefer to use Internet Explorer, are required to upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 if they want to receive regular security update and patches. Moreover, Internet Explorer 11 is only available to computers running Window 7 or newer versions. Advertisement TagsGoogle, Chrome, Google Chrome, windows, windows vista, Windows XP, OS X, Mac, OS X10.9, Mac OS X 10.9 (Photo : Photo:Getty Images/ Kevin Frayer) China struggles with economic slowdown Advertisement China's corporate debt surged profoundly prior to the lending and spending bout prompted by the Chinese government in an attempt to keep the Chinese economy bustling. Underlining the deceleration, China said on Friday that the growth fell to 6.7 percent in the first three months of the year. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Lending money to companies like Bohai Steel has always been an easy thing for Chinese banks. Lenders had no problem compensating their state backing as the Chinese economy was still solid. Chinese officials from the Census and Economic Information Center (CEIC) also said that China's total local loans have proliferated a great deal to 98.6 trillion since the beginning of 2009, commensurate to 144 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of China in the recent year until the end of March. Co-founder of J Capital Research, Anne Stevenson-Yang, said that defaults are not apt in posing a risk to Chines banks because it is anticipated that the government is supporting them. But a series of defaults could result to a lending retreat and subsequently tarnish the Chinese economy. China is undergoing research on new ways to contend with the heap of bad corporate debt that has been upsetting the Chinese economy for a while. One of which is a proposal that will allow banks with bad loans to sell that debt to investors, said Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China. Zhou added, together with deputy central bank governor Pang Gongsheng, that they would be taking necessary measures to ensure that the resolution would not risk China's financial or economic condition like the one that transpired in the 2008 global crisis. Advertisement TagsBohai Steel, business, News, business news, slow economy, bad loans, china (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese military and defense experts said China will most probably not defend North Korea in case of conflict despite a standing defense pact between the two sides Advertisement China's military experts said that Beijing is highly unlikely to come to North Korea's rescue and provide military aid in case of a breakout of conflict or war brought by Pyongyang's nuclear provocation in the Korean peninsula. Despite a long-standing mutual defense pact between the two nations, mainland experts said Pyongyang's development of its nuclear program has jeopardized China's security interests and heavily damaged their relations, ending in the revocation of the pact. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China and North Korea signed a friendship treaty 55 years ago whereby Beijing had committed to defend North Korea in the event of an attack against potential outside enemies. Treaty of Friendship The pact, known as the "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance" was signed in 1961 by the two sides. It has been rendered null and void following the deterioration of the Sino-North Korean relations, experts said. "The treaty is China's only legally binding bilateral security pact remaining in force. But it exists only in the legal sense and it is highly unlikely that China will provide military aid in the event of an attack," said Professor Pang Zhongying, a Chinese international relations expert. Pang added that at the time the defense treaty was inked by both China and North Korea in 1961, the Chinese government was "immature and inexperienced" in committing itself to a "vaguely-worded treaty." The mainland scholars' perspective and comments were made in reaction to a recent article of the government-backed People's Daily newspaper which said that China was still committed to protect Pyongyang against potential enemies despite its belligerent actions in the Korean peninsula. Professor Shen Jiru, an international relations expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Beijing should not be bound by the treaty in the wake of North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear programs. "The treaty was a relic of the cold war which made no mention of specific circumstances under which China would provide military aid," he said. The US and South Korean governments said that North Korea tried to launch a missile in observance of the birthday of Pyongyang's founder, Kim II-sung last Friday but failed. Advanced missile and rocket technology The attempt was North Korea's latest move to show its advanced missile and rocket technology amid the standing United Nations resolution imposing harsh sanctions against Pyongyang. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when asked if Beijing will defend North Korea in case of a war, said China will neither tolerate chaos and instability in the Korean Peninsula region nor allow Pyongyang's development of its nuclear program. Advertisement Tagschina, North Korea, Treaty of Friendship, Treaty of Friendship Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, mainland scholars, defense treaty, war, North Korea's nuclear program (Photo : Getty Images:China Photo Press) The police said that suspects from Taiwan have been falsely posing as law enforcement officers to elicit money from people on the Chinese mainland through telephone calls. Advertisement Taiwan has received criticism from Chinese citizens prior to its self-ruled decision on releasing 20 fraud suspects a day after they were deported from Malaysia. The police said that suspects from Taiwan have been falsely posing as law enforcement officers to elicit money from people on the Chinese mainland through telephone calls. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Last month, there has been a coordination between Malaysian and Chinese police to investigate into the transnational telecommunication fraud where a total of 119 suspects were arrested which included 65 from the Chinese Mainland, 52 from Taiwan and 2 from Malaysia. Executive Yuan spokesman, Sun Lih-Chyun spoke in defense of Taiwan saying that there was no legal reason to detain the suspects. He explained that the evidence was with China and not with Taiwan. He also said that Taipei has been communicating with Chinese associates to discuss the matter. An Fengshan, Spokesman for the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, did not welcome the decision saying that Taiwan had been apathetic towards the interests of many victims and has hurt them further by releasing the suspects. On top of that, An also urged them to immediately amend for their actions according to the office website. Another Chinese mainland spokesman said on Saturday that Taiwan should give the fraud suspects the punishment that due is to them, emphasizing that discharging them will make fraud more prevalent and could only damage cross-Strait law enforcement cooperation. Taiwan's cabinet said in an issued statement that they would not protect criminals from due punishment and they had already ordered the Ministry of Justice to gather enough facts for the investigation to follow. On top of that, Taiwan's Justice Ministry sent a formal letter, requesting China's Public Security Bureau to cooperate with them by providing information on the crime. On a separate note, China's Ministry of Public security also said that the Taiwanese people had an involvement in the telecom fraud in China. Advertisement TagsTaiwan, gained, negative feedback, china, fraud suspects (Photo : Getty Images) China's mobile live streaming industry will generate over 100 billion yuan by 2020. Advertisement Chinese tech giants are reportedly investing heavily in the country's mobile live streaming market to stimulate the audience's palate as they predict the industry will generate more than 100 billion yuan by 2020. Investors including Sequoia Capital and Tencent China as well as pioneering companies in the A-share market have allegedly been throwing their hats into the market, according to China Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "This year, the live streaming industry is going to witness booming developments," Xie Chen, Huachuang Securities Co.'s senior analyst, said. Xie predicts that in four years' time, the scale of online gaming and online streaming will reach as much as 106 billion yuan. For instance, Bus-Online, a bus TV wireless network operator in China, reported a 40 percent increase of share price since launching its latest streaming platform B-Live on March 26. On the other hand, aside from receiving a 68 million yuan investment from Shenzhen-listed online gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co., Chinese mobile live broadcasting app Inke Inc. has successfully accomplished its B-Round financing in just three months. In addition to online streaming platforms, even self-made cyber celebrities like Papi Jiang, who is popular for producing humorous videos, managed to secure a 12 million yuan investment from various companies. Smartphones are the main avenue for live video streaming, China International Capital Corp reported, pointing out that "mobile live streaming has become the new trend." Its study revealed that China's mobile Internet users jumped from 85.8 to 88.9 percent in 2014 and 2015, respectively. What's more, the number of mobile smart devices also increased to nearly 13 billion, accounting for 85 percent of the mobile Internet users. Mobile live streaming users as well have reached almost 11 billion. Meng Wei, China International Capital Corp.'s analyst, thus believes that mobile Internet expansion will initiate change and development in the country's live streaming market. Advertisement TagsLive Video streaming, Papi Jiang, China International Capital Corp, Beijing Kunlun Tech Co, Bus-Online, wireless network, Tencenr China, Sequoia Capital (Photo : Getty Images/Kevin Frayer) Chinese authorities are looking to rehabilitate workers ahead of a massive layoff. Advertisement China is looking to rehabilitate millions of workers potentially to be laid off from steel and coal industries. Following global trends, China's steel and coal sector are likely to perform lukewarm. The country has drafted new policies to provide counseling including career guidance to the workers. These sectors are expected to axe off 1.8 million workers. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement As per new guidelines, the workers will be offered assistance to plan for early retirement as well as for starting their own businesses. The measures also include efforts to find new jobs for the laid off workers. The document states, "Proper placement of workers is the key to working to resolve excess capacity." The current approach followed by the Chinese government is a far cry from its efforts two decades back when it tried massive restructuring of state run industries. Currently, the steel and coal sector in China is going through glut stage. In order to counter the trend, the Chinese government is looking to reduce excess capacity by 10 to 15 percent. The released document also enumerates other plans such as providing early retirement benefits for people who are within five years of mandatory retirement. The age for mandatory retirement stands at 60 years for men and 55 years for women. The government also plans to hold job fairs at companies which have laid off more than 100 workers. It also seeks to offer seed funding, consulting services and training to people looking to start their own businesses. The Chinese economy has been facing stagnation for quite some time. However, its employment numbers held up despite the swings. According to government releases, the economy gained 13 million new urban jobs last year. Advertisement Tagschina, Economy, steel industry (Photo : Getty Images/Lintao Zhang) China's Finance Minister Lou Jiwei has fired back at Donald Trump following the latter's critical rhetoric of China. Advertisement United States presidential aspirant Donald Trump may have a legion of followers, but China's Finance Minister Lou Jiwei is none too impressed. Responding to Trump's proposal to impose up to 45 percent tariffs on China to force it to modify its trade policies, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Lou stated that any such action would violate World Trade Organization rules. He also branded Trump as an "irrational type." China's finance minister also said that if the country does pull through with Trump's proposal, the US would not be entitled to retain its title of being major global power. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Lou stated that the US needs to recognize the mutual dependency between the US and China. He stressed that economic cycles in both the countries are intertwined and that both countries have more in common than they have in difference. In a campaign statement, Trump accused China of being "in total violation of WTO regulations." He further claimed that the United States of America, "incompetently allowed them to get away with this." Trump further stated that should he become the president, all the trade and other agreements will be renegotiated to ensure that the US becomes a "beneficiary." The Chinese finance minister stated that the US needs to bolster its investments in the public and private sector to boost its domestic economy as well as the global economy. He also urged the US to speed up its deregulation process. China is currently working towards more egalitarian progress by following various measures such as land reforms. Lou said that China is now encouraging farmers to transfer or lease out their lands. They are also being encouraged to use land for equity financing purpose. Advertisement Tagsdonald trump, china, US, Lou Jiwei Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a bill into law that will allow church members to undergo firearms training so that they can protect their congregations against violence. The Church Protection Act allows places of worship to select members who would be given firearms training for security purposes. The law does not require people to have a permit to carry a holstered weapon, making it the ninth state in US to do so. Bryant wrote in a Twitter post that he passed the bill because "churches deserve protection from those who would harm worshipers." Author of the bill, Republican Andy Gipson who is also a Baptist Pastor said, "I wish we lived in a world where this bill wouldn't be necessary." Gipson asserted that he filed the bill in response to Charleston shooting in South Carolina last year. "A number of congregations ... don't have the resources to hire professional security," said Gipson, whose church has about 100 members. After the law was approved, he thanked the governor on his Facebook page for the measure he said will secure the churches. "The bill is effective immediately and, among other things, extends the protections of the castle doctrine to local churches who elect to establish a trained and licensed security team for protection of the congregation," Gipson wrote in a Facebook post. "Thank you Gov. Bryant!" The NRA touted the act a "big win" for gun rights in Mississippi. "It's a great day for law-abiding gun owners in Mississippi. This will allow them to carry firearms for personal protection in the manner that best suits their needs," said Chris W. Cox, Executive director of NRA Institute for Legislative Action. Opponents of the bill said that this measure endangered public security, instead of alleviating it. "There's simply no good reason to pass a law that makes Mississippi less safe from the threat of gun violence," Everytown for Gun Safety said in a statement. Senator Hillman Frazier (D) said that the gun law was passed in the guise of offering protection to churches. "We don't need to pimp the church for political purposes," he told lawmakers during a debate on the bill last month. "If you want to pass gun laws, do that, but don't use the church." According to Mississippi Association of Police Chiefs, it creates loopholes in the state licensing system, and makes it difficult to verify if the gun has not passed into the hands of a prospective assailant. "This bill would put law-enforcement officers and all Mississippians directly in harm's way," Ken Winter, MAPC executive director, said in February. home US Ark Encounter jobs open for Christians only The soon-to-open Ark Encounter theme park in Kentucky will need from 300 to 400 employees before it welcomes the public in July, but in order to be considered, an applicant has to be a Christian. "We are a religious group and we make no apology about that, and (federal law) allows us that," said Ken Ham, founder of the ministry Answers in Genesis, as quoted by Fox News. "We're requiring them to be Christians, that's the bottom line." U.S. District Judge Greg Van Tatenhove ruled in January that Answers in Genesis can include religious affiliation as a requirement for those seeking employment in the theme park based on an exemption to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This is despite the organization seeking around $18 million in tourism sales tax rebate. It is expected that Ark Encounter will open jobs for ticketing, food service, warehouse workers, Web developers, among other positions within the theme park. Employees will be required to sign a statement showing that they "profess Christ as their savior" and that they are Christian. Raw Story says that aside from a salvation testimony, applicants also have to submit a "creation belief statement," and they need to sign a confirmation that they agree to Answers in Genesis' Statement of Faith. This includes, among other things: "Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole creation, spanning approximately 4,000 years from creation to Christ," and "The days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages, but are six [6] consecutive twenty-four [24] hour days of creation." Many scientists and educators are reportedly not happy with Answers in Genesis promoting the literal reading of the Bible. According to Fox News, the organization, which also owns the Creation Museum, preaches that Adam and Eve lived at the time of dinosaurs, and that the Earth is 6,000 years old. The life-size replica of Noah's Ark, Fox 5 reports, will be open to the public for 40 days and 40 nights when it opens on July 7, reminiscent of the Bible's account of the 40-day/40-night rain that wiped the Earth clean. "We are so excited that the construction progress and schedule landed on this 7/7 date. Genesis 7:7 states that Noah and his family entered the Ark. So it's fitting we allow the public to enter the life-size Ark on 7/7," Ham said. The organization expects to run their normal operating hours on Aug. 15. However, this might change depending on how big the number of visitors is. home World Christian Aid, 12 other agencies urge U.K. to step up efforts in helping refugees; relocation scheme to cost Britain A500 million Thirteen refugee and humanitarian agencies have collaborated to urge the United Kingdom to increase its efforts in protecting those who have fled from their respective countries due to war and conflict. They said that Britain "has fallen short of welcoming its fair share of refugees." In a joint briefing note titled "A Safe Haven? Britain's role in protecting people on the move," the organizations acknowledged the U.K.'s effort in providing assistance to those countries that are hosting refugees. However, they also said that "delivering aid does not absolve the UK of its moral responsibility to offer a safe haven." The groups have stressed that a huge number of people who ran away from violence, conflict, hardships, and human rights violations are now all over Europe, but they are suffering from the inhumane conditions that they are living in. They said that this is the result of political failure. The brief was prepared by representatives of Oxfam GB, the British Refugee Council, and IRC-UK, along with Action Aid UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Doctors of the World, Freedom from Torture, Islamic Relief, Plan UK, Refugee Action, Scottish Refugee Council, and World Vision. In a press release, Christian Aid said that among the things that they are urging the government to do are to expand the legal routes to the U.K. which are safe and legal for refugees to take and to make sure that they are given access to an asylum system that is not only humane but also fair and effective. They are also asking for an improvement in the reception at country borders as well as in the conditions within countries hosting the displaced people. "The UK is trying to pretend that this is someone else's problem, and that refugees and migrants could and should be dealt with elsewhere. But people who are desperate will take huge risks to reach safety," said Maya Mailer, Oxfam's Head of Humanitarian Policy. "The UK needs to accept its moral responsibility to offer a safe haven to the world's poorest and most vulnerable - men, women and children - who have been made homeless by war, violence and disasters." Meanwhile, the BBC reports that it could cost Britain roughly 589 million to resettle 20,000 Syrians by 2020, as pledged through their Vulnerable Persons Relocation program. Thus far, they have taken in 1,194 people from Syria, 605 of which are below 18 years old. According to the report, Syrian refugee minister Richard Harrington, in his written reply to Labour's Coventry MP Jim Cunningham's parliamentary question, said that the first year's expenses are going to be paid through the country's overseas budget. However, the program would still need 99m for 2016-2017, 129m for 2017-2018, 149m for 2018-2019, and 83m in 2020-2021. While 129 million has already been allocated, it is not yet known where they would get the money for the remainder of the cost. "This is a huge figure," said Home Affairs Committee chairman Keith Vaz, as quoted by the BBC. "As the Home Office refuses to provide regular updates on the numbers being resettled, or where they are being placed, there is an unacceptable lack of transparency in the use of these significant funds." Under the scheme, refugees can stay in the U.K. for five years and then apply to settle there. home World Christian convert in Austria fears Islamic retaliation, says baptism could be his death sentence Austria has seen an increase in the number of Muslims converting to Christianity. However, these new Christians could be at risk of possible retaliation from the Islamic community. According to a report by Kurier, the Archdiocese of Vienna receives five to 10 requests for conversion each week. Eighty-three adults were approved for baptism in Vienna in 2016, and Friederike Dostal of the Austrian Bishops' Conference estimates that about half of them were Muslims, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran. This is a rise from one-third in 2015. A further rise is expected in 2017 since there has also been an increase in the number of refugees in the past months. Breitbart says that the Austrian Catholic Church knows what these converts could face if radical Muslims find out that they left Islam -- the penalty for apostasy, based on the Sharia law, is death. "In Austria, it was once very safe for converts, that has changed due to the strong migration movement," said Dostal, saying that refugee quarters can also be unsafe. An elderly Afghan man, who prefers to use his Christian name Christophe for fear that using his real name could compromise the safety of his family, is waiting to be baptized in a church in Vienna by the end of the year. "This could be my death sentence," he told Kurier, as translated using Google Translate. It takes a year to prepare a person for baptism in what is called Right of Christian Initiation of Adults, explained Breitbart, and they spend these months learning more about the faith and church rituals. At the same time, this helps the church and the Asylum Court determine if a person seeking asylum is truly a Christian. Conversion does not mean automatic asylum, however. The risk of persecution one could face in their home country after they have left Islam is considered by the courts, but each case is individually examined. Christophe has lived in Austria since 2012. He said that while he was still in Afghanistan, a friend from Pakistan brought him a Bible, which he read daily, albeit in secret and only in his home. He was arrested by the Taliban, but he managed to escape and eventually found his way to Austria. "Although I was a Muslim, but did not feel connected," he narrated of his time as a youth. "Even at school I began to look for alternatives. Christianity for me is the religion of humanity. Jesus I admire his life and suffering." Christophe told the Austrian publication of what he believes: "Christianity is the true religion. There is no turning back for me." home US Christian counselors, therapists disagree with Tennessee bill protecting their religious liberty Tennessee has passed a bill this week that, if it becomes law, would allow counselors and therapists to refuse to provide patients with mental health services if they deem that this would go against their religious principles. However, not everyone has accepted this bill warmly. Tennesseee Senate Bill 1556/Tennessee House Bill 1840, nicknamed by some as "Hate Bill 1840," states that "no counselor or therapist providing counseling or therapy services shall be required to counsel or serve a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the counselor or therapist ... " According to The Gazette, those who support this bill say that it is needed in order to protect the religious liberty of counselors -- it says that, among other things, therapists cannot be criminally prosecuted or penalized for refusing a patient therapy based on the therapist's religious beliefs. The opposition, on the other hand, believes that this would make discrimination against LGBT legal. It seems, though, that even those the bill is aiming to protect are not that supportive of it. The publication says that some pastoral counselors and some of those who belong to Christian counseling networks find it quite unnecessary and that it could cause discrimination against patients who are part of the LGBT community. "I'm not supportive of the bill as it is, but I don't understand the need for it either," said Chris O'Rear, president of the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists, expressing his personal opinion. "I don't know what to degree this is actually a problem or whether certain people just want it to be a problem." Presbyterian minister Douglas Ronsheim, executive director of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, said that "we would not support the bill in any way" because it violates his organization's code of ethics. Their code of ethics says that their members respect "various theologies, traditions, and values of our faith communities and committed to the dignity and worth of each individual." Part of it reads: "We are committed ... to avoid discriminating against or refusing employment, educational opportunity or professional assistance to anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, health status, age, disabilities or national origin; provided that nothing herein shall limit a member or center from utilizing religious requirements or exercising a religious preference in employment decisions." The International Association of Christian Counselors, meanwhile, does not have a formal position with regard to the bill, but their code of ethics "does not eliminate anyone" either. Delores Horsman, director of the association, said it doesn't matter whether or not a therapist agrees with a patient, what's important is they offer whatever counsel they can. As an example, she cited a person with a fever who seeks the help of a doctor. The doctor should help, regardess of who the patient is. "Everybody needs to be loved, and as Christian counselors we have to find ways to love people," she said. Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee has 10 days from Monday, April 11, to either sign the bill or veto it. home World Church of England, investors urge ExxonMobil to disclose impact of climate change policies on its business The Church Commissioners of England has co-filed a resolution asking Exxon Mobil, a gas and fuel company, to reveal how climate change policies would impact its business. The resolution states: "Shareholders request that by 2017 ExxonMobil publish an annual assessment of long term portfolio impacts of public climate change policies, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information." According to the press release by the Church of England, more than 30 institutional investors have already expressed that they will support the motion. They want to have Exxon reveal its portfolio and strategy in line with the agreement arrived at during the Paris climate conference in December last year. This global climate deal aims at keeping global warning to below 2 degrees celcius, thereby limiting the negative impact of climate change. "We are delighted with the scale of support this resolution has received so far," said Edward Mason, Head of Responsible Investment for the Church Commissioners. "The resolution is part of a much wider trend following the Paris Agreement for investors to ask companies to improve disclosure on how they are positioned for the risks and opportunities posed by climate change." ExxonMobil has reportedly tried to have the Securities and Exchange Commission strike down the resolution but this was denied. Previously, the company, according to The Guardian, spent about $30 million for researchers and lobby groups to deny climate change but pledged to stop in 2007. However, the publication discovered last year that it was still funding climate denial. Also, The New York Times reports that it is very likely that Exxon had known about the rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere from as far back as 1957, based on documents gathered by activist research group Center for International Environment Law. Competitors Shell and BP have already agreed to a similar resolution last year. The Church of England, according to Premier, owns shares at Exxon Mobil worth 5.8 million. They co-filed the resolution with New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli as Trustee of New York State Common Retirement Fund. home Life 'Jesus Lunch' causes disagreement between Wisconsin school disctrict officials and parents Many students at the Middleton-Cross Plains School District in Wisconsin are treated to free lunch every Tuesday, but the school officials are asking the parents who host the event to cease the weekly luncheon. Nicknamed "Jesus Lunch," the luncheon not only provides free food to hundreds of students, it also leads them to Christian worship. Speaking to Christian Post, Beth Williams, one of the organizers, said they created the event so parents could spend lunch with their children as well as have a few minutes talking about the Bible. "I can tell you that there is an excitement from the students. Many have said that it is a highlight of their week. Our numbers fluctuate weekly, but we have had up to 475 students attend on any given week," she said. "The school officials have not really been very interested in finding out about the content of the Jesus Lunch. Since we are off school grounds, it does not really apply to school guidelines." The school begs to disagree. High school principal Steve Plank and district administrator Don Johnson said that Fireman's Park, the place adjacent to Middleton High School where the lunches are held, is leased by the city, which makes it part of the school campus, thereby subject to the school's rules. The parents, they contend, are not meeting expectations on policies. "The school district's concerns related to this event come down to policy expectations that MCPASD maintains a policies in place to ensure student safety, health and welfare," says the letter sent to parents on Tuesday. "The policies in question include food handling, visitors to campus, and expectations around student organized events. We are in no way interested in opposing religious practice in otherwise legal circumstances." Johnson said, as reported by Channel 3000, that they believe that religious and political events have no place in their campus unless it's sponsored by a student group, follows school regulations, and is approved. The school also finds that not all students are happy or comfortable with the religious event. "There are some students that when they know this day is coming, they will leave school early," Plank said. "(We) have some students that staff will find sitting in the hallway crying." The school is reportedly looking for an amicable solution to the matter. Arch of Triumph of Palmyra, not Temple of Baal, to rise in New York and London The plan to build a replica of the arch of the Temple of Baal in New York City and London has been abandoned and instead, the Arch of Triumph of Palmyra will rise. This was announced by the Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA), which promotes the use of digital imaging and 3D printing in archaeology and conservation. A report in the New York Times last month said the Temple of Baal's entrance would be installed in New York and London as a tribute to the 2,000 year-old structure that was destroyed by the Islamic State last year in Palmyra, Syria. However, many Christians opposed the plan. Quoting the World Net Daily, CBN News said according to Matt Barber, Baal worship involved burning infants alive. "Ritualistic Baal worship, in sum, looked a little like this: Adults would gather around the altar of Baal. Infants would then be burned alive as a sacrificial offering to the deity. Amid horrific screams and the stench of charred human flesh, congregants men and women alike would engage in bisexual orgies," Barber said. "The ritual of convenience was intended to produce economic prosperity by prompting Baal to bring rain for the fertility of 'mother earth,'" he explained. The Telegraph reported that the original plan to reproduce the Temple of Baal has been scrapped. "There will be no simultaneous unveiling in New York they may transport the London arch there later, or build another one and the Palmyra arch that is being reconstructed is no longer the entrance to the Temple of Bel (which survived an attempt to blow it up in August 2015) but the Arch of Triumph (partially destroyed in October) formerly located at one end of the Great Colonnade," the report said. Prof. Dr. Maamoun Abdulkarim, director-general of the Directorate General for Antiquities and Museums in Syria, said Palmyra is one of the most unique cultural heritage sites and its destruction underscored the importance of large-scale reconstruction. "We know that the plans to restore Palmyra to its former glory are grand, but they can be realised if the task is treated as a global mission under the international criteria," he wrote in the IDA website. "The IDA's Arch of Triumph of Palmyra serves as a model for how, together, we will bring life back to Palmyra and restore the site as a message of peace against terrorism, and will further collaborate in this way on other heritage sites in Syria." The arch will be built at Trafalgar Square in London. Writing in Charisma News, Michael Snyder, founder of The Economic Collapse Blog, lauded the move to cancel the planned reconstruction of the entrance of the Temple of Baal. "Of course let us not underestimate the prayers of God's people. Once this story went viral, Christians all over America started praying against this arch. From personal experience, I know that the prayers of righteous men and women are extremely powerful, and we may never know how much of an impact they had on this situation," he wrote. Bill defining person as human being from moment of fertilisation pushed in Alabama A committee at the Alabama House of Representatives has approved a bill to amend the state Constitution by changing the definition of a person. The bill aims to change the Code of Alabama 1975 to define "persons" as "any human being from the moment of fertilization or the functional equivalent thereof." Its sponsor, Republican Rep. Ed Henry, declared that "I believe in life, and protecting it, no matter if we're going to be sued," according to the Montgomery Advertiser. Henry said the bill is "not a direct attack on abortion." "But if Alabamians believe life begins at conception, then it does cause abortion to be in conflict with our values," he said. If the bill is passed by three-fifths of the state House and Senate, it will have to be approved by voters. Pastor Tom Ford of the Grace Baptist Church said the bill aims to end abortion in the state. "We state the obvious, that the baby in the womb is a person. And to take that innocent life is murder," Ford said, AL.com reports. Pro-life Dr. Jime Belyeu, an OB/GYN, said life begins at conception. "The baby initiates the process of implantation. Scientifically, pregnancy has been long recognized at beginning at fertilization, so anything that would prevent implantation would be considered abortion," he said. Brock Boone of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) opposed the bill, saying it could result in unintended consequences including barring rape and incest exemptions under abortion laws and birth control. "A woman's use of many common forms of birth control would be a form of homicide," he said. A similar bill was passed by the Alabama Senate in 2011 but failed in the House, LifeSite News reported. Alabama's Supreme Court ruled that year that mothers had the right to sue when their unborn child wrongfully dies before viability, saying "each person has a God-given right to life." Christian counsellors say religious freedom bill for patients is not needed, will violate their oath A bill was passed by lawmakers in Tennessee that provides that no counsellor or therapist will be required to provide service to any hospital patient if this will violate the patient's religious beliefs. SB 1556 was passed by the Tennessee Senate with a 26-5 vote last week and is now up for signature by Gov. Bill Haslam. The legislation is supported by the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) and the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Religion News Service reports. However, Christian and pastoral counsellors said the bill is not needed and will violate their oath since it will discriminate against LGBT people. Chris O'Rear, president of the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists (TAPT) and director of Insight Counseling Centers in Nashville, said personally, he does not support the bill as it could become a problem especially for patients in rural areas that have limited mental health services. "Our code of ethics says if we feel we can't objectively counsel a person for any reason, then we should refer them to someone else," says O'Rear, who is an ordained Baptist. "But sometimes a client doesn't have a choice because perhaps they don't have many options where they live. I don't think these people should be turned away in that case." Douglas Ronsheim, a Presbyterian minister and AAPC executive director, said the bill violates his organisation's code of ethics and "we would not support the bill in any way." The AAPC code of ethics says members should "avoid discriminating against or refusing employment, educational opportunity or professional assistance to anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, health status, age, disabilities or national origin." The code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, the American Counseling Association, the Association of Marital and Family Therapists, and the American Psychological Association also prohibit discrimination. Delores Horsman, a certified Clinical Christian Counselor and director of the International Association of Christian Counselors, said while the organisation does not have a position about the bill, they have one regarding the issue of discrimination. "Our code of ethics does not eliminate anyone. If someone comes for counsel, our heart is to offer whatever kind of counsel we can whether we agree with them or not. We should still offer something," she said. She likened this to a doctor who helps a patient, saying, "Everybody needs to be loved, and as Christian counsellors we have to find ways to love people." Deaf Bible Society uses modern technology to reach out to world's 58 million hearing impaired people The Holy Bible is for everyone, including the differently abled. Having this in mind, a non-profit organisation is leading efforts to break the barriers of disability to bring God's Word to those who cannot hear. The New Mexico-based group Deaf Bible Society is tapping modern technology to enable the estimated 58 million deaf individuals around the world to also appreciate the Holy Bible. According to its website, the group "works with various ministries to offer the global deaf community unlimited and free Bible access in their heart sign language." It added that the deaf community is "one of the largest unreached people groups in the world." The Deaf Bible Society has developed a mobile application, complete with translations of the Holy Scriptures, especially for the hearing impaired. This revolutionary app, already updated twice, has so far been downloaded 300,000 times. JR Bucklew, the organisation's Deaf Bible director, says technology has really enable the group to reach more deaf individuals. "Technology has really given us a platform in the last few years to take the Gospel to the deaf, unlike any other time in history," Bucklew says in a report on MNNOnline.org. He also encourages the public to have greater awareness and appreciation of the deaf community. "Sign language and spoken languages are very different. American sign language is not English with gestures. It's a completely different language with its own grammar rules, syntax, and everything," he adds. The group also urges more individuals to educate themselves about how they can communicate with and reach out to the deaf community. This can be done by being an advocate in respective churches, where spiritual needs of the deaf can be studied. To be able to educate more people about the deaf community, the Deaf Bible Society provides a free information kit for those who sign up on their website. "The call of the Great Commission is to go to every nation with the Gospel and that must include the deaf," Bucklew says. Tears as Pope Francis met Muslim widower of martyred Syrian Christian One of the refugees Pope Francis met on Lesbos was the Muslim widower of a Syrian Christian woman killed for her faith, reports the Associated Press. The women was killed by extremists when she refused to renounce her faith, Francis said. The Pope departed from his prepared text during his address earlier today in St Peter's Square. He said that among the 300 refugees he met yesterday in the refugee camp on Lesbos was a widower with two children. Francis said: "He is Muslim, and he told me that he married a Christian girl. They loved each other and respected each other. But unfortunately the young woman's throat was slashed by terrorists because she didn't want to deny Christ and abandon her faith." He added: "She is a martyr!" and said the widower had wept as he told the story. Adults and children broke down in tears before the head of the Roman Catholic church during his visit. While borders have now largely been shut for migrants, Francis symbolically took a small group of refugees with him on his aircraft as he left the island after a five-hour visit. "The Pope has desired to make a gesture of welcome regarding refugees, accompanying on his plane to Rome three families of refugees from Syria, 12 people in all, including six children," a statement issued by the Vatican said. The individuals were selected from lots drawn, media reports said. They had been in camps before a deal between the EU and Turkey came into effect to halt the migrant flow on March 20. Sant'Egidio, a Christian community which offers help for those in need and headquartered in Rome, will be looking after the families. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Defending a Texas state law banning the sale of sex toys, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz argued in a 2007 court brief that individuals have no legal right to use them, even in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Prior to becoming a U.S. senator, Cruz was for more than five years Texas' solicitor general, arguing the state's legal positions in court. He often cites that experience to burnish his credentials as a Christian conservative. On the campaign trail, Cruz frequently reminds audiences that he used the job to defend capital punishment and oppose abortion, while preserving the words "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and defending a monument to the Ten Commandments on the state Capitol grounds. But Cruz makes no mention of a decade-old case he lost his defense of Texas' sex-toy ban. The story was first reported by Mother Jones magazine. The law, approved in the 1970s, banned as obscene any device "useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." The same law also declared that anyone possessing six or more such items was presumed to be promoting sex-toy usage through manufacture, sale, lending, delivery or other means. Joanne Webb, a 43-year-old mother of three and former fifth-grade teacher, was arrested in 2003 after selling a sex toy to an undercover police officer during a gathering of adult couples similar to a Tupperware party held at a home in a Fort Worth suburb. Though the criminal charges against Webb were eventually dropped, a collection of sex-toy companies sued in federal court to challenge the constitutionality of the state's ban. A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Appeals later ruled that the Texas law violated 14th Amendment privacy rights. Then-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, now the state's Republican governor, unsuccessfully appealed, asking the full appeals court to review the case. As solicitor general Cruz co-wrote an 83-page brief arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court "has never suggested that the substantive-due-process doctrine ensures individuals' ability to stimulate their genitals in ways that are neither connected to procreation nor associated with any particular lifestyle." In an interview Friday night on New York's WABC radio, Cruz was asked if he would ban the sale of sex toys if he became president. "Look, of course not, it's a ridiculous question, and of course not," Cruz responded. "What people do in their own private time with themselves is their own business and it's none of government's business." Cruz campaign spokeswoman Alice Stewart noted in an email that as solicitor general, Cruz had an obligation to defend Texas' laws in court, regardless of whether he agreed with them. "Senator Cruz personally believes that the Texas law in question was, as (Supreme Court) Justice (Clarence) Thomas said in another context, an 'uncommonly silly' law," Stewart said. "But the office was nevertheless duty-bound to defend the policy judgment of the Texas Legislature." Cruz defended the Texas ban as "protecting public morals discouraging prurient interests in sexual gratification" and argued that in doing so the state had a vested moral interest in discouraging "autonomous sex." Cruz's brief also suggested that the legal sale of sexual enhancement drugs such as Viagra was different because it can't be described as a "device." Couples, even married ones, willing to use sex toys may also "believe that hiring a willing prostitute or engaging in consensual bigamy would enhance their sexual experiences," Cruz warned. ___ Michael Biesecker reported from Washington. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mbieseck ___ Follow Will Weissert at https://twitter.com/apwillweissert Two men were shot multiple times overnight in a car parked in a northwest Houston neighborhood, leaving one dead and the other critically wounded. Shortly before 4 a.m., Houston patrol officers responded to 3308 Crestdale Drive, where they found the two men with gunshot wounds in a black 1999 Mercedes-Benz E430. The man sitting behind the wheel was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition, said Brian Evans of the Houston Police Department's homicide division. A 15-year-old girl is recovering from injuries after being shot during a party in Spring, according to reports Saturday night. People at the family gathering were playing with water guns when a real gun was pulled," police told KHOU and other TV stations. 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. With crazy homeless people randomly smashing, slashing, and stabbing passersby, graffiti spreading across the city with no one bothering to clean it, racial tensions stoked by race hustlers in Gracie Mansion, welfare rolls mushrooming, a reborn pay-to-play political culture, school discipline so dead that public education fails more than ever, police demoralized by a mayor who not only doesnt have their back but publicly slanders them, while the city council weakens the quality-of-life policing tools that brought New York back to life under Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg, you have to wonder if any element that created the urban dystopia of Mayors John Lindsay, Abe Beame, and David Dinkins is still missing. And sure enough, now even police corruption is back. With five top cops recently demoted, and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton telling the New York Post that investigations by his Internal Affairs Bureau and the FBI are turning up evidence that stinks as foully as that uncovered by the 1970s Knapp Commission investigation into corrupt cops, but that he cant talk about it while the probe continues, you can only imagine whats about to hit the fan. All we need now is a brush with municipal bankruptcy and a president who responds by telling New York to drop dead, as the Daily Newss famous 1975 headline put it, and the recurring nightmare will be complete. Just to get ready, lets recall what the commission headed by Whitman Knapp, a lawyer, ex-prosecutor, and later a federal judge, turned up, in hearings so riveting in 1971 and 72 that my friend Mike the Cop would sometimes come over, put his gun on top of the fridge, and join me in open-mouthed amazement as the squalid testimony poured out of the TV. There were grass-eating corrupt cops, small fry who took a monthly $5 or $10, adding up to $6.2 million a year citywide, from bodega owners to overlook Sunday beer sales or $2,000 annually from individual liquor store owners to let customers double park while they ran in for a bottle; and meat eaters, who stole drugs from dope dealers or took big bribes to suppress evidence of felonies, including a $50,000 payoff to destroy wiretap tapes nailing a heroin kingpin. We heard of two dope-addict police informers who would steal goods to order for cops in exchange for drugs that the officers purloined from the NYPD evidence room. We heard from a detective who took fat payoffs from East Side brothel boss Xaviera Hollander, the Happy Hooker, in exchange for warning her when a police raid was imminent, that corruption was systemicwith entire precincts, from the captain on down, sharing a monthly pad of payments from numbers racketeers, totaling up to $15 million a year, to look the other way while they publicly took bets. At least one cop thought that the deal included arresting competing gamblers, so that the NYPDs function wasnt so much to prevent crime as to license it, as the New York Times put it when the scandal first broke. And we learned that two police whistleblowers, Frank Serpico and David Durks, couldnt stir Mayor Lindsays Investigation Department chief or one of his deputy mayors to take action to clean up the mess. When Serpico complained about corruption he had seen to his captain, the commander replied that he could go to the commissioner, and by the time this thing is through, youll be found floating in the East River, face down. Or you can just forget about the whole thing. But Serpico didnt forget it and got shot in the head, non-fatally, in a drug bust some thought a set-up by his fellow cops. Even before the Knapp Commission hearings began, a joint committee of the state legislature noted that ghetto residents, seeing the pervasiveness of police corruption, have a deep cynicism concerning the integrity of the police to maintain law and order in the community. It wasnt just that minority communities knew, in those pre-Compstat days, that the NYPD didnt care about crime in their neighborhoods. They saw that not only were the police not part of the solution, but they were also a key part of the problem. How big a part became even clearer when the next major cop scandal, long in the making, broke on Mayor Dinkinss watch, in hearings chaired by ex-judge Milton Mollen in 1992 and 1993. Todays corruption is not the corruption of Knapp Commission days, the Mollen Commissions report noted. Corruption then was largely a corruption of accommodation, of criminals and police officers giving and taking bribes, buying and selling protection. . . . Todays corruption is characterized by brutality, theft, abuse of authority and active police criminality. Unlike the old corruption, which was systemic and infected the entire NYPD, the new corruption festered in only a few precincts and involved only a limited number of cops. Nevertheless, declared the commission, From the top brass down to local precinct commanders and supervisors, there was a pervasive belief that uncovering serious corruption would harm careers and the reputation of the department. And that corruption was brutal. Graphically brutal, as presented in a gripping recent documentary, The Seven Five, which intercuts clips from the Mollen Commission hearings with recent interviews with the chief malefactors from the 75th Precinct in East New York, Brooklynthen the nations deadliest, with some 1,000 murders a year, and as ravaged as any war-torn city, as the film shows in 1980s photos of collapsed buildings and blood-drenched murder victims sprawled on the neighborhoods truly mean streets. Michael Dowdwhom the New York Post later headlined as THE DIRTIEST COP EVERtells of being sent in 1984 to protect a woman from her abusive husband while she got her clothes from her apartment. After the woman left, Dowd and his partner, Chickie, found that the husband had a huge bag of marijuana, two guns, and perhaps $20,000 in stacks of bills. So they helped themselves to $8,000, telling the dreadlock-coifed husband that it was his lucky day that nothing worse was happening. And so began Dowds criminal career, two years after graduation from the Police Academy, where the chief lessons he learned were cover your ass and that a good cop is one who would never give up another cop. In November 1986, a scandal in the 77th Precinct in north Brooklynwhere 12 cops, including a sergeant, had been arrested and a 13th had killed himselfscared Chickie straight. The Seven-Seven cops had made a practice of calling in fake 911 reports of robberies in progress at a specific address, so that they could smash into the premises with axes and sledgehammers borrowed from the neighboring firehouse and steal whatever valuables they could find, including drugs and loaded guns, which they sold to pushers. So Dowd inducted his new partner, Kenny Eurell, into his criminal enterprise, mainly providing protection for a Dominican drug lord for $8,000 a week. When the kingpin underpaid him, Dowd raided his business with extra zeal, until the drug boss put out a contract on his lifecalled off after Dowd confronted him and offered to duel at 20 paces, then and there. A yet bigger drug lord, who sold Colombian cocaine out of a string of bodegas, then hired the pair for $24,000 down and $8,000 a week to warn him of impending raids, harass his competitors, and guard his shipments. We were like their Brinks, said Dowd. They had a police escort. By 1991, Dowd, now a drunk and an addict, snorting coke off his police cruisers dashboard and feeling like he was God, invincible, went into the drug business for himself on Long Island and got arrested with Kenny and four other cops in May 1992. Out on bail, he dreamed up such reckless schemes that Kenny turned on him, secretly recorded him, and got off with no jail time, while Dowd served 13 years of a 14-year sentence. A Mollen Commission member asked Dowd if he considered himself an NYPD cop or a drug trafficker. Both, Dowd replied, explaining in a later interview, It wasnt like you were hurting people. You were hurting fucking drug dealers. The Mollen Commission contained a dramatic mystery within a mystery: a witness, identified only as Officer Otto, who testified via videotape, his face concealed in shadow, his voice electronically disguised, and the precinct whose misdeeds he recounted unspecified. Part of that testimony, which came from a young cop named Barry Brown, turned out to be false, and the six cops jailed on account of it were later released because of his perjury. But Brown was an undercover police spy, who claimed he lied under orders to preserve his cover, so that ultimately he had to quit the force but was never charged with perjury. Nevertheless, the squalid scandal he revealed at the 30th Precinct in West Harlemthe Dirty Thirtywas emphatically real. The corrupt copscalled Nannerys Raiders for the sergeant who supervised them and ultimately became their crime bossadopted the Seven-Sevens tactic of making fake 911 calls about robberies in progress at dope dealers apartments, which they would batter open to steal cash and drugs to sell at half-price out of the police station itself. Like Dowd, they took protection money from drug kingpins, anywhere from $600 to $1,000 a week. Notwithstanding Browns perjury, its hard to imagine that many of the 33 cops arrested were innocent. New Yorkers old enough to remember how rotten all this wasa memory almost washed away by the amazing transformation of the NYPD under Giuliani and Bratton, whose crime-prevention policing gave cops something they could devote themselves to with pride and utterly changed the NYPDs cultureare uneasily holding their breath to see just what wrongdoing the current investigation will disclose, how high it goes, and how far back it stretches. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images watch now If you've ever requested an Uber or rented a room on Airbnb, then you are among the millions of Americans participating in the "gig" economy. These digital marketplaces provide customers with convenience and workers with the freedom to create their own schedule. Yet that freedom comes at a cost. Many of these jobs don't offer benefits such as sick leave or reimbursements, allowing companies to save on employee expenses. "We've seen this for more than a decade in sort of the white collar jobs. People who are teachers might tutor, [and] lawyers who become moms maybe can do legal work on the side," AOL co-founder Steve Case told CNBC's "On the Money." "We're just now seeing that broaden and giving that same opportunity to people in other fields." More people are entering the gig economy workforce, more than 50 million in 2015, an increase of 700,000 from 2014, according to figures from the Freelancer's Union, calling into question how the new economy should be regulated. While the vast majority of workers in this economy have other sources of income, about 15 million Americans say working these gigs makes up more than 40 percent of their pay. Uber, Lyft and grocery delivery app Instacart are just some of the "on-demand" companies facing lawsuits from workers. These dissidents are calling for the companies to reclassify their status from independent contractor to employee, the better for them to partake of benefits offered to full-time workers. Case helped make the internet a part of our everyday lives, and is now the founder of venture capital firm Revolution. His investments in the gig economy include Zipcar and OrderUp, which the firm has since exited, as well as Handy. He also sits on the National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The businessman defended the on-demand business model, telling CNBC that both workers and policymakers must adapt to the new reality. "We need to recognize that the nature of work itself has changed," says Case. "I think that will accelerate in the third wave and that will put more pressure on policymakers to keep up with the innovations." That "third wave," which is also the name of his new book, references what he's calling the next era of the internet. Case explains the first wave was the foundation. Companies like AOL built a platform that allowed people to get access to the web, while the second wave consisted of companies building on top of the internet and helping people search, shop and connect online. It's where the world saw the rise of Google, Amazon and Facebook. Steve Case Katie Kramer | CNBC In the third wave, which we are entering now, Case argues the internet will become as ubiquitous as electricity meaning it will not be the internet of things, but the internet of everything. "The third wave is really integrating the internet in seamless and pervasive ways throughout our lives, and I think it's going to change the nature of work," he said. "It's also going to change how our kids learn in classes, how we stay healthy, how doctors and hospitals work, energy, transportation, even the food sector." Case believes it will require a different mindset and a different playbook for businesses and citizens. "My guess is what will happen there will be some benefits that are more portable and more modularized than those that are offered," he said. "Maybe when you take an Uber car you pay a slight additional fee that goes into a bucket that provides some of these benefits like workers' comp and other kinds of benefits." While Case believes it will be harder to start a business today than it was in the second wave, he advises entrepreneurs to keep a few things in mind. "The big opportunities to improve people's lives will require a different mindset, more perseverance, more partnerships, and more engagement on policy." A meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers on an agreement to freeze output ran into last-minute trouble in Qatar on Sunday due to what looked like a new spike in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, sources told Reuters. Oil ministers met with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - who was instrumental in promoting output stability in recent months - in an attempt to rescue the deal designed to bolster the flagging price of crude. According to two sources, Saudi Arabia said it wanted all OPEC members to participate in the talks, despite insisting earlier on excluding its regional arch-rival Iran because Tehran had refused to freeze production. "The Saudis changed everything early this morning," an OPEC source said. "They want all OPEC members to join first." Failure to reach a global deal - the first in 15 years between OPEC and non-OPEC nations - would signal the resumption of a battle for market share between key producers and likely halt a recent recovery in prices. Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to have refused to participate in the freeze. Tehran says it needs to regain market share after the lifting of international sanctions against it in January. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom would restrain its output only if all other major producers, including Iran, agreed to freeze production. Iran's top central banker is adding to growing doubts about an agreement to freeze output at a meeting of oil producers in Doha, Qatar on Sunday. Ahead of a pivotal meeting that may determine the near-term outlook for crude prices, Iran on Saturday announced that it would not participate in the conference. The country, still trying to recover from Western sanctions, is seen trying to preserve market share, and has steadfastly resisted any suggestions that Iran should freeze or curb output in order to prop up prices. On the sidelines of an International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington, D.C., Valiollah Seif, head of Iran's central bank told CNBC that asking Iran to freeze output right now is unfair. Read MoreNo Iran? Maybe no problem for 'soft' Doha deal "What Iran is doing right now is trying to get back and secure its share of the market," Seif said, adding that "what Saudi Arabia is asking Iran to do is not a very fair [or] logical request." On several occasions, the leadership of Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said they would agree to an output freeze as long as Iran did too. Currently, analysts believe the two rivals are unlikely to reach a near-term consensus. Family aims to raise awareness about invisible illness Michelle and Jason Kemp's two children were born with cystic fibrosis. The Columbia family shares their story to raise awareness about the genetic disorder. Some years ago, when a biologist studying mosquito-borne viral illnesses returned from abroad to his home in Colorado, he became ill with fever, rash, joint pain and body ache. Soon his wife, too, became ill with similar symptoms. The children remained healthy. The couple tested negative for malaria and other tropical diseases, and within a week their symptoms resolved. Only when their blood was tested for Zika did they learn they both were positive for the virus. Yet only the biologist had traveled overseas and likely acquired the infection through a mosquito bite. Researchers wondered how his wife got the Zika infection. Upon questioning, the couple confirmed that they had sexual intercourse a few days after his travel, and scientists believe this was one of the first confirmed cases of Zika virus being spread through sexual transmission. This story highlights a major shift in the thinking about the Zika virus. While we are well aware of the transmission of Zika through mosquitoes, we now need to know that Zika can be transmitted through sexual contact from men to their partners. In short, Zika virus is a sexually transmitted disease. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed what had been feared that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain disorders. This has put many young couples living in Zika-affected areas, such as Puerto Rico and Brazil, as well as those traveling to these areas, in a quandary about planning a pregnancy. The question I am most often asked by young couples who fear the complications of microcephaly (small heads and brains) in their newborns is, "How long should one wait before having unprotected sex with a partner who is returning from a Zika-affected area?" The CDC recommends that if a man lives in a Zika-affected area or is traveling from this area and has possible symptoms of the virus such as fever and rash, then he should abstain from sexual contact for at least 6 months or use a condom. Why? Because while the symptoms of fever and rash resolve in a week, the Zika virus is present in the semen for months from men who have had a symptomatic Zika infection. What if the male partner did not have any symptoms? Studies show that four out of five people with a Zika infection do not show any symptoms of the virus. At present it is unknown whether asymptomatic men can transmit the virus to their sexual partners. So the CDC recommends that if a man lives in or has traveled in a Zika-affected area and does not show any symptoms of infection, he should still abstain from sex or use condoms for two months after returning from travel in order to prevent any risk of transmission. Women in these areas need to be extra vigilant about using insect repellent. According to the CDC, women may safely use Deet, a strong repellent, during pregnancy, saying that the risk of Zika is far worse than that posed by repellents. All this highlights another major point: We still know little about the Zika virus and its complications, and the CDC's recommendations are evolving every few months. We do know that the virus is spreading to more and more areas. Presently, there are 43 countries and territories, mostly in South American and Central America. Experts say it is inevitable that the virus will spread to the Southern United States, perhaps as soon as this summer. Already, it is found in northern Mexico and Puerto Rico. One of the greatest public health challenges will be to halt the further spread. For this the CDC requires more funding, which Congress has not released. President Barack Obama had requested $1.8 billion in February. Part of that is coming from money leftover from the Ebola virus scare. The balance roughly $1.3 billion is a small price compared to that of treating the complications of the Zika virus. If successful, we will have alleviated fear and anxiety among millions of young couples in the Southern United States who wish to have a healthy baby. Dr. Manoj Jain is an infectious disease physician in Memphis.
FILE - In this April 14, 2015 file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
SHARE By Michael Collins of The Commercial Appeal WASHINGTON The reports delivered to U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and other lawmakers last week were blunt in their assessment of the fight against ISIS and terrorism. The ideology of ISIS echoes Nazism in its genocidal ambitions and tone, one counterterrorism expert warned. Last month's bombings in Brussels leave no doubt that the threat ISIS poses to the West is far greater than anticipated, concluded another. The potential for an ISIS-directed attack in the United States is real and could be similar to the massacres that killed dozens in Brussels and Paris, predicted yet another. Corker, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the warnings underscore what U.S. officials have long known would be a prolonged battle against ISIS and terrorism. "This is not something that's going to be short term," he said. "The root cause of what is happening in the Middle East is going to take decades to overcome." Corker called the experts before his committee last week to get an update on how the United States and its international partners can best confront ISIS and the threat of transnational terrorism. Afterward, he said their testimony made clear that a lot of challenges lie ahead and the challenges exist on multiple fronts. One on front, ISIS has developed an unprecedented ability to communicate with its followers across the world. New technology allows ISIS to use encrypted platforms for communications, making it more difficult for intelligence agencies to monitor those activities on the same level as before. Intelligence gathering and sharing are crucial to stopping ISIS, Corker said. But that has proven problematic, particularly in Europe, where many countries are reluctant to share secrets with their neighbors and where privacy concerns often trump security matters, he said. "For a period of time, in our own country, the pendulum was swinging in the wrong direction relative to this issue," Corker said. "Hopefully, with what we've seen happening in other places and what has happened in our own country, our own citizenry understands the importance of us interdicting and doing the things that are necessary on the intelligence front." In the United States, the principal threat continues to be from home-grown, ISIS-inspired actors like Mohammad Abdulazeez, who opened fire last summer on a military recruiting station and a Navy and Marine Corps operational support center in Chattanooga, said Matthew Olsen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington. Five servicemen were killed in the attacks. The FBI reported last year that homegrown, violent extremist cases totaled almost 900, had been reported in every state, and that most of them were connected to ISIS. On another front, more than 250 Americans have traveled to Syria and Iraq or have at least tried to join ISIS fighters, Olsen told the committee. "The fact that so many Americans have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight, along with thousands more from visa waiver countries in Europe, raises the real concern that these individuals could be deployed here to conduct attacks similar to the attacks in Paris and Brussels," he said. While intelligence gathering remains the best way to fight terrorism, Corker said, Americans in Chattanooga or New York or Washington or other U.S. cities also can play a role, just like the Brussels taxi driver hailed as a hero for leading police to the apartment of the three airport bombers. The driver told police he had grown suspicious of the three men because they were overly protective of their bags when he took them to the airport. Americans, too, should be on the lookout for unusual behavior or anything suspicious, Corker said. "We've all got to be aware of our surroundings, aware of the people we come into contact with, and know that the threat is real," he said. "We've got to continue living life as we know it. We've just got to do so with greater awareness of our surroundings." April 15, 2016 - J.W. Wilson stands in his warehouse of Gibson Companies. The small business owner states the county does not adhere to its LOSB program rules. The program was intended to help small local businesses contract with the county. But a county disparity study found that 55 percent of the county's contracts went to businesses outside of Shelby. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal) By Linda A. Moore of The Commercial Appeal Last year J.W. Gibson, president of Gibson Industries, didn't get a $629,000 contract to sell office supplies to Shelby County. The bid originally went to a large, out-of-state provider, which was subsequently rejected by the County Commission after Gibson raised his concerns about the bid process. The contract was later awarded to another, larger provider that subcontracted with a different locally owned small business. That Gibson, who is African American, didn't land the contract is not unusual, nor is the fact that it originally went to a business outside of the county. As the County Commission prepares to dig deeper into the findings of a recently received study on the diversity of its contractors, Gibson's inability to do business with the county sheds light on how county purchasing has not only failed to be racially inclusive, but has left many locally owned firms and small businesses out of the equation. The $310,000 study was conducted by Oakland, California-based Mason Tillman Associates. The consultants analyzed purchasing data from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014 and found that more than 88 percent of the county's contracts went to businesses owned by white men. It also found that 55 percent of the county's contract dollars, $104.5 million, goes to firms outside Shelby County, sending $48.6 million to vendors in other Tennessee counties, $54.9 million to vendors out of state and $918,805 to contractors outside the U.S. That's not a good financial formula, said county Commissioner Mark Billingsley, who believes money paid into county coffers by county taxpayers should circulate through the county to local businesses and their employees. "When we spend our money locally it comes back to us locally," Billingsley said. "I think as one of the largest buyers of services and supplies in the county, we should be doing business here at home." Gibson, a county commissioner himself from 2006 to 2010, has been in business for 24 years and distributes medical supplies, laboratory equipment, office and janitorial supplies. Although unsuccessful with the county, he recently secured a $4 million contract with Shelby County Schools for office supplies. Gibson sponsored the ordinance that created the county's locally owned small business program, which mandates that 20 percent of the contract dollars go to small businesses in Shelby County. "I felt strongly that there was too much of our taxpayer dollars exiting the state of Tennessee without locally owned small businesses having a fair share at it. I can attest to that as a small business owner. I live and breathe that every day against the big boys with buying power," he said. The LOSB program was deliberately race- and gender-neutral, although the consultants' recommendations for the county include the creation of a program for minorities and women-owned businesses. The LOSB program has a sliding scale for small businesses, allowing bids to be accepted at up to 5 percent higher than the lowest bid. The study report puts LOSB participation at 8.64 percent of contract dollars, significantly less than required by the ordinance that created the program. But those numbers are wrong, said county chief administrative officer Harvey Kennedy. He provided the quarterly LOSB reports mandated by the ordinance that showed the numbers at 20 percent or higher. The study report is a draft and some numbers may be adjusted. "We have asked for an Excel spreadsheet of the information that they used to compile that information," Kennedy said. Still, many local small business owners have little faith in the program. In the disparity report's anecdotal comments from small business owners of both genders and all races, some benefited from the LOSB program, while another said it needed stricter monitoring and others who were certified LOSB vendors found no value at all. One minority female business owner said she made no effort to become certified because she said owners must be part of the "insider network" to do business with the county. Participants in that portion of the study remained anonymous in the report. "It's nice to be certified with Shelby County but what does that mean if you're not actually getting any true business from them?" she said. "I would be happy to become certified with the County if they were truly interested in working with me." Study consultants recommended that the LOSB program be monitored more closely and that there be a rotation of firms to fulfill small contracts. Gibson believes other corrections should address the fact that small contracts under $5,000 require no advertising and no competitive bids. "As a commissioner I put forth that ordinance and they turned it around and said to hell with it," he said. "We're going to do it our way and our way is 55 percent going outside the county. It's a direct smack in the face of the locally owned small business initiative."October 2, 2014 - Memphis and Shelby County Health Department employees Torrian Fasom (left) and McKinley Wallace take samples of standing water to check for mosquito larvae. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)
By Michael Collins of The Commercial Appeal WASHINGTON Dr. Tim Jones isn't looking to cause alarm. He just wants everyone to be ready. Public health officials in Tennessee are preparing for more cases of Zika virus to be reported in the state with summer and mosquito season approaching. Of the 346 cases of Zika confirmed in the continental United States, only two have been in Tennessee and, like all the others, both involved people who had recently traveled to other countries or territories where the virus is prevalent. But with federal health officials warning last week that a Zika outbreak could affect much of the United States and potentially overwhelm federal resources, states like Tennessee are stepping up their own preparations for whatever may come. "We know we're going to have more cases" in Tennessee, said Jones, the state epidemiologist. "With what we know now or what we reasonably expect to happen in the coming months, I think we are doing everything that can be done." The state recently updated its testing lab so that, within hours, it is capable of confirming suspected cases of Zika, Jones said. Confirming the two previously reported cases took weeks because the state relied on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to do the lab work."They obviously have a huge backlog, and it was taking three weeks or a month once we sent a sample down there for them to get the results out," Jones said. With the changes to the state lab, "we would be getting results back in a day," he said. State officials also are starting to hold regional training sessions for mayors, public works departments and other local officials to educate them about Zika and prevention efforts. The state also has begun requiring cases of microcephaly a birth defect linked to Zika be reported to public health officials. In Shelby County, where one of the two Tennessee cases has been confirmed, public health officials have been working closely with the state to keep on top of the latest developments about Zika, said Alisa Haushalter, director of the county health department. While there is no statewide mosquito-eradication program in Tennessee, Shelby County has a robust program that has been in place for years because of the region's history with yellow fever epidemics. The county spends $2.5 million a year on mosquito control. Funding for the program comes from a 75-cent tax on monthly utility bills. Mosquitoes and larvae are captured and tested for different diseases, such as West Nile virus. The county is buying additional equipment that will allow it to capture the type of mosquito that can spread Zika, Haushalter said. Because of the area's geography and climate, mosquito season in the Memphis area starts around mid-April and can run all the way through October. Spraying is done only in targeted areas, but property owners can assist in mosquito eradication by emptying birdbaths or outdoor water bowls and getting rid of other pools of standing water that might be a mosquito breeding ground, Haushalter said. At a White House briefing last week, federal health officials stressed that while states have made progress in preparing for an outbreak of Zika, "they really have a lot of homework to do," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's not just the health department this is an all-of-government, all-of-community effort," Schuchat said. "People need to take personal responsibility, as well as what the community is doing." Zika is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, but also can be transmitted through sexual contact. Officials initially thought the mosquito that can carry the virus was limited to a dozen states but acknowledged last week it is present in at least 30 states, including Tennessee, and reaches much farther northward than anticipated. The best defense is for Tennesseans to educate themselves about Zika and know how to protect themselves from contracting the virus, Jones said. "We don't want them to stay up at night, being afraid or canceling picnics," he said. "That is not warranted." For more information on Zika, see http://tn.gov/health/topic/zika-virus. Logan McNeil, 13, suggests progress could be made between races if people could listen to each other. (Jane Roberts/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Jane Roberts of The Commercial Appeal In the aftermath of Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri, and dozens of other police-related deaths around the nation, including Memphis, dozens of parents came to the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday to begin changing the script for what black and Latino families simply call "the talk." "I don't know the talk white America has in their homes, but I know what our (talk) is," said Nadid Amatullah-Matin, whose stepson, Abdul Kamal, was shot by police after an altercation at his estranged wife's home in New Jersey in 2013. He was unarmed. She read the description of his bullet wounds from the police report. "I shake when I see a police officer," she told the mostly African-American audience in the Parent2Parent symposium. "I thought we had educated ourselves and our kids, that we made enough money to live in a nice house. That doesn't protect you from it. "Wake up, because this is genocide going on. We don't wear physical shackles anymore, but they are still there," she said. Saturday's discussion was part of The Ethics Project, a St. Louis-based effort to help white parents understand the terror families of color have that their sons, fathers, uncles and grandfathers will encounter the police. "It's so much a part of our nature, we can't let our sons out of the front doors without giving them instruction on how to come back alive," said Dr. Christi Griffin, founder of the project. Days after Brown's death in 2014 in Ferguson, Griffin was in a mixed-race town hall meeting, listening as local African-Americans told of their experiences with the police. "I could feel so many people in the audience who were white had been given a wake-up call. They had no way to know our reality, that our sons and fathers walk out the door every single day not knowing what they will encounter," she said. "It seemed very, very apparent to me that something needed to be done." Griffin, a lawyer for 23 years in St. Louis, began gathering white audiences across St. Louis to hear the stories and join the battle for change. Saturday's session with the 17th symposium she has led and the first outside St. Louis. The discussion, emotional and raw, will be part of the documentary "The Talk" airing on PBS this fall. The film, directed by two-time Emmy-winner Geeta Gandbhir, includes conversations about police brutality against men and women and how police academies are responding with changes in training. "When PBS reached out to me, it was the perfect backdrop to be at the National Civil Rights Museum," Griffin said. The panel included five speakers, including Omar Paez from Memphis, who spoke about the talk Hispanic parents have with their children. "It is not stop, don't shoot," he said. "What we talk about is 'What happens if you don't see me tomorrow? Where do I start looking for you?' "It may not be at the local precinct or where you think to look," he said, noting that rhetoric in the presidential campaign about immigrants and Hispanics in particular has triggered new levels of anxiety for Hispanic children who are being taunted in school about being deported "as soon as we have a new president." Tomica McNeil, a black woman who said she was detained by police in Mississippi and later received an apology from the district attorney asked for unity. "If we don't help our counterparts, white or Latino, to help us this in dialogue it has to get in other households we are going to stay in this trouble." For more information on The Ethics Project, go to theethicsproject.org Pupils in Michele Dial's first-grade class at Lakeland Elementary (from left) Jeremiah Logan, 6; Oliver Ball, 6; Kaiden Mullins, 7; and Mason Ladd, 7, participate in a math exercise as part of the Common Core curriculum. State education officials have approved new English and math standards, marking the symbolic end of controversial Common Core standards in Tennessee. (Commercial Appeal file photo) SHARE By Melanie Balakit, The Tennessean State education officials have approved new English and math standards, marking the symbolic end of controversial Common Core standards in Tennessee. Tennessee is the latest state to phase out Common Core, joining Indiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Like its predecessors, Tennessee's English and math standards have a new name, but still have roots in Common Core. Common Core standards ignited a political brawl last year when state lawmakers, who saw the standards as federal overreach, pushed to scrap them. In response to cries for state-specific standards, Gov. Bill Haslam authorized a review of the state's English and math standards. The state developed a more rigorous review process to assess the standards, including two online public reviews, educator review and legislative input. The review process took almost two years. "We started with the current state standards. From there, we executed an unprecedented transparent, comprehensive review and replacement process," State Board of Education Executive Director Sara Heyburn said. "The results were a set of new, Tennessee-specific standards brought to us by the Standards Recommendation Committee, whose members were appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and confirmed by the General Assembly," Heyburn said. Standards set grade- and subject-specific goals in the classroom. The state's new standards, known as Tennessee Academic Standards, clarify the progression of standards and clarify glossary definitions of math and English standards. In math, additional clarification was added to standards regarding math formulas, and several bridge math standards were eliminated to further narrow the course content. Tennessee adopted Common Core in 2010 with little controversy as part of the state's application to the Race to the Top federal funding. Common Core was created by the National Governors Association to ensure all students graduate with the same skills, no matter the state where they live. A total of 45 states adopted Common Core, and several states have either dropped the standards or are reviewing them. Tennessee's new state test, TNReady, is still aligned to Common Core standards. "Tennessee's new Academic Standards for math and ELA are comprehensive, rigorous and a step forward for Tennessee students," said Fielding Rolston, state Board of Education chairman, in a news release. "We are very grateful to all of the parents, teachers, and leaders who took part in the public review process to help create these new standards." Schools will implement the Tennessee Academic Standards for mathematics and English language arts in the 2017-18 school year. The State Board of Education will work with the State Department of Education for education training and implementation, Heyburn said. The State Board of Education is leading reviews of the state's social studies and science standards. April 15, 2016 - Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo (left) and Charles Speed with Germantown Lumber stand with shovels ready for during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site where the former Saddle Creek fountain will be restored behind the Germantown Civic Club Plaza. Germantown Leadership class of 2016 has led the capital campaign for the project. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Jane Roberts of The Commercial Appeal The sage who suggested it's easier to tame a wild idea than invigorate a mild one would have smiled to see blue ribbons fluttering on shovel handles Friday as Leadership Germantown Class of 2016 put its stake in the ground for the newly-named Fountain of Youth. In two weeks, the class hopes crowds will line the streets when the city's long-loved fountain returns to town and its new home between the Pickering Center and Tennessee Genealogical Society offices off Poplar Pike. For decades, the four-tiered iron fixture welcomed residents and guests at the northeast corner of Poplar and West Farmington part of the original Shops of Saddle Creek, which opened in 1987. When the shopping center began planning for expansion two years ago, it was mothballed. "My office is in Market Square. I'd drive past it multiple times a day. When it would freeze over in the winter, it was just so beautiful. I hated to miss that," said Alisha Dumas. She and 17 other members of the Leadership Germantown class decided to save it as their class project, which initially required assessing the damage and seeking the city's help in the fountain's revival. The fountain restoration effort has a website (gtownfoy2016.com), Facebook page, logo, T-shirt and sponsorship campaign. Engraved pavers, incorporated in the hardscaping, are selling for $75. "Storage means it was outside, next to the public works garage sitting on bread pallets," said Dan Roberts, class member. "It was in three or four pieces with a crack in the eight-foot basin. That is the part that really needs to be fixed." The fountain is at Robinson Iron Corp. in Alexander City, Alabama. The cost of repairs, plus delivery, are estimated at $6,800. The class gift includes $5,000 for upkeep for three years, including the cost of sustainable landscaping. "So far, we've raised $25,000," Roberts told the crowd Friday. "Our plan is to get to $75,000. "I've got the (paver) forms in my pocket," he said. "I remember these more than I remember my wallet and car keys now." The remainder will go to the eight public schools in Germantown five run by Germantown Municipal School District and three Shelby County Schools operates. "What we are doing with they funds is even more valuable," Dumas said. "They go to young people, those who will be the future leaders in the community." The city bought the fountain for $10 when Saddle Creek construction started. Center operators had no plans for the water feature. "We're very, very grateful for all the effort the Leadership Germantown class has put into this project. Each class has put together a significant project in the community, but this one is probably the largest in magnitude and scope," said Mayor Mike Palazzolo, noting the class' new knowledge of the city's list of necessary approvals. "We appreciate your patience and understanding about process," he said, laughing. "You've captured a city icon. It's incredible. Next year's class will have a lot to live up to." The fountain is expected to be delivered April 29. The base will be planted and landscaped in mid-June, with a ribbon-cutting to follow. Class member Josh Cathey, chief operating officer at GMSD, attended the groundbreaking with his young son. "One of the little bricks will have his name on it. In 20 or 30 years, he can come back and see he was part of this," Cathey said. "I had no idea the level of emotional attachment and passion this fountain had in Germantown until we started talking about where we were going to put it, and how we were going to move it," he said. "It was very eye-opening for me." Associated Press files Labor organizers held a day of demonstrations across the country last Thursday for a $15 minimum wage in a repeat of strikes and protests, such as this one near a McDonald's restaurant in Times Square, held last year. "Fight for $15" organizers, including the Service Employees International Union, scheduled protests last week in 320 cities, including Memphis. The campaign began with fast-food workers in New York City in 2012. SHARE Mike Groll/Associated Press Last month, supporters of a $15 wage rallied at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. March 31, a deal was struck to raise the minimum toward $15 per hour, but it wasn't a uniform statewide increase. Celina Alvarez, 51, works at Jugueria de regreso al Eden, her shop in the Queens borough of New York, Monday Aug. 3, 2015. As a campaign to raise the minimum wage as high as $15 has rolled to victory in such places as Seattle, Los Angeles and New York, it has bumped up against a harsh reality: Plenty of scofflaw businesses don't pay the legal minimum now and probably won't pay the new, higher wages either. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg) By Jared Bernstein and Ben Spielberg, Special to The Washington Post In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the nation's first minimum-wage law. It set the wage at $0.25 an hour and covered only a fifth of the workforce. Speaking to the country the night before he signed the bill, Roosevelt told listeners to "not let any calamity-howling executive with an income of $1,000 a day" tell them "that a wage of $11 a week is going to have a disastrous effect on all American industry." Last August, almost 80 years later, the city council of Birmingham, Alabama, voted 7 to 0 (with one abstention) to become the first city in the Deep South to enact a minimum wage above today's federal level of $7.25. The ordinance planned an increase to $8.50 per hour by July 2016, with a second increase to $10.10 set for July 2017. In response, state lawmakers leapt from "calamity-howling" to obstructionism. In February, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill designed to block Birmingham and other cities not just from raising the local wage floor, but also from mandating benefits such as paid sick leave. Alabama's Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard insisted that the bill isn't about the policies themselves, but about preventing "all sorts of problems" that arise when cities are allowed to set their own minimum wages, presumably because there's nothing preventing local businesses from relocating to avoid the higher labor costs engendered by an increase. It's not a crazy concern. When the national minimum wage goes up, no business is at a competitive disadvantage they all face the same wage floor. It's fair to wonder whether sub-national minimum wages might encourage businesses to avoid an increase by moving, a question with implications for people all over the country from Olympia, Washington, to Lexington, Kentucky, to Bangor, Maine who are trying to secure a raise. The geographical variation that has sprung up over time, however, has allowed economists to test Hubbard's claims, and the evidence supports the actions of the Birmingham city council. Partly because of federal inaction, 29 states, plus the District of Columbia, have set minimum wages above the federal level, with floors ranging from $7.50 in Maine and New Mexico to $10 in Massachusetts and California to $10.50 in Washington, D.C. (rising to $11.50 in July). Southern states are the least likely to be in this group. City lawmakers began to adopt higher wage floors at the local level more than a decade ago. Four counties and 19 cities have minimums above their state's level, including Santa Fe ($10.84), San Francisco ($12.25) and SeaTac, Wash. ($15.24). Several more have either proposed or passed higher minimum-wage laws that have yet to take effect. This variation has provided opportunities for something rare in empirical economics: quasi-experimental studies. In one famous paper, economists Alan Krueger and David Card compared fast-food employment in New Jersey, which raised its minimum wage in 1992, with that in Pennsylvania, which did not. "We find no indication that the rise in the minimum wage reduced employment," they concluded. Are sub-state localities different from states? Another important study gets at this question by looking at county-level data, comparing every contiguous county across state borders where minimum wages differed over the course of 16 years. Instead of "all sorts of problems," the researchers found "no evidence of job losses for high impact sectors such as restaurants and retail." Case studies of cities with higher wage floors are less common, but those that have been done support the findings of the state and county research. Studies of San Francisco and Santa Fe, the two cities with the longest track records of higher minimums, reveal "no statistically significant negative effects on employment or hours (including in low-wage industries such as restaurants)." Businesses don't appear to relocate in response to local minimum-wage increases (at least not enough to create significant job losses), for several reasons. First, restaurants and other retailers, which are disproportionate employers of low-wage labor, must stay near their customers. Second, there are other ways to absorb higher wage costs than by laying off workers. Some evidence, for instance, suggests that companies raise prices, generally by less than 1 percent per every 10 percent increase in the wage. They may also become more efficient. The prospect of higher labor costs can incentivize employers to eliminate waste and to raise performance standards, while at the same time higher wages enhance workers' motivation. Companies end up with less turnover and shorter vacancy periods when filling job slots. Finally, companies can cut profit margins or top-level salaries to meet higher wage mandates. This last mechanism is one reason such policies get so much pushback from business, and it is particularly germane in an economy where income inequality stands at historically high levels. According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, the real earnings of low-wage workers in Alabama are down 6 percent compared with 1979, while those of the state's highest-paid workers are up 17 percent. Those low-wage workers have been left behind. And now the Alabama political establishment has blocked action to help them. This is the same political establishment that professes to support "local control" when it finds it convenient. For example, dozens of Alabama state representatives who voted to pre-empt Birmingham's minimum-wage ordinance were all for "necessary freedoms to address ... issues at the local level" when voting on a school-reform bill in 2013. Rep. David Faulkner, sponsor of the pre-emption bill, even acknowledged the contradiction: "While we say that we want local control of certain things, I don't believe the minimum wage is one of those." No wonder Birmingham's citizens and city council tried to fight back. The council voted to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 immediately to try to pre-empt the pre-emption bill, and Raise Up Alabama, a coalition including workers, unions and clergy members, is fighting the state's decision. If they lose the battle, it won't be because the facts weren't on their side. Jared Bernstein, a former chief economist to Vice President Biden, is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Ben Spielberg works on issues related to inequality, economic opportunity and full employment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Associated Press Files President Franklin Roosevelt appeals to the nation via radio for immediate enrollment of all employers under the July 1933 agreement to raise wages and create jobs. The bill Roosevelt signed set a 25-cents-an-hour minimum wage. SHARE By Thomas C. Leonard, Los Angeles Times When California legislators voted to raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022, labor activists cheered. Discounting fears that a $15 minimum might cost some low-wage workers their jobs, activists and their political allies celebrated a victory for fairness and economic justice. Progressive labor activists took a very different view 100 years ago, when 15 states established America's first minimum wages. Labor reformers then believed that a legal minimum would hand a raise to deserving white Anglo-Saxon men, and a pink slip to their undeserving competitors: "racially undesirable" immigrants, the mentally and physically disabled, and women. The original progressives hailed minimum-wage-caused job losses among these groups as a positive benefit to the U.S. economy and to Anglo-Saxon racial integrity. In 1910, 22 percent of the U.S. workforce was foreign-born. A Who's Who of American economic reform warned that immigration was leading to "race suicide," what President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 called the "greatest problem of civilization." This race suicide theory claimed that because non-Anglo-Saxon immigrants had low living standards, their competition in the labor market undercut the wages of the American workingman. The key assumption was that Anglo-Saxon natives were more productive, but that immigrants worked cheap. As Stanford sociologist and avowed nativist Edward A. Ross put it, "the coolie, though he cannot outdo the American, can underlive him." Woodrow Wilson, echoing many others, said that Chinese immigrants could "live upon a handful of rice for a pittance." Similar charges were made against Jews and Catholics arriving from southern and eastern Europe. The American-born worker, who refused to lower his family's living standard to the immigrant's level, opted instead to have fewer children. Thus, concluded the theory, the inferior races would outbreed and displace their white Anglo-Saxon betters. Progressive economists proposed a minimum wage as the ideal remedy. It lifted up the deserving while excluding the unworthy and did both in the name of progress. Journalist and progressive social reformer Paul Kellogg in 1913 advocated a minimum wage of $3 per day for all immigrants, double the $1.50 per day ordinary laborers were then paid. Kellogg knew that no firm would hire an unskilled immigrant for $3 per day. That was the purpose of his high minimum wage, as he wrote, to exclude "Angelo Lucca and Alexis Spivak" from American shores, thus protecting American jobs for "John Smith and Michael Murphy and Carl Sneider." Kellogg targeted "racially undesirable" immigrants, but a high minimum wage would also protect the American workingman from unworthy economic competition already in the American workforce. The developmentally disabled, then called "feeble minded" or "defective," also were treated by many labor reformers as low-wage threats. Unable to command a minimum wage, they too would be pushed into unemployment and then could be removed to institutions or to labor colonies. According to British reformers Beatrice and Sidney Webb, when a minimum wage cost a disabled person his job, this was "not a mark of social disease, but actually of social health." In the case of women, the minimum-wage argument was subtler than the eugenic hysteria directed at immigrants and the disabled. Rather, it was couched in the paternalism of protecting women's health and virtue. In reality, labor reformers wanted to protect employment from women as much as they wanted to protect women from employment. Women made up 21 percent of the U.S. workforce in 1910 and reformers like Florence Kelley, who led the campaign for minimum wages, accused them of undercutting male breadwinners entitled to a "family wage." Labor reformers have far more inclusive views these days. Unlike their namesakes, 21st century progressives consider job losses a social cost, not a putative social benefit. Much of the economic debate about raising the minimum wage in California and New York has in fact centered on how best to avoid causing unemployment. Today's progressives would say their namesakes were wrong on race and gender and wrong on the effects of the minimum wage on employment. We know better today, they say. The original progressives were indeed wrong reprehensibly so on race and gender (even if the 2016 presidential campaign demonstrates that part of the electorate thinks otherwise). But were they wrong that a minimum wage set high enough will cost low-wage workers their jobs? If they were right, and a $15 per hour minimum by 2022 proves to be too high too fast, the workers who will lose their jobs will disproportionately be people of color, immigrants, the disabled and women the very people labor reformers vilified as low-wage threats a century ago. Thomas C. Leonard teaches economics and history at Princeton. SHARE Every year it seems, Shelby County Schools, after finding budget efficiencies, finds itself in a financial hole. SCS Superintendent Dorsey Hopson has told his school board and the Shelby County Commission, the local funding body for SCS, that the district is facing an $86 million budget deficit next school year. Hopson has laid out about $50 million in potential cuts, which school board members may or may not go along with. Even if they do, that still will leave the district in a $36 million financial hole. Will the board find a way to close that gap? Will county commissioners? Will the school district have to once again dip into its reserves? This year, the budget issue has a more alarming face that, we feel, puts the community at an educational crossroads at deciding what kind of public education system it wants. The cuts outlined by Hopson affect instruction. Is that the prudent road to take just as the district is beginning to make progress, especially in its iZone schools, toward having students master core subjects at grade level? Is it wise for the district to be forced to make cuts that impact what happens in the classroom when the SCS still has scores of failing schools? It is not. But building the community's and state's will to adequately fund public education which our business, government and criminal justice leaders say is key to this city's future prosperity and safety has been difficult. The cuts include the CLUE program, which would eliminate 34 teacher positions from the gifted and talented program for prekindergarten through second grade, saving $3.2 million. The program would only be available to students the state requires to be placed in it. Other cuts would involve $18 million to the academics department, $2.5 million to innovation, $9 million to business operations and $19.5 million across other departments. Another $14.6 million in cuts could come from cutting staff proportional to lost enrollment. That would include teachers, guidance counselors and other school-based staff, but would not affect any staff-to-student ratios. The district last year decided to close a $36 million budget shortfall using its fund balance, but we agree with Hopson that "smart business practices dictate" that the district shouldn't rely on that on a recurring basis because it is a sure way to deplete the fund if the district keeps making withdrawals without replacing the money. While some county commissioners have not ruled out helping the district, Hopson surely will be asked if the district has found every possible efficiency. That is a legitimate question. Hopson, however, can point out that the district has shed more than 2,000 jobs since the legacy Memphis City Schools merged with the legacy county school district. He also can counter the perception that the district's staffing is top-heavy. The district's administration accounts for about 2 percent of the district's budget. The district does have an efficiency problem when it comes to underutilized schools. After saying there were no plans to close schools this year, Hopson switched gears Wednesday night when he told school board members the district could move up its time line and close as many as 10 schools before the fall, including district-controlled schools and consistently underperforming charters, saving the district between $6 million and $8 million. That is easier said than done. Closing a neighborhood school always draws the ire of residents and some school board members. When money is short, the options for what has to be sacrificed to pay the bills never are good. But after years of cuts and the loss of students (and the state education dollars that follow them) to charter and Achievement School District schools while overhead costs have not made a corresponding drop, the district finds itself having to outline cuts that impact the classroom. Can this community afford to let that happen? SHARE Kathy Gibson By Kathy Buckman Gibson, Special to Viewpoint I am excited to announce that the Shelby County Early Childhood Education Plan (SCECEP) will officially launch this Thursday at the Macon Cove Campus of Southwest Tennessee Community College. For many years, my family and I have supported efforts to improve education in Shelby County, with a focus on early childhood and pre-K. We have not been alone in these efforts. Whether it is the Greater Memphis Chamber pre-K moon mission, the effort to fund pre-K via a tax referendum or a collaboration that helped Shelby County receive a U.S. Department of Education pre-K expansion grant, our community has built momentum for early childhood education reform. The addition of the SCECEP, a comprehensive plan to add quality programming and capacity from birth through third grade, will help us continue building on that momentum and move us toward the ultimate goal of increasing the number of children reading proficiently at third grade. Currently, only 38 percent of Shelby County third-graders read on grade level. We must change this. Third-grade reading proficiency is one of the best predictors of high school graduation. When Shelby County received the federal pre-K expansion grant, it became clear there were deficiencies in early childhood education that needed to be addressed. PeopleFirst Partnership, a local nonprofit, with support from local philanthropies and the Boston Consulting Group, convened more than 30 organizations to study child care and education from birth to third grade. After months of intensive research, the SCECEP was approved on Dec. 18, 2015. The plan has 23 recommendations divided into three categories: birth to three, pre-K, and kindergarten through third grade. The recommendations are led by partners throughout Shelby County, including city and municipal school districts, the Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Tomorrow, Seeding Success, the Early Success Coalition and many others. Since its adoption, the SCECEP has played a role in key wins for education. On April 6, the Tennessee pre-K Quality Act, sponsored by state Rep. Mark White of Memphis, was signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam. With help from Literacy Mid-South and Seeding Success, summer literacy programs are being expanded to prevent summer slide. These are a few examples of the work the SCECEP already has begun, and I am thrilled about the progress we can make together moving forward. This work cannot be done alone, and it is gratifying to see partners come together to help. This plan will not be put on a shelf. Implementation has begun and will continue. I am convinced that with our community coming together to implement this plan, we will see more children having the skills in place to be reading at grade level by third grade. Reading on grade level will offer every child the best opportunity to graduate high school ready to enter the workforce or to attain a higher degree. I ask that you will join us in this work by volunteering, voting and advocating for our children at every opportunity. Kathy Buckman Gibson is chairwoman of the Shelby County Early Childhood Education Plan. 23 May 2022 - Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. SHARE By Larry Caplan Ticks are my most hated pest. They lie in ambush in tall grass, waiting for the next unsuspecting person or pet to wander by. They carry numerous diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. And they will spend several hours feeding on our blood. Ticks are not true insects, which have three body segments and six legs. Ticks are arachnids, a class of creatures related to insects. They have two body parts and, when mature, eight legs. It is important to note that they are not insects; this is why many insecticides used to control them have little effect. The three main tick species found in Southwestern Indiana include the American dog tick, the lone star tick, and the deer tick. All of these can be found in grassy places, especially if they are near wooded areas. All of them feed on multiple hosts at different stages of their development, including rodents, birds and dogs. All of them carry various diseases that can affect humans and pets. Tick control is difficult. Keep overgrown and heavy vegetation cleared and cut in infested areas. Eliminate unnecessary vegetation around yards or property, along wood edges, or along the edges of trails and paths. Treating the yard with insecticides doesn't work well again, because ticks are not insects and also because the products available don't last very long. For preventing outdoor exposure, avoid tick-infested areas, and wear protective clothing. Stay on established trails, and avoid brushing against vegetation. Wear light-colored clothing, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts so that ticks can be more easily seen. Tuck in your shirt and pull your socks over the pant cuffs. Apply an insect repellent to your shoes, socks and pants. Effective tick repellents are those containing DEET or permethrin. Occasionally check yourself and your children for ticks, especially on the head, groin and underarm areas. Inspect pets after they have been outdoors. If you do find one on you, don't panic. A tick is slow to attach itself to a person, and doesn't begin feeding and transmitting diseases for several hours. Use tweezers, and grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible. Pull upward with a steady, even pressure. Yanking the tick quickly can leave the head inside your skin, causing an infection. Don't squeeze, crush, or puncture the tick, and don't handle it with your bare hands. After removing the tick, flush it down the toilet, then disinfect the bite site and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Consult a physician immediately if a rash or flu-like symptoms develop. Ask my office for a link to our publication on ticks to get more information on identifying the different ticks, and the various diseases they carry. For more information on ticks, contact the Purdue Extension Service at 812-435-5287, and ask for publication E-71, "Ticks." Larry Caplan is an extension educator-horticulture with the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Vanderburgh County/Southwestern Indiana. You can send email to him at LCaplan@purdue.edu. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Charles Blackburn is welcomed back home by kiss girl Lena Phelps of Evansville during a welcome home parade for veterans at Evansville Regional Airport while taking part in the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana's fourth Honor Flight to Washington D.C., Saturday. Thousands of individuals attended the parade in support of the 85 veterans that took part in Saturday's Honor Flight. SHARE JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Asya Mathies, 5, of Evansville waves flags for veterans while sitting on her father's shoulders during a welcome home parade for veterans at Evansville Regional Airport who took part in the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana's fourth Honor Flight to Washington D.C., Saturday. Thousands of individuals attended the parade in support of the 85 veterans that took part in Saturday's Honor Flight. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS World War II veteran Frank Turber is welcomed back home by Sen., Jim Tomes during a welcome home parade for veterans at Evansville Regional Airport while taking part in the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana's fourth Honor Flight to Washington D.C., Saturday. Thousands of individuals attended the parade in support of the 85 veterans that took part in Saturday's Honor Flight. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Korean War veteran Fredrick Roeder gets a kiss on the cheek from kiss girl Danielle Shrode during a welcome home parade for veterans at Evansville Regional Airport while taking part in the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana's fourth Honor Flight to Washington D.C., Saturday. Thousands of individuals attended the parade in support of the 85 veterans that took part in Saturday's Honor Flight. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Vehicles exit from the Evansville Regional Airport at the conclusion of the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana's fourth Honor Flight to Washington D.C., Saturday. Thousands of individuals attended a welcome home parade in support of the 85 veterans that took part in Saturday's Honor Flight. By Jessie Higgins of the Courier and Press The halls of Evansville Regional Airport were filled with excitement Saturday morning as 80 local World War II and Korean War veterans left for Washington D.C. on the area's fourth Honor Flight. "I don't know why they went to all this trouble," World War II veteran Don Prickett said with a grin and a look of obvious excitement on his face. Prickett's daughter, Debbie Storm, laughed. "That sums him up," she said. This was Honor Flight of Southern Indiana's fourth Washington trip. The 80 veterans and their companions spent Saturday touring war memorials and monuments. They watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and went on a general tour of Washington. The flight took more Korean War veterans than previous trips. "I've come to see them take off all of the times they've gone," Joseph Raley, a Korean War veteran, said with a smile Saturday morning, as he readied to board the plane. Raley served in the Marine Corp. during the conflict. "I spent my 21st birthday there," he said. Another Korean War veteran to make the trip Saturday, Sylvester Nord, was in the Army's Infantry during the conflict. "I was on the front for five months," Nord said. Nord said he spent those months chasing Chinese soldiers up and down North Korean mountainsides until he wounded in combat. "On Sept. 20, 1951 I was wounded," Nord said. "I didn't think I was in any danger that night. Of course, that's when it happened." Honor Flights are free to the veterans. Local veterans can register to attend an upcoming trip at honorflightsi.org. The next Honor Flight out of Evansville will be held Oct. 22, 2016. SHARE By Sarah Loesch of the Courier and Press Jim Madison said Indiana's bicentennial offers everyone an opportunity to learn more about the past, present and future. "Things are always changing," Madison said. "I think that is one thing historians bring to the table. We know that what is will not be." Madison was the first lecturer in the Shoulder's Family Commons Lecture Series at Harrison High School. He is the Thomas and Kathyrn Miller Professor Emeritus of History at Indiana University and is on the board of Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Historical Society. He most recently published a book on Indiana history called Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana. Madison said in recent years the knowledge surrounding Indiana history has grown, especially since he wrote his first book on the subject in the 1980s. One piece of knowledge which is still not definite is the meaning behind the word Hoosier. Madison said no one will probably ever know what it means and he likes that. "It makes Hoosiers kind of a mystical, magical people," he said. "We're special, we Hoosiers." The professor said he urges people to find their story and meaning for the word. Once they have one they like, he wants people to spread it. Despite the constant change with history, Madison said there is one thing in Indiana which will never change. Indiana has a brand. "We are Hoosiers. I think we need to embrace it," he said. "More importantly we need to know where we are." Madison said being globally aware is important. Conversations need to happen that discuss where Indiana currently is as a society and where its citizens see it going, he said. Cory Herrin, principal of the Indiana Career and Technical Center, said it's important to his family to understand their origins. Herrin said as an Evansville native he has always had the interest of Indiana history, but he appreciated how Madison presented it. He said it was interesting to see the continuum of how early events continued to impact Indiana throughout the years and into today. "We are people of the world, but yet we are all anchored in one location," he said. "Really to understand your anchor you have to really know your history, where you are and where that comes from." By Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY NETWORK IndyStar Washington bureau SHELBYVILLE, Ind. Rep. Todd Young ran for the House in 2010 as a fiscal conservative who would help rein in spending. After defeating Democratic incumbent Baron Hill one of the wins that contributed to the Republican takeover of the House Young eagerly took a seat on the House Budget Committee. "This will be ground zero in making decisions about what our priorities are at the federal level of government," Young said at the time. "We're going to shake things up." Today, as Young seeks the GOP nomination to run against Hill for the Senate seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Dan Coats, he's facing an electorate complaining that Washington hasn't been shaken up enough. In a year in which anti-establishment candidates are collecting the most GOP presidential delegates, Young is the Senate Republican candidate who best represents party leaders. He's backed by the Chamber of Commerce, which is running $1 million in ads touting Young's candidacy. He has a long list of endorsements from Indiana GOP officials, and is supported by outside groups with ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. CANVASS PODCAST: Indiana Primary Election Preview "The D.C. establishment thinks that they can buy your vote," Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Young's May 3 primary opponent, charged in a recent fundraising missive. "They have chosen Todd Young to play as their puppet in this upcoming election." Young argues Stutzman may talk like a tough conservative, but doesn't have much to show for it. "We need people in Washington who do more than give speeches and cast votes," Young said at the Shelby County Lincoln Day Dinner this month. "I'm not running on some vague platitudes. I'm running based on my record." That's a record that includes having beaten Hill once, secured an influential committee assignment and scored some legislative success. His record also includes something he doesn't highlight on the campaign trial: being one of the few House Republicans willing to end the partial government shutdown in 2013, which earned him the ire of tea party groups. But Jonna Reece, vice chairwoman of the Delaware County Republican Party, likes a record she says shows Young makes his own decisions. "His stance is not always the popular stance," Reece said. "I think that's important." Raised primarily in Indianapolis and Carmel, Young said he did not grow up in a political home. His parents a small-business man and a registered nurse had never attended a political rally or Lincoln Day Dinner before Young ran for office. Young, 43, did marry into a politically connected family. His wife, Jenny, a fellow attorney, is the niece of former Vice President Dan Quayle. The couple and their four young children live in Bloomington, one of the state's most liberal communities. "I'm a Bloomington conservative," Young says in his stump speech. "My wife and I call it missionary work." Young's political experience before running for Congress included stints with the conservative Heritage Foundation and former Sen. Dick Lugar, who was defeated in the 2012 primary after being accused of becoming too moderate. The part of Young's biography he emphasizes frequently on the campaign trail is his service in the Marines, and degree from the U.S. Naval Academy. It's a background that comes through in Young's demeanor, including the intensity and discipline with which he often speaks. "The fact that he trained as a leader resonated with me," said Charlie Hocker, a retiree from Greensburg who heard Young at a candidate forum in February and again at the Shelby County Lincoln Day Dinner this month. Although Hocker is volunteering for presidential candidate Ted Cruz, the senator who encouraged the 2013 government shutdown that Young voted to end, Hocker said Young's attitude convinced him that he'll stand up for what he believes. "We've got a bunch of wishy-washy people in Washington that promise the world and don't do what they say," Hocker said. Young said some Republicans overpromised on what could be accomplished without controlling both the legislative and executive branches. "They tended to be rhetorical conservatives who would talk a big game about what was possible," he said. "But in the end, they never became known for their hard work of actually advancing conservative principles." In 2012, when retiring Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., gave Young lead sponsorship of a bill to require congressional approval of certain regulations written by the executive branch, Davis called Young "one of the hardest-working and most diligent new members of Congress." That bill, along with another measure Young often touts that would increase the number of hours someone must work before an employer has to offer health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, has passed the House, but not the Senate. Young also worked on less high-profile measures that were included in bills that have become law. And, after serving on the House Budget Committee for two terms, Young won a coveted seat on the Ways and Means Committee. The panel's expansive jurisdiction includes taxes, trade and aspects of extensive social service programs like welfare, Medicare and Social Security. Among Young's competitors for a seat on that committee was fellow Hoosier Rep. Todd Rokita, who had raised more money for the party. But Young developed relationships with House leaders and touted his graduate studies in economics at the University of Chicago and his willingness to work hard and take tough votes. Few votes were likely tougher than when he was among a minority of House Republicans who voted in 2013 to end the government shutdown and avoid a default on the nation's debt. "We must commit ourselves to avoiding the constant cycle of brinkmanship by working across party lines to address issues like job creation, stagnant personal incomes, our unsustainable national debt, and rising health care costs," Young said at the time. Young has also voted regularly against the alternative to House Republican's annual budget blueprint that's offered by conservatives pushing a greater reduction in federal spending. Stutzman has supported those alternatives, and has sometimes sponsored them. Young said he's opposed the more conservative budgets because they would impose changes too quickly to Social Security and Medicare. While changes are needed to the increasingly expensive programs, Young said, they have to be phased in more gradually to give people time to prepare. But Young has sided with more conservative House Republicans on several other budget votes taken since he began running for the Senate. He voted last fall with tea party members against a temporary funding measure, against a budget and debt-limit deal, and against the overall spending bill for this year. The Indiana Democratic Party accused Young of trying to appear as conservative as Stutzman before the primary. Young says he considers each bill on its own terms and he opposed the overall spending bill because it didn't include new restrictions on Iraqi and Syrian refugees, which Young considered a security concern. Young also cites that vote as an example of how contrary to what Stutzman says he's not a puppet of party leaders, who are a target of voters' anger this year. "I know so many of you are frustrated," Young said at the Shelby County Lincoln Day Dinner. "You may feel like, 'I've had enough of Washington, D.C. I want to send in the Marines.'" You can't send them all in, the former Marine likes to tell voters, "but you can send in one." Continue Reading Below Advertisement This brings us to the story of Erwin Mena. Beginning in the mid-'90s, he posed as a Catholic priest, wandering from parish to parish performing baptisms, taking confession, and soliciting donations from the faithful, all while insisting that people call him "padre." He had evidently studied theology at the school of Robert Rodriguez movies. Of course, Mena was just pocketing the donations. He would continue loitering around until the local diocese caught wind of him, at which point he would leave a parting message and disappear, sort of like a fake reverend Batman. Meanwhile, the local bishop would declare the problem solved, and Mena would turn up somewhere else and begin his scam anew. Erwin Mena / Facebook "No, a camel couldn't go through the eye of a needle. What a silly thing to even mention." Continue Reading Below Advertisement When Mena was finally arrested, it turned out that filching donations from the collection plate was only his side gig. He had been working some larger cons that were meant to net some bigger profits. For example, he pirated a copy of a Spanish documentary on Pope Francis, then collected $16,000 to "produce" the film himself. Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Sorry... ..An error has occured: If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you. ZID:308457493 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Independent record stores all over the globe Saturday will be celebrating Record Store Day, an annual event created to boost the record store business. Indie and major labels press special, limited run vinyl LPs and singles just for the occasion, leading to long lines around stores, akin to Black Friday craziness in November. The vinyl format has been in a boom for nearly a decade. All the talk about vinyl means that some of us begin thinking about the records we've collected over the years before cassettes, compact discs, MP3s and streaming tried to kill off each successive format. Shows like "American Pickers" and "Pawn Stars" lead some of us to believe we might have a fortune in vinyl in a dusty box, but according to leading store owners in Houston you might just have junk. Some seasoned record store owners break it down for us novices. As it turns out, older isn't always better. According to Chuck Roast at Vinal Edge, 239 W. 19th, the Heights shop uses some straightforward considerations to decide what to buy from people who bring in vintage records. "Is there a market for this stuff? Are the people with this taste long dead or downsizing? Does it fit our stores direction? Roast says. If a record is what Roasts store is looking for, the staff then looks at its condition. The record itself and the sleeve should be in mint or near-mint condition. We like to see collections where the covers are in plastic sleeves. It indicates a well cared for collection, Roast adds. Common things that Roast and other store owners run into are water damage, mold, adhesive tape, mysterious stains and names. People used to love writing their names on their LPs and 45s. How else would you get your records back from a friend or an ex? What records does he see on a near-daily basis? I never need to see another Pablo Cruise record in my life. It is the cruise you dont need to ever take, Roast says. Kurt Brennan of Sound Exchange, 1846 Richmond, does brisk business selling music from the underground, but says that shoppers are still looking for the same things to round out their collections. The records most sought after have not really changed much in the past 40 years. Jazz, punk, soul and hard rock always top the list, Brennan says. Theyve gotten plenty of calls from people thinking that theyve found gold at grandmas house only to have to let them down when they learn that those Glenn Miller or Elvis Presley records arent all that rare. Regarding the notion that most people think all records are valuable, I can tell you that is all too true. The endless hyping of the return of vinyl records certainly isnt educating anyone either, Brennan says. When I get the daily hyper-ventilating phone call from someone cleaning out grandmas house I always try to give the caller some perspective. That is, the number of records in existence is always going to be many thousands of times greater that the number of records people actually want to buy, Brennan says. Quinn Bishop at Cactus Music, 2110 Portsmouth, says that hes seen a lot of baby boomers looking to unload their parents collections after theyve passed. That generation had a much different taste in music. We are seeing those customers bringing in tons of light classical, post-WWII pop vocalists and easy listening records that have almost no value, Bishop says. We not-so-affectionately refer to these records as "parent music and it is sometimes difficult to find an organization who will accept them as a donation. These are not the records that teens and twenty-somethings want to play on their new turntables. The millennials who are driving vinyl sales just have no interest in these items. I'm not sure that anyone else does either, Bishop says. Millennials these days are buying lots of Fleetwood Mac, if you can believe that. On a recent visit to Vinal Edge we saw a gaggle of collectors barely old enough to drink purchasing Macs Rumours as if it was the newest Taylor Swift release. Boomers who are pruning their living spaces down after the kids have left the nest are also coming by with crates of records to sell. The following seem to be in every box of records that is brought to us: Herb Alpert, Barbara Streisand, Sergio Mendes, Neil Diamond, The Carpenters, Dan Fogelberg and others, Bishop says. That Alpert Whipped Cream & Other Delights LP cover is still a timeless gem, though. The Moody Blues albums may have been making babies out there, because I suspect that the number of them being attempted to be sold back to record shops actually eclipse the number of those originally pressed, Bishop jokes. What Bishop says he will take are blue chip classic rock records from Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie, plus timeless jazz records from the '50s through the '70s. Classic soul records are always welcome. How does Bishop assess a personal collection? We first evaluate content. Any parent music or titles like those listed above are culled out to leave titles which we would be likely to sell in our store for $4 or more, Bishop says. Any titles for which we are overstocked go into the former category as well. As at Vinal Edge, condition is key. Condition is everything as all of our records in the Record Ranch are in VG (very good) condition or better. We are often more forgiving for records of great rarity or unique pressings, Bishop says. What does a dream haul look like for Cactus Music? Ultra-esoteric rock and folk of the prog and psych variety. These type of records are easy to sell, interesting listening for our staff and excite our core customers. We've had a few buys that provided an educational experience for our buying staff, Bishop says. If you cant unload Grandma or Grandpas ancient classical records, you can always make art out of them. You can melt them and mold them into bowls or cut them down to make nerdy coasters. Contributed / Contributed After his arrest for two motor vehicle accidents in Orange, a Milford man allegedly urinated and defecated in his holding cell. According to the Orange Police Departments Facebook page, shortly after midnight on April 9, officers responded to the scene of two separate motor vehicle accidents on Grassy Hill Road, both of which included injuries to the involved parties. Police arrested Shaba Lyons, 25, of Marble Lane in Milford, for both accidents. He was charged with failure to drive in the proper lane, and DUI. If you dont think prescription narcotics and heroin are killing 700 a year in Connecticut, start paying attention to the death notices in the newspaper. I look at the pictures of those 20-somethings, 30-somethings, 40-somethings who die suddenly and I wonder whether they expired from overdoses. Its a rare family that admits their loved one died from an addiction, but I see that more and more in the newspapers death notices. Bravo, for telling it like it is, because if one addict can see the dead end of eternity waiting to greet their excesses, maybe theres a life to be saved there. Twenty years ago, after her son Ian lost a multi-year struggle with addiction briefly helped somewhat by treatment programs but enabled by those who thought they were giving him a break Ginger Katz of Norwalk started the Courage to Speak Foundation. We have a full-blown addiction crisis on our hands, Katz said the other day during a forum on the opioid and heroin crisis sponsored by the state Commission on Children. The room was full of professionals from throughout the state, there to brainstorm and share the current state of best practices. Addiction is a disease and I clearly understand it now, Katz said. Bringing the reality of the opioid and heroin scourge into the public eye is one of the first, easy things that can be done. The dead are piling up everywhere. For state Rep. Roberta Willis, D-Salisbury, the co-chairman of the legislative Higher Education Committee, the issue was brought home the year that Torrington, the big city in her nine-town district, scored 20 overdose deaths. Now shes trying to get her local hospital to change the after-care surveys sent to patients that focus on whether their pain was managed. Next thing to do is cut the number of pills that patients take home. A bill in the Legislature would limit opioid therapy to a week after discharge and not the typical 30-day supply. Something else thats relatively easy is in the home. Adults should lock away the Oxycodone, the Vicodin, the Percocet. The medicine cabinet is as antiquated as a candle-powered chandelier. Its a doorway to potential addiction. Some local police departments have boxes in their lobbies, where pills can be dropped off, no questions asked. Getting the kind of wide-ranging, persistent, literally never-ending treatment that addicts need may be the toughest solution, especially in this grim atmosphere over the Connecticut General Assembly. The states next budget, which takes effect July 1, currently has a $922-million deficit. Good, effective mental health and addiction services are already being slashed at a time when theyre most-needed. Joanne Montgomery, director of behavioral health services for the AIDS Project of Greater Danbury, said the overdose fatalities are entirely preventable. We need treatment on demand, she said during a news conference the other day with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. When people are ready to get treatment, we need to have the services available. You cant tell a using addict to come back in a week. They may not have a week. We also need to look at how we treat kids who are exhibiting signs of substance abuse in the school system, said Melissa McGarry, co-chairman of the Trumbull Drug and Alcohol Coalition. We need to look at screening kids in schools, whether their attendance is the trigger or their grades or any other behavioral issues. We need to get them help. Matthew DeLuca, a recovering addict who is a member of the towns Community Addiction & Recovery Education and Support Group, said that ending the stigma of addiction is important. It keeps so many sick, he said, stressing that guilt, shame and embarrassment are keeping people from seeking treatment, so theyre sliding deeper and deeper. Some of the greatest people I have ever met in my life I met in recovery, he said. Theyre talented people, theyre smart people, theyre educated people, but theyre sick and they have a disease. We need to start treating it like a disease. DeLuca said that long-term treatment is the only way to prevent relapses. Getting a full continuum of care, he said. That is what long-term recovery looks like. Norwalk Police Chief Tom Kulhawik, with 33 years on the job, said that over that time, enforcing drug laws has been the focus. But over the last year or two, at least myself and people around me have realized thats not working, Kulhawik said. Enforcement alone is not the issue. Its part of it but we need to also participate and not operate in a silo and work toward treatment, work toward recovery and try to work toward our partners. Kulhawik said that federal authorities offer little help beyond enforcement. If we bring somebody in at 2 oclock in the morning on a Sunday that wants treatment, where do we bring them? he said. The answer is nowhere. Connecticut, the victims of addiction are not only friends, neighbors, relatives or faces in the newspaper death notices. Its you, too. Ken Dixons Capitol View appears Sundays in the Hearst Connecticut Newspapers. You may reach him in the Capitol at 860-549-4670 or at kdixon@ctpost.com. Find him at twitter.com/KenDixonCT. His Facebook address is kendixonct.hearst. Dixons Connecticut Blog-o-rama can be seen at blog.ctnews.com/dixon/ Berlin, Windber and North Star bring plenty of momentum into Week 10 Check out what we learned in Week 9 of the high school football season across Somerset County. 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 Surprisingly, pro-cannabis campaigner Howard Marks (pictured) was on friendly terms with Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens How on earth did I end up on friendly terms with Howard Marks, the drug-smuggler and pro-cannabis propagandist who died last week? Yet I did. You might think we would loathe each other. He stood for almost everything I am against. But not quite. He was a fierce and instinctive defender of free speech, a rare and precious quality. I learned this one long-ago evening in Blackpool, when a squawking rabble of ignorant, intolerant students succeeded in having me driven off the stage at a debate. As a snivelling official of the National Union of Students switched off my microphone and ordered me from the room, Howard got up, put his arm around my shoulder and said quietly and firmly: If hes going, Im going too. He walked by my side as we left through a knot of hissing, hostile zealots. I vowed never to forget it, and I never have. He loathed my opinions, and I loathed his, but we both knew there was something higher and better than that the freedom to argue without hate or rancour. I debated against him four times. He was wholly frank about his aim the legalisation of selfish pleasure and the profits to be made from it. He was a criminal but had served prison time for it without complaining. Never did I hear him produce the sort of pious, oily rubbish you usually get from the advocates of the Big Dope lobby. WORRYING? THAT'S WHAT DADS ARE FOR During Midnight Special, there is a moving moment about fatherhood that makes the odd story worthwhile Theres a single, very moving moment in the new film Midnight Special that makes the whole rather odd story worthwhile. The small boy at the centre of the plot, who is being sought by angry armed men, turns to his father and tells him to stop worrying about him. His father replies: I will always worry about you. I like worrying about you. Thats the deal. In a world where fathers are increasingly being written out of the script of life, its a rare mention of an important thing. Advertisement He listened to my arguments. By the next time I met him, he would have read up the facts and prepared a thoughtful response. I cannot tell you how rare that is. Most Big Dope advocates never listen to a word their opponents say. What a pleasing contrast he was to the pitiful Nick Clegg, who ceaselessly calls for drug law liberalisation with the ingratiating smarminess of a newly hatched curate. He was at it again on the BBCs Newsnight last week. The programme, which recently gave the ridiculous Russell Brand a free platform for his wet opinions on drugs, filmed Mr Clegg wandering around Colombia, mouthing pro-legalisation pieties. The former Deputy Prime Minister clearly knows almost nothing about the subject. Hes never met a cliche or a fat, juicy slab of conventional wisdom that he doesnt like. He actually said that many people in this country are forced to steal to fund their drug habit, because both drug dealing and drug use are illegal. Forced to steal? By whom? No, they choose to do so because they are selfish and cruel and dont care about wrecking other peoples lives. And beside the fact (seemingly unknown to the former Deputy PM) that the police are rapidly giving up enforcing the laws against drug possession, how does this follow? If cannabis was legal in this country, the big producers wouldnt give it away free. In fact it would be more expensive because it would be taxed. Which is why theres so much crime in the UK surrounding smuggled but legal alcohol and tobacco. So why on earth would dishonest, greedy people stop stealing to pay for it, just because it was legal? The absence of thought here is amazing, as is Mr Cleggs complacent lack of interest in the growing correlation between cannabis use and mental illness, not to mention horrible, violent crime. Howard Marks looked like what he was, the ravaged, ruined advocate of a very bad cause. Mr Clegg, with his nice suit and his sweet tones, is far more dangerous, and a lot harder to like. Electronics shops are selling huge numbers of dashboard cameras to guard drivers against false accusations, something that happened years ago on Russias lawless roads. Meanwhile, carers who steal from old people are being caught thanks to tiny surveillance devices hidden in smoke alarms. When are we not under surveillance? How many cameras will it take to entirely replace our shrivelled consciences and the dead Christian religion that once sustained them? Well, so much for Jeremy Corbyn, who I have defended here for not being an Establishment mouthpiece. Tony Benn, who taught Mr Corbyn all he knew, was a patriot thrilled by Englands long struggle for liberty. He knew that the European Union meant the end of a thousand years of English history. He loathed its unaccountable power. By taking away our freedom to make our own laws, the EU knocks the stuffing out of any serious political movement of Left or Right. Mr Corbyn, by ignoring this lesson, turns out to be just another bureaucrat after all. Hed have done better to go down fighting. Having crushed him on this, his enemies now know that they can first bend him to their will, and then destroy him. Another foul-up vanishes into thin air Have you noticed the way that news suddenly stops happening in various foreign parts? After months when it produced far more news than it could consume locally, Ukraine went dark and silent. But bad things kept on happening. This always takes place in countries where the fashionable Left triumphs. South Africa, now a swelling disaster of disorder, mismanagement and corruption, is another example. The second act, where the liberal utopia goes wrong, just doesnt get reported. Last week Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (pictured) resigned after a failure to tackle the real corruption in which the country is neck-deep Well, last week the Ukrainian premier resigned, mainly because of his utter failure to tackle the real corruption (vicious and viral, affecting every corner of life) in which that country is neck-deep. Even The Economist, a naive cheerleader for the February 2014 EU-backed putsch in Kiev, admits: Corruption is still rampant. Key reforms are incomplete the oligarchs are still entrenched. Of course they are. The overthrow of the elected government, by a supposedly spontaneous foreign-backed mob, was always about pushing the EU eastwards. The rest was propaganda. I hope you didnt fall for it. If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens, click here Democracy deserves to be cherished. As a foreign correspondent, I have covered protests, revolutions and wars around the world from people prepared to die or lose their liberty in its precious cause. But it is a delicate creature, dating back centuries yet in need of constant reinvention. In our nation, as elsewhere in the West, this core concept is going through difficult times, with populaces feeling disconnected from elites and voters disenchanted with governments. This is why I relish the success of this newspaper's campaign to force fresh debate over one of the daftest pieces of legislation in recent times: the law that binds Britain in perpetuity to give away 0.7 per cent of national income in overseas aid. The law that binds Britain in perpetuity to give away 0.7 per cent of national income in overseas aid is one of the daftest pieces of legislation in recent times, writes IAN BIRRELL (file photo of refugee camp) For this is the sort of decision that disengages people from politics. It was a silly stunt designed to make crude political points, utterly devoid of common sense and unsupported by hard evidence. There are so many arguments against the move to enshrine the anachronistic United Nations target in British law that it was simply embarrassing to see mainstream parties close ranks in such bovine style to pass the measure last year. It makes no sense on financial grounds to increase public debt while pumping rising sums of money into often-dubious projects abroad. It makes no sense on compassionate grounds, since this deluge of aid undermines development, inflames corruption and fuels conflict in the poorest parts of the planet. It does not even make political sense. The Government is now trapped in a self-inflicted nightmare of having every crisis, every cut and every spending shortage seen through the prism of an absurd foreign aid giveaway. So we see ministers struggling to save our steel industry while helping leather industries in Africa. And when tax havens hit the headlines, it emerges our cash-strapped government hands them huge sums each year. Already one in every seven pounds spent on aid by rich nations comes from Britain's hard-pressed taxpayers. Regardless of need, this is due to rise another 4 billion to an astonishing 16 billion by the next General Election. When The Mail on Sunday put forward an online petition demanding a new debate in Parliament, readers responded in droves This leads to civil servants frantically shovelling cash out of Whitehall doors as the year ends to ensure they hit an arbitrary target and fat-cat private contractors becoming richer in a booming poverty industry. So all hail the people! And, dare I mention, the power of the much-maligned press. For when The Mail on Sunday put forward an online petition demanding a new debate in Parliament, readers responded in droves. By the end of the first day, there were the 100,000 signatures needed to force Westminster to consider the request. Since then, numbers have more than doubled, now standing above 222,000 and we have won a debate on June 13. WE MUST hope politicians show respect for this strength of feeling. Spin is no longer enough: they should engage in serious debate and defend their dubious policies. For three weeks this paper has asked international development minister Justine Greening to answer ten pertinent questions about her policies. Each week she has refused, hiding behind a bland statement. This is typical of her department. It issues fusillades of statistics about its own brilliance and brags about transparency, yet is reluctant to back up its data. Let me give you two examples. Since this paper launched its campaign, DFID has rebutted claims that were not made and pushed out endless promotional material on social media. These include the boast that British aid 'supported freer and fairer elections in 13 countries in which 162.1 million people voted'. For three weeks this paper has asked international development minister Justine Greening (pictured) to answer ten pertinent questions about her policies I spent almost two weeks asking the team of press officers to tell taxpayers precisely how they did this; they failed to provide full details, despite the grandiose claim, finally saying it would take too much time. I was told to put in a Freedom of Information request instead. I did discover that those 13 countries include Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe hardly a shining example of good governance. DFID also pointed to a vote in Pakistan marred by sectarian violence, an election with only one candidate in Yemen and another in Uganda, where foreign observers condemned 'the lack of a level playing field, the use of money and abuse of incumbency'. Veteran Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has just claimed his fifth election, incidentally, in another vote scarred by ballot-stuffing, bribery and intimidation. DFID also claim to have helped 101 million people gain 'control over their own development and to hold decision-makers to account'. These include 4.1 million people in Ethiopia, home to a repressive one-party regime routinely accused of horrific human rights abuses. So how was this done? A spokesman said 'media support resulted in listeners to health radio programmes reporting more positive attitudes towards birth preparedness'. Listening to such a radio show may be helpful, but is not exactly the implied revolution in democracy. This kind of spin is duplicitous. It helps corrode faith in domestic politics. And it shows why we should rejoice at renewing debate over focusing only on a fixed spending target rather than the reality of needs in a fast-changing world. Obesity, for instance, is becoming a bigger problem than hunger. More citizens in poorer places go to sleep each night having consumed too many calories than go to bed hungry, underlining the breakneck pace of change on our planet. Over the years I have observed money flood into a self-aggrandising aid industry that seems more focused on its own needs than those of developing nations, condemning the poor to struggle on against the twin curses of conflict and corruption. AID is not just about responding to disasters the first line of defence for embattled ministers but hundreds of expensive, nebulous schemes to promote fashionable fads. One expert told me in despair about a multi-million-pound project to promote business in Nigeria, a highly entrepreneurial society, that relied on Europeans flying in to host workshops for state governors. 'After a nice few days in a hotel the governors went home and it was claimed we had influenced 10,000 small firms. Everyone had a lovely time but it achieves nothing.' No wonder I have heard anger from Africans and Asians provoked by the patronising attitudes of foreign do-gooders, sometimes propping up the dodgiest regimes. The aid debate has become an issue of trust, forcing my confrontation with a government I respect on many other matters. Politicians have a duty to respond to public concerns, not hide behind hollow claims and spurious statistics. Both sides in the campaign on the European referendum have made big claims about Britains future if we vote for Brexit. However, the lesson from history is clear: what happens in Europe affects us. Over the centuries we have occasionally tried leaving them to it, in the hope that Europe will then leave us alone. It never has. Our fates are entwined. Our language, religion and system of politics were all introduced here by Europeans, while our DNA comes from waves of northern European migrants. Nearly every English and British monarch had a European spouse. Warning: Dan Snow argues that events in Europe will always affect us Queen Victorias immediate family spoke German between themselves. Protestantism, plague, printing and physics all arrived from Europe, while London was founded by the Romans, Cardiff by the Normans, and Edinburgh by English settlers of German descent. This is why British strategists throughout history have tried to boost our influence in Europe in order to shape what happens or deal with the fallout. The greatest misconception is that the Channel is a moat. It is not; the sea around us has been a highway. It has enabled countless invasions of the British Isles from the continent, with at least five incursions in the hundred years following 1066. And, thanks to our long shoreline, the only certain way to defend Britain from aggressors has been to stop the invasions happening in the first place. The best way to defend our islands has been to confront the threat beyond them. The place to defeat an enemy was on his turf, not ours. The British have been repeatedly drawn into continental matters, because the Channel has provided no protection from their consequences. James I, his son and grandsons, attempted to gain influence through diplomacy. Charles II and James II wanted close relations with powerful France to counter the Dutch threat to England and chip away at Spains sprawling empire. TV Historian Dan Snow says he doesn't think Elizabeth, Wellington, Palmerston, Churchill, Attlee and Thatcher would have opted for naive, optimistic isolation Both bound themselves in treaties with the French king. So sacrificing a degree of sovereignty in an attempt to secure influence beyond the kingdom is really nothing new. Britain built the largest empire in the history of the world by fighting all-comers between 1689 and 1815. We fought the French mostly, as part of unwieldy and expensive coalitions representing a large surrender of sovereignty. But the campaigns were largely victorious. Only once in this mighty struggle for global supremacy was Britain catastrophically defeated when we fought alone in the War of American Independence. The greatest battles in our history Malplaquet, Waterloo, Ypres, the Somme, Arnhem, the Rhine and the Ruhr were all fought as part of large transnational coalitions, designed to exert an influence over the course of European affairs. Victory at Waterloo in 1815 brought an end to 25 years of almost continual warfare, and a new approach was taken to maintaining the peace. Many in Britain were sick of Europe and keen to retreat into isolationism. But two towering statesmen, Wellington and Castlereagh, forced Britain to engage in a post-war settlement that would endure for decades. The Congress of Vienna naturally represented a limit on the sovereignty of the states of Europe. They couldnt just unilaterally invade or partition a neighbour, but the effect of this pooling of sovereignty was that Europe managed to avoid all-out war. Britain found itself on the losing side of many of the diplomatic twists but, in return, achieved a durable peace. There have been many bouts of isolationism by British Governments, periods when Britain refused to get involved. This aloofness simply meant that Britain was forced to live with a new reality over which it had exerted no influence. In the 1860s, Prussia rampaged through central Europe and emerged as the German Empire. This Second Reich was a vast European superpower and its economy soon overtook that of Britain. We had stayed out of it, but now had to live with the consequences. You can distance yourself from events, but that is no guarantee that they, in turn, will keep their distance from you. In the 20th Century, Britain could not avoid the consequences of the First or Second World Wars, and the least-worst option was to try to shape the horrendous conflicts. As the EUs strongest military power, it needs us working alongside them if we are going to have any hope of tackling the biggest humanitarian crisis on our continent since the Second World War, argues Dan Snow In contrast, Ireland, having left the UK, watched the course of the conflict entirely helplessly as its future was hammered out by others a spectator as fascism and democracy fought for the future. What happens in Europe affects Britain. For centuries British strategists have understood this and attempted to influence what happens in Europe. If we leave the EU, we will lose influence without gaining real independence. Take the refugees in the Aegean. There is a terrible war in Syria and its impact will be felt in Britain in as yet uncertain ways. As Europe's strongest military power, they need us to help solve the migrant crisis Should we be part of the infuriating and inefficient discussions to find a solution or stand aside, hope for the best outcome and assume that the Channel will cushion us from the fallout? I suspect Britain leaving the EU could make the situation worse. As the EUs strongest military power, they need us working alongside them if we are going to have any hope of tackling the biggest humanitarian crisis on our continent since the Second World War. I love history, not because Im obsessed with the distant past but because Im thinking about the future. History is where the present and future come from. It is the only guide we have when we try to guess what is going to happen. The past has convinced me that Britain does not flourish when it deliberately avoids the continent. Like it or not, our fate is linked to that of our neighbours. The EU is far from perfect but it is the best way we have of ensuring our interests are defended in Europe and our voice is heard loud and clear. If we leave we will become passive observers, victims of the decisions made in our absence. She wasn't able to travel the 15,000 An 89-year-old grandmother in Australia has been able to attend her grandson's wedding in England without even leaving her retirement home. Thanks to advances in technology, Alma Bilson was able to watch along as her grandson Trent Matchett married his fiance Helen 15,000 kilometers away. Mrs Bilson was able to experience the wedding from her Feros Village retirement home in Wommin Bay, on the New South Wales north coast thanks to staff at the care home and family at the ceremony. Newlyweds: An Australian grandmother has been able to watcher her grandson get married in England (above) via video link Rapt: Alma Bilson (above) was very excited to be able to watch the wedding when she wasn't up to travelling the 15,000 kilometers to be there in person Just like being there: Staff at her Feros Village retirement home set up the video on a television whilst family at the wedding used an iPad to Facetime Mrs Bilson was slightly overwhelmed by the experience, and had on hands on her cheeks in disbelief recounted the night later. 'They were just right there!' she said. 'It was like we were there, we all felt the same emotions as we would if we were sitting in the Hall in Whitney.' The 89-year-old was joined for the ceremony and reception, which started at 11pm Australian time, by two friends who celebrated by drinking a glass of champagne with the proud grandma. 'They were just right there': Mrs Bilson watched the ceremony, which started at 11pm Australian time, with two friends Young love: The proud grandmother got to chat to her grandson Trent and was commenting on all the clothes at the wedding Not missing out: The 89-year-old was even able to be in family photos via the iPad stream and meet the Bride's parents It wasn't just a one way video link either, with Mrs Bilson getting to chat to her grandson and new granddaughter, and meet the Bride's parents for the first time. She was even in the family portraits taken at the wedding, with Mr Matchett holding up the iPad in photos so the proud grandmother could participate. The 89-year-old was even blowing kisses to her family and commenting on the clothes of the guests, as well as keeping a close eye on her grandson as he waited for his bride to walk down the aisle. Tickled pink: The staff at her retirement village surprised the grandmother with champagne and a cake so she could celebrate too 'It was such a beautiful time': Mrs Bilson said she was grateful for everyone who enabled her to be able to experience her grandson's wedding And, just as she got to watch the wedding cake being cut at the reception via video, Mrs Bilson got to have sweets too, in the form of a Tim Tam cake made by the retirement village's chef. 'One of the Feros ladies, Cate, even bought me a beautiful corsage out of her own money,' Mrs Bilson said. 'It was such a beautiful time. I cant believe the effort everyone went to to ensure I wouldnt miss out. Im just so grateful to have this unreal experience!' Special day: The retirement home put in extra effort, with one of the staff members buying Mrs Bilson a corsage to wear on the night 'All my grandchildren are so special': The grandmother was slightly overwhelmed and said that family meant a lot to her Party till dawn: The 89-year-old admitted she had a later night than usual and 'might have a sore head' from all the champagne Mrs Bilson was slightly overwhelmed by it all, and incredibly grateful for the opportunity technology presented to her. 'It was an overwhelming experience. I wasnt feeling up to making the big trip but I didnt want to miss out on the wedding. Family is so important to me and all my grandchildren are so special,' she explained. A little boy, who blamed Batman when he was caught painting his mother's mirror with lipstick, has been melting hearts since a video of him was posted online. Laura Hopkins, from Inverness, Scotland, shared the adorable video of her son Noel accusing the superhero on the Unmumsy Mum Facebook page and it's since had more than 420,000 views. The clip, which was uploaded with the caption: 'If anyone sees Batman, can you tell him I'm wanting a word', begins with Noel leaning against the wardrobe with a guilty expression. Scroll down for video Laura Hopkins, from Inverness, Scotland, shared the video of her son Noel's adorable reaction to being caught painting the mirror with pink lipstick It starts with the little boy standing next to the pink scribbling on the mirrored door, looking a little guilty The pink scribble is clearly visible as Laura asks: 'Who drew on mummy's mirror?' 'I don't know,' bespectacled Noel says, as he rushes away to lean on the bed and gaze back at his artwork. 'Was it you?' the mother probes. After he insists it wasn't, Laura again asks her son who had done the damage. 'It was Batman,' he quickly replies. But thinking on his feet, football fan Noel soon blames Batman for the work after denying it was him The video, which was shared on the Unmumsy Mum Facebook page, has now had more than 420,000 views Stifling a laugh, Laura says: 'Batman did it?'. 'Batman did it,' Noel, who is wearing a Real Madrid football strip, confirms. As well as being viewed by half a million people, the adorable video has been shared nearly 2,000 times and has attracted hundreds of comments. Hundreds of people have commented on the clip, saying how cute little Noel is Francesca Bradford wrote: 'Awww, he's too cute! Love his glasses. God damn that naughty Batman.' Laura Elizabeth Scott said: ' Oh wow, he's unbelievably adorable.' Kaye Newson commented on what a 'gorgeous whistleblower' Noel was. Pregnant Chelsea Clinton has been hard on her mother's campaign trail of late and that didn't stop when she took a stroll around New York City with her husband and baby yesterday. The 36-year-old daughter of former US president Bill Clinton was photographed wearing a navy T-shirt emblazoned with the letter 'H' in support of her mother and Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary. Teaming the long-line tee - which covered her growing bump - with leggings, a beige mac, leather ankle boots and a navy cap, she pushed 18-month-old daughter Charlotte along in a pram as she walked beside husband Marc Mezvinsky, who was holding their Yorkshire terrier Soren. Scroll down for video Pregnant Chelsea Clinton has been touring the country in support of her mother's campaign to become the next Democratic presidential candidate and run for election On Saturday she was spotted walking around Manhattan wearing a navy T-shirt bearing the letter H in support of her former First Lady mother Hillary She teamed it with a beige mac, black leggings, leather ankle boots and a navy cap, as she strolled around the city with husband Marc Mezvinsky, their daughter Charlotte and Yorkshire terrier Soren Chelsea, who is Bill and Hillary Clinton's only daughter, later switched buggy-pushing duties with her husband of nearly six years, and took the dog instead - but at one point she almost lost her balance after tripping on the pavement. Like her heavily-pregnant pal Ivanka Trump, who has been busy campaigning for her father Donald to win the Republican nomination, Chelsea doesn't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. She has been touring the country, and on Friday was at an event in New York alongside actor Sean Austin campaigning for her mother, the former Secretary of State, ahead of the primary election for the state on Tuesday. And while politics has always been an important part of her life, Chelsea said motherhood has made her care even more about her leaders - something she didn't even think was possible. Chelsea is due to give birth in the summer - at the very height of her mother's campaign to win the chance to run to become the next president of the United States Chelsea, shown here talking to an unknown woman, isn't showing any signs of slowing down like her pregnant pal Ivanka Trump, who has also been campaigning for her father Donald to win the Republican nomination She recently said: 'I'm here clearly as a proud daughter but also as a mom,' she said. 'I couldn't imagine a better grandmother for my children. I also couldn't imagine a better president for my children.' Chelsea announced her pregnancy on Twitter in December last year, writing: Next summer, Charlotte is going to be a big sister.' She added that she felt very blessed. The birth of Chelsea's second child will come in the middle of her mother's intense battle for the presidency, assuring that it will be an extra-busy summer for the Clinton family this year. However, they are actually exactly the same - a vivid pink hue The two hearts in the image appear to be totally different colours Another optical illusion is sweeping the internet which tricks the brain Yet another optical illusion has popped up on the internet proving just how little we know about how our brains work. The two hearts in the image appear to be totally different colours - one purple and the other a bright orangey red. However, the two shapes are in fact exactly the same hue - a vivid pink. Scroll down for video. Yet another optical illusion has popped up on the internet proving how little we know about how our brains work. These two hearts in the image appear to be totally different colours. One appears purple while the other is a bright orangey red In fact it is the placement of the geometric stripes that fools our brains into seeing something which isn't really there. The narrator on the video from Bite Size Psych explains: 'If you zoom in on the picture you find that the striped bars aren't actually the same colour. 'These surrounding blue bars make the heart seem purple while these surrounding green bars make the heart seem orange.' This gives us a vital clue to how our vision works. It suggests that we perceive an object's colour based on its proximity and contrast with surrounding shades. The narrator on the video from Bite Size Psych explains: 'If you zoom in on the picture you find that the striped bars aren't actually the same colour' These surrounding blue bars make the heart seem purple while these surrounding green bars make the heart appear orange The video has so far amassed 29,000 views on YouTube. This illusion is just the latest in a long line of puzzles and brain teasers that have taken the web by storm. Tim Urban and Andrew Finn of the website butwaitwhy.com have created a fiendishly difficult puzzle based around three jelly beans. This gives us a vital clue to how our vision works. It suggests that we perceive an objects colour not based on its actual colour but on how it compares to the surrounding colours The premise of the brain teaser is that you have to choose to eat one of three jelly beans laid out on a stump, two of which are poisonous. 'Two of the jelly beans on the stump are poisonous - youll die within 30 seconds of eating either one of them,' the riddle explains. 'But one of the jelly beans isnt poisonous and wont harm you at all. All three of the jelly beans are delicious. The situation works like this: You pick one of the jelly beans and eat it, and if you happen to pick the non-poisonous one, youre free to go.' Three jelly beans are laid on a stump and you have to choose one to eat, but two of them are poisonous and will kill you According to the riddle, you decide to pick up the green jelly bean. But just before you eat it, a man takes away the blue jelly bean explaining that it's definitely poisonous. That leaves the red one on the stump and the green one still in your hand. You get one last chance to change your mind about which one to take. You take the green jelly bean, leaving the red and blue Solving the riddle involves choosing between the red and green jelly beans - one of which is definitely poisonous. You might think that now it's down to two jelly beans that there's a 50-50 chance you have the poisonous one and decide to stick with green. In fact, it's twice as likely to poisonous and the red jelly bean is two thirds more likely to be safe. 'When you initially picked the green jelly bean, there was a 1/3 chance that it was the safe one to eat, and a 2/3 chance that it was poisonous and the safe one was still on the stump,' Tim Urban of Wait But Why explained. 'When the man removed a poisonous blue jelly bean from the stump, it told you no new info about the green jelly bean in your handthat still had a 1/3 chance of being safe. The blue jelly bean is taken away and you're told it's definitely poisonous. Should you swap with the red sweet or stick with the green? 'But removing the blue jelly bean told you a lot about the red jelly beanit told you that if the safe jelly bean had been on the stump, the red one is safe. 'Put another way, if you picked a poisonous jelly beanwhich you would do two-thirds of the timethen choosing to switch after he removes one will save you every time. 'If you picked the safe one to start off withwhich happens one-third of the timethen switching will kill you. So switching is a good choice two-thirds of the time.' The test is just the latest in a string of a popular brain teasers sweeping the net. Recently, puzzlers were challenged to find a hidden picture inside a red circle? The brain teaser was said to test the internet's vision with people able to see everything from a detailed image to just an outline, while others struggled to spot anything at all. Is your eyesight good enough to see the hidden picture inside this red circle? The brain teaser has appeared online quizzing internet users about whether they can see another shape hidden inside the red blob, above While some claimed they could see the whole image in perfect detail, others were left scratching their heads in confusion. When the dot is flipped you can clearly see a detailed sketch of a horse complete with a mane and tail, saddle and bridle and grass around its feet. Some people can only see the outline of the image before the red spot is flipped, while others say they can see much more. Try the test below to see how you get on. While some claim they can see the whole image perfectly, others are completely baffled by the image. When the dot is flipped, right, you can clearly see a detailed sketch of a horse complete with a mane and tail The online teaser shows how some people only see the outline of the horse rather than the other details in the picture such as the grass, mane, tail and saddle An image of an iPhone screen became an internet sensation recently as thousands of people deliberated over the photo, which was widely shared along with the question: 'How many threes can you see in this picture?' Social networkers came up with the most common answers of either 15, 19 or 21. But which answer is correct? There are in fact 19 number threes pictured in the image, but there could be 21 depending on how you interpret the question. Can you count how many threes are on the iPhone screen? If you see 15, 19 or 21 number threes, you have arrived at the same conclusion as the majority of social networkers... but what's the correct answer? Apart from the eight threes in the phone number, there are two threes on the key pad as the number eight button has been replaced. At 3.33pm, the time also contains three number threes and the battery power at 33 per cent contains another two. That totals 15, the answer many social networkers have come to. On closer inspection, however, there are a further four hidden digits, totaling 19. Three of the letters in the contact's name have been replaced with threes and the letter 'I' on the number four key has also been replaced. But many online posts give the answer to be 21, with people seeming convinced that there are a further two threes in the image. The differing opinions come down to the interpretation of the question. Many users have included the bar signal and the wifi signal, both of which show three bars. But whether 19 or 21 is the correct answer is a matter of opinion But many online posts give the answer to be 21, with people seeming convinced that there are a further two threes in the image. The differing opinions come down to the interpretation of the question. The images has been widely shared on Facebook and Twitter with the message. 'How many threes do you see in this picture?' Many users have included the network bar and WiFi signal, both of which show three bars. But whether 19 or 21 is the correct answer is a matter of opinion. The puzzle, which has been widely shared on Facebook and Twitter after resurfacing again online, has instigated heated debate - with many left flummoxed at how others arrive at a different answer. Twitter user Dani posted: 'This thing annoyed the hell out of me when someone said 21. I was like no there's 18 until I looked again properly haha.' How many threes can you see? Apart from the eight threes in the phone number, there are two threes on the key pad as the number eight button has been replaced. At 3.33pm, the time also contains three number threes and the battery power at 33 per cent contains another two. Three of the letters in the contact's name have been replaced with threes and the letter 'I' on the number four key has also been replaced Facebook Ravi Vidyadhar Pathak came to a grander total and said: '28 if it's saying to count everything that resembles to 3 including the network signal which is 3 dots the page info on left which is 3 the buttons having 3 letters ABC.' Another philosophical Facebook user Marc Joseph posted: 'I see only 2....and technically am correct cause you never asked how many 3's are there in the pic.' Athene Whitfield finally concluded the answer was 19 but had made so many previous guesses she posted: 'I got to that in the end but thought - I can't send an answer through again!!? Was getting embarrassed!' One user by the name of Sarah was so involved in the problem she posted a mock-up of the screen with the potential answers highlighted in purple. When a friend posted 'Not sure where you get 20 from' she posted: 'Now I'm not sure.' It follows an optical illusion poster featuring tigers that resurfaced online this week, asking viewers to guess how many animals it featured. On close inspection the picture has the big cats hiding in the bushes, bark and even the sky. The image, which appears to have been produced as a poster, has two adults tigers and their two cubs in the foreground. After that it becomes trickier to track down the felines in the picture but there are 12 other tiger faces hidden. The image appears to have been used as a poster but has resurfaced on the internet The puzzle has the big cats hidden in foliage, trees and even the ground with all 16 very difficult to find In the foliage to the right of the tigers, there's a fern in the shape of a tiger's face, with two hiding in the dirt beneath the tigers' feet. In the top of the picture, there are five feline faces hidden within the branches of the trees. While another two are seen in the wide trunk of the tree on the left of the picture and another tiger is face is seen on the left behind it and the last one is hidden in the soil below. The poster, which features 16 in total, appears to be aimed at children, like many of the logic puzzles which have stormed the internet recently. Another recent brain teaser saw a children's picture with tourists at a holiday campsite and challenged them to answer a list of nine questions. The image is thought to be from an old children's magazine, according to The Independent, but the tough questions are likely to also leave adults scratching their heads. A recent challenge which baffled the internet is a logic puzzle from an old children's magazine that involves studying a picture of tourists at a holiday camp site and answering a list of nine questions A series of clues is provided by the apparently calm scene involving boys at a campsite The black and white drawing showed three people at the campsite. One is standing by the cooking pot with a ladle, another is rifling through his backpack, and a third is taking photos. A sign nailed to a tree states said: 'On duty. Colin, 7. Peter, 8. James, 9'. The final name is obscured, but the number 10 is visible. CAN YOU SOLVE THE PUZZLE BY ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS? 1. How many tourists are staying at this camp? 2. When did they arrive: today or a few days ago? 3. How did they get here? 4. Is there a town nearby? 5. Where does the wind blow from: north or south? 6. What time of day is it? 7. Where did Alex go? 8. Who was on duty yesterday? 9. What date is it today? *Scroll down for answers Advertisement A picnic blanket with four plates, four spoons and a watermelon is laid out on the ground and a hen is scratching in the grass nearby. Nearby, a tent is pitched and a spider has built a cobweb between the edge of the tent and a nearby tree. The first question asks how many people are staying at the camp. They must also figure out whether they arrived that day or a few days earlier, how they got there and how far away the closest town is. In addition, they are asked whether the wind is blowing from north or south and what time of day it is. The next question is to state where someone called Alex went. Finally, they must figure out who was on duty yesterday and what day of the week it is. Unlike the many cartoons that have swept the web in recent months challenging users to spot figures hidden in a sea animals or Star Wars characters, this puzzle relies on deduction. The answer to how many tourists there are is relatively easy to figure out. As there are four spoons and plates on the blanket and four names on the duty list, the answer is quite obvious. Hungarian cartoonist Gergely Dudas, also known as Dudolf, posted his latest puzzle a few days ago to celebrate Easter, challenging fans to find an egg cleverly disguised alongside a group of bunnies The egg is cunningly disguised between a pair of white rabbit ears in the second row on the left hand side The cobweb gives a clue to when the group arrived as it must have been a few days earlier to give the spider time to build it. An oar leaning up against the tree is the key to figuring out how they got there - by boat. The hen indicates that the nearest town is not far away as it's managed to wander into the campsite. A flag on the tent, known as a windsock, shows that the wind is blowing from the south, but to figure this out you need to be aware that branches on the southern side of trees in the UK get more sun and grow more densely. ANSWERS TO THE CAMP RIDDLE 1. There are four tourists four spoons on the picnic blanket and four names on the duty list. 2. They arrived a few days ago A spider's web has appeared between their tent and a tree in that time. 3. They got there by boat Note the oars by the tree. 4. No, a village is not far ..because there's a chicken wandering around. 5. The wind is blowing from the south A flag that shows the wind direction is on top of the tent. (To tell which direction is which, look at the branches - they're normally bigger on the southern side of trees - if you're in the Northern Hemisphere.) 6. Its morning Take the answer from question five to figure out east and west then work out the time based on the shadows. 7. Alex is catching butterflies His net is behind the tent. 8. Colin was on duty yesterday Colin is rummaging through his backpack (marked with a 'c'); Alex is catching butterflies; James is taking photos as his tripod can be seen sticking out of his bag. This leaves Peter - then, according to the list, that means Colin was on duty yesterday. 9. Today is August 8th... According to the list, Peter is on duty, and there is a watermelon - which ripen in August - on the ground. Advertisement To figure out the time, you need to use the previous answer which tells you south from north to figure out where is east and west and deduce the time based on shadows. The answer is that it's morning because the boy by the cook pot's shadow extends to the west. Because we're asked where Alex went, we can assume he's not visible in the picture. However a butterfly net can be seen behind the tent. So the answer is that he's gone to catch butterflies. To figure out who was on duty yesterday first consider that Colin, Peter, James and Alex are staying at the camp. Gergley's original spot the panda puzzle left the internet baffled at Christmas 2015 The original Where's Wally-style snowmen picture was liked by 42,000 people and shared 100,000 times within days, with many struggling to find the panda at all Dudolf followed up the panda puzzle days later with another picture posted online, this time of a cat hidden among dozens of brightly coloured owls He planted a few red herrings in the owl picture like a colourful bow tie and festive hats, but the owl's facial features make it particularly difficult to spot the cat We know that Alex is catching butterflies and the person taking photos must be James, as there's a tripod sticking out of the bag marked J. The person looking through the backpack is Colin as it's marked with a C. That means Peter must be the one standing by the cooking pot. If Peter is on duty today, then according to the list on the tree Colin was on duty yesterday. Figuring out the day of the month isn't too tricky as according to the duty list it's the 8th of the month. But establishing what month it is may prove rather more difficult. The solution lies in the watermelon on the picnic blanket. The answer is August 8, but you would have to be aware that it's the month in which watermelons ripen to find the correct answer. Its long list of questions makes the puzzle even more baffling than a challenge by Gergely Dudas who first drove the internet mad trying to find a panda among a group of snowmen, and a cat blended into rows of owls. The Hungarian cartoonist posted his latest puzzle a few days ago to celebrate Easter, challenging fans to find an egg cleverly disguised alongside a group of bunnies. The panda craze was followed up by Reddit contributor, with the username Oneste, who created a mind-boggling puzzle in which he hid a panda amongst rows and rows of Stormtroopers - and TIE fighter pilots She's a contestant on this year's University Challenge, but this smart student has received more attention for her inquisitive look than for her brains. Hannah Woods, captain of Peterhouse College, Cambridge, is within reach of leading her team to victory, with the much-anticipated final airing tomorrow night. However the quiz star has become a cult figure during the course of the show thanks to one raised eyebrow, which has a legion of fans and two parody Twitter accounts set up in its honour. Scroll down for video Hannah Woods, captain of Peterhouse College, Cambridge, is within reach of leading her team to victory on University Challenge - the final will air tomorrow night. However the quiz star has become a cult figure during the course of the show thanks to one raised eyebrow, above Hannah will attempt to lead Peterhouse to glory against a team from St John's, Oxford tomorrow evening, and will surely be stealing the show again - with withering looks to rival those of host Jeremy Paxman. Her new-found fame has resulted in some boons for the PhD student, who has received a Valentine's Day card, a marriage proposal and a bottle of gin in the post thanks to her notoriety. Two accounts dedicated to her eyebrow have emerged on Twitter - Browfan, or @woodseyebrow, and Feacetious Eyebrow - with the handle @of_miss_woods. Both feature pictures of the quiz team captain as their profile pictures. 'It's absolutely bizarre! I do just have a naturally asymmetric face, but I think it's quite funny that people think I'm being terribly arch,' she told the Telegraph. Her fame has resulted in some boons for the PhD student, who has had a Valentine's Day card, a marriage proposal and a bottle of gin in the post thanks to her notoriety, above with her team and Jeremy Paxman Two Twitter accounts dedicated to her eyebrow are Browfan, or @woodseyebrow, right, and Feacetious Eyebrow, with the handle @of_miss_woods, left During the last airing of the popular British quiz show in February, many expressed their support for Hannah, and her eyebrow. @RicheyRevol said: 'Ah, Woods and her Roger Moore eyebrow. She should introduce herself as Woods, Hannah Woods at the start #universitychallenge'. @THEDAILYCHUFF wrote: 'Ah, it's the greatest eyebrow in the history of quiz shows. Go, Hannah Woods #universitychallenge'. Another, Sam Kelsall @kelsall, tweeted: Hannah Woods' eyebrow is already primed. It's a power brow. #universitychallenge'. The cultural history PhD student discovered a belated Valentine's Day card addressed to her after appearing on the show. Woods will attempt to lead Peterhouse to glory against a St John's, Oxford tomorrow evening, and will surely be stealing the show again, with withering looks to rival those of the show's host Jeremy Paxman The cultural history PhD student discovered a belated Valentines day card addressed to her after appearing on the show. She tweeted on February 17: 'Having checked my pigeon hole, belated thanks to the University Challenge fan who sent me a Valentine's Day card..!' She tweeted on February 17: 'Having checked my pigeon hole, belated thanks to the University Challenge fan who sent me a Valentine's Day card..!' She is the only female left in the final on a programme which has received criticism for a male-dominated line-up in the past. Now concentrating on finishing her PhD, she told the Telegraph: 'Fans on Twitter have variously suggested future career options from presenting history documentaries to appearing on Game Of Thrones and playing the next Bond villain. 'I'd just like to make it clear to anyone in charge of casting how very available I am.' Oscar Powell, from Peterhouse, Cambridge, stole last night's show with an array of animated expressions as his team took on St George's London in the quarter finals These are the hilarious facial expressions which won a University Challenge contestant a legion of fans - with many predicting he will become Prime Minister Woods is not the only member of her team to send Twitter into meltdown. Oscar Powell, stole the show in an episode airing in December 2015 with an array of animated expressions as his team took on St George's, London, in the quarter finals. The contestant, originally from York and now studying Geological Sciences at the university, helped his team soar to a convincing victory with his in-depth knowledge of all things geology. But it was his extravagant responses to Jeremy Paxman's questions - including sticking his tongue out, pulling his mouth wide open or scrunching up his nose - which most impressed fans. The most amusing moment came during the music round when the two teams had to guess Je Taime by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. The contestant, originally from York and now studying Geological Sciences at the university, helped his team soar to a convincing victory with his in-depth knowledge of all things geology But it was his extravagant responses to Jeremy Paxman's questions - including sticking his tongue out, pulling his mouth wide open or scrunching up his nose - which most impressed fans As the music played, Powell could be seen scratching his head, chewing his fingers and sticking out his tongue as he desperately tried to remember the artist. His performance sent the Twittersphere into a frenzy with viewers praising the eccentric character for having 'the best face on telly'. One viewer sent the contestant a tweet saying: 'Bravo Oscar, you have won not only #universitychallenge but the nation'. Another simply said: 'Powell for Prime Minister.' The next morning, Powell responded to the Twitter excitement by writing: 'Yes, I know I'm odd.' If Peterhouse win in the final tomorrow night, they will score the third consecutive win for Cambridge. In ten metres of swirling Mediterranean murk, four miles from shore, French archaeologist and maritime explorer Franck Goddio was preparing to end a days dive in Egypts Bay of Aboukir. Then I saw it, says the 68-year-old founder and director of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology. A giant block of granite. Swimming closer, impervious for the moment to the swirling current or the threat of sharks, he brushed away at the sand covering the stone until, to his surprise, a giant toe emerged. The foot was one of seven scattered pieces of an immense pink granite statue of Hapi, ancient Egyptian god of fertility and of the annual flooding of the Nile. Many of Goddio's finds are in astounding condition. Protected from decay by their bed of sand and from thieves by the water above them, the faces look at us as if freshly carved It was just one of hundreds of remarkable objects that Goddio and his team would recover from the sea bed in 2000 and 2001 after rediscovering the lost ancient Egyptian cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus. Founded in the 8th century BC at the mouth of the Canopic branch of the Nile, Thonis was the main entry point of goods into the country before the creation of Alexandria. The city was linked by canals to nearby Canopus, seat of the cult of Osiris. After Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC, leading to the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and, eventually, Cleopatra, the cities would be a key part of Greco-Egyptian culture. Then, in about 80 BC, the sea overran the cities, killing thousands. We have found human remains in temples, pinned under fallen blocks, Goddio says. It is very poignant. The calamity had smashed the statue of Hapi into seven pieces, but to Goddios expert eye there could be no doubt of their value. When I saw it, he says, I realised it was the find of a lifetime. These treasures are coming to London next month for the British Museums blockbuster Sunken Cities exhibition. Some of them are huge. At 5.4 metres and weighing six tons, Hapi is so large that to raise it from horizontal to vertical, the technicians had to hoist it on pulleys attached to the structure of the building and then glide it into position using pressurised air pads. Many of the finds are in astounding condition. Protected from decay by their bed of sand and from thieves by the water above them, the faces look at us as if freshly carved a forceful reminder that Egypt can still surprise us with new treasures. In 1933, an RAF pilot flying over the bay had seen dark shadows in the water and told a member of the Egyptian royal family whose land bordered the sea. Thonis was founded in the 8th century BC at the mouth of the Canopic branch of the Nile. (Above: a computer-generated image of how the lost city might have looked) A diver was sent down and came back with a head of Alexander the Great. I knew from ancient texts that Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus had existed, Goddio says. The ancient Greek travel writer Herodotus claimed there were great temples there and the pilots story increased Goddios suspicions. There was an obvious reason why the cities had not been discovered on land. It was because they could not be on land. The cities were under the waves. In 1996, Goddio narrowed down the location of the cities to the Bay of Aboukir, near Alexandria, but after three years of surveying the ocean floor they had found nothing. It was a tough time for me, Goddio admits. Then, 67 years after the RAF pilot had first buzzed the bay, Goddio and his team made their remarkable discovery. It turned out that Herodotus was right, Goddio says. He was talking about the kind of ships they used and we found the ships, over 80 wrecks. Everything he said has been confirmed first by discovering the cities, the temple and specific artefacts. And we have barely touched it. There is much more out there. THE LOST GODDESS The colossal queen (below) 4.9 metres high and weighing six tons being reassembled underwater. The Ptolemies were astute rulers who kept power in the family, kings often taking sisters as their queens. The sheer size of this statue makes it clear that queens were goddesses to be worshipped by Greeks and native Egyptians alike THE GODS HAVE RISEN The colossal statue of Hapi (right), god of fertility and of flooding of the Nile, being raised. At 5.4 metres and weighing six tons, it is the largest statue of an Egyptian god ever found. In a painstaking operation lasting several hours, it was brought up by nautical winches on barges. The statue was loaded on to a wooden pontoon and then floated back to Egypt WRITING'S ON THE WALL Franck Goddio with The Decree Of Sais. The 2,300-year-old stela is 1.9 metres high. Commissioned by Nectanebo I (378-362 BC), the hieroglyph inscription states that the pharaohs tax decree should stand in the main Egyptian temple in the city, proving that the team had found Thonis Heracleion FACE IN THE DARK The head of Serapis (below). Perhaps the most enigmatic and beautiful example of the entangling of Greek and Egyptian culture found by Goddio. This head of the Egyptian god is virtually identical to Greek sculptures of Zeus HEAD IN THE SAND Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus were important religious centres based on the worship of the Nile and its life-giving properties. Hundreds of religious items like this priests head were brought up from the underwater dig. Goddio and his team also found the remains of several unfortunate priests who perished when a temple collapsed The BP exhibition Sunken Cities: Egypts Lost Worlds is at the British Museum, London, from May 19 to November 27, britishmuseum.org Ambedkar is an avatar of India. As the maker of the Indian Constitution. As a spokesman of the Dalits who replaced Congress hacks. As an opponent of Gandhi whom no one else dared to oppose. As the one who burned the Manu Smriti, and criticised the very foundations of Hinduism. As a campaigner in Tank and temple campaigns. As a critic of the Congress policy on Muslims which would lead to Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary in Mhow As a proponent of real democracy. As the only champion of real social justice, not just plans to achieve it. Ambedkar was all this and more. Among the best of the best. Ignorant Cynicism at the time of celebration makes us question the motives of those who celebrate the 125th year of his birth. Appropriating the memory of a person ignorant of what he stood for is absurd. Converting this appropriation for facile politics is unacceptably dishonest. Why borrow his persona without reference to his identity? Or even the slightest understanding of his thoughts, beliefs, causes and what he stood for? Babasaheb was wholly at odds with what Hindus believed in. The core of Hinduism is the caste system, based (as Lingat reminds us), on concepts of purity making the absurd holy, and the holy holier than thou. Ambedkar would not have approved of the caste system which dominates Indian politics The Manu Smriti was a good symbolic representation of what Hindu society and governance stood for. We dont know who Manu was because so much of our sastra is ahistorical. The legendary KP Jayaswal thought he was an apologist for a post-Mauryan brahmin who snatched the throne - adding to the hypocrisy of Brahmins. The sublety of the dharmasastra was as dangerous as the Hindu faith that inspired it. Today the BJPRSS want to appropriate Ambedkar without giving credence to Ambedkars passionate belief that Hinduism was a social evil. Will the Hindutva combine accept this? Ambedkar would not have approved of the caste system which dominates politics. He would certainly not have approved caste-based reservations. Or the other backward classes (OBC) category to include anyone who has a political hold on our rulers, like the Gujjars and Jats. Its time to come back to reservations for SC and ST only. The OBC was for some recognised categories in the South. Not for Northern groups to appropriate. I am not sure whether Ambedkar would have wanted reservations in legislatures to continue, but he would have endorsed the reservation at Panchayat level. Culprits I am sure he would have denounced destroying the Babri-Masjid and exposing the real culprits behind the Bombay and Gujarat riots. He would have opposed the Hindu treatment of Wendy Donigers book and the oppression of Hussain and others. He would have given short shrift to ghar wapsi. You can adulate a person without agreeing with all of their beliefs, but when you are in total opposition to his views on Hinduism, do you have the courage to attack his fundamental attack on manuvad and Hinduism itself? In fact, there is no meeting ground between SCs and the Sangh Parivar, between Ambedkar and Modi. The Congress had their own quarrel with Ambedkar. Gandhi wanted to take over the Dalit struggle. Every struggle needs allies, but stealing the struggle itself? When the plebs stop fighting for themselves and the oppressed, surrender the battle to others, and when allies take over the helm of the campaign, democracy is lost. In one of my long articles, I treated this as Ambedkars fundamental and basic belief in social democracy. It sustained my critique of the liberal takeover of racism in England when I lived there. But despite the Poona Pact which Gandhis blackmail forced Ambedkar into, the Congress was unrelenting in its political appropriation of the SCST vote after independence. Responsible Now all the political parties lay claim to it. If anything is responsible for all this political support for Ambedkar Jayanti, you know why. I am not saying all should not rise to honour Ambedkar. He was of a kind that doesnt exist now. But we should do so with honesty, penitence and repentance. Ambedkars analysis of Pakistan is time and context-related. But why did he go so far in support? I read his stance as saying, if you Hindus are going to treat Muslims so badly, they will have no choice but to justifiably ask for Pakistan. Six years later, Nehrus recalcitrant refusal to negotiate in July 1946 could well have been the last turning point, though historians are divided on this. I have come to believe some of this. Ambedkars eventual belief in social democracy and the pedagogy of the oppressed transcends many learned books; as, indeed, did his belief in social justice. He put it so well, when at end of the Constituent Assembly he said: On the 26th of January (1950), we are going to enter into a life of contradiction. In politics we will have equality, in social and economic life we will have inequality...How long shall we live this life of contradictions... We must remove this contradiction... or else those who suffer inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy. While this Assembly has so laboriously built. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is scheduled to meet China's military and civilian leadership India and China are looking at instituting a new, sixth border personnel meeting point along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC). The development comes as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar begins talks with the Chinese military and civilian leadership on Monday, with the aim of reducing tensions along the boundary. The nations are in discussions to open a sixth border personnel meeting point, likely in the middle sector of the border, after the opening of two new meeting points last year in the western and eastern sectors. Officials on both sides say these have helped address differences along the LAC. The move is expected to be discussed among a range of other confidence-building measures to increase trust between the two sides, when Parrikar meets his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan on Monday. The pair will meet at the Ba Yi building in Beijing, where the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) leadership sits. Later on Monday, Parrikar will meet one of the Chinas highest-ranking generals, Fan Changlong, who is one of two vice-chairmen on the Central Military Commission headed by President Xi Jinping. He will also travel to Chengdu, the headquarters of the PLAs newly set-up western theatre command which covers the entire border with India. On Saturday, Parrikar met members of the Indian community during his stopover in Shanghai, and was briefed on the smart city projects at the urban planning exhibition centre. The two new border points were opened last year following frequent disputes over incursion incidents, which officials said have been triggered by differing perceptions of the LAC in certain areas. Officials said Parrikars visit was aimed at examining the entire breadth of defence ties, besides addressing the situation along the border. Both sides are also discussing plans for defence exercises to be held later this year, with a desire to scale up the annual counter-terrorism drills. India and China recently held first-ever joint drills along the LAC. While the construction of the third phase of the Metro line is in full swing in Greater Kailash-II, it has left the residents of the area and surrounding localities concerned. This is because the Metro station is located near Savitri Cinema, on a narrow road. Residents say the road on which the entry/exit point is being constructed is the only entry to GK-II, and that the development will grossly choke the road, causing traffic jams for hours. It could also lead to encroachment problems. Residents of GK-II and surrounding localities have raised their concerns with DMRC and L-G Najeeb Jung The residents have also shot a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and DMRC on the matter. Recently, we came to know from the site map of the Metro station which has one of its entry/exit point at the sharp turn of GK-II near Savitri Cinema. Over 5,000 people are estimated to use this point per hour. The location of this entry/exit point is unequipped to handle a large crowd and at the same time it could create trouble for the residents of the area as it would clash with the U-turn under the Savitri flyover, said Chetan Sharma, Chairman, Federation of GKII Complex RWAs. DMRC, which is aware of the grievance, told Mail Today that it had held a meeting with the residents recently where a solution was sought. The residents had suggested another such outlet be constructed on the other side towards Chirag Delhi. But, they were told this would require the acquisition of private land. Initially, this entry/exit point was planned inside the Savitri complex. But that plan involved acquisition of private land and was proving to be extremely time-consuming. Therefore, the current plan was drawn up in consultation with PWD, said the spokesperson for DMRC. In the letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor and DMRC, the residents mentioned that they were surprised that the RWAs in the area were not consulted before the finalisation of the blueprints in any meetings, be it DMRC or UTTIPEC. The construction is already on in full swing and we request that a review of the designs be done owing to the traffic problems that would arise once it becomes operational, said the letter. DMRC says the entry/exit point for the Greater Kailash Metro, near the Savitri complex, will help the residents of GK-II and CR Park reach the Greater Kailash Metro station (near TCIL Building) without crossing the busy Outer Ring Road. The design has been prepared in consultation with the PWD and approved by the UTTIPEC. However, the residents say that being a shorter route, it would be used more and the facility as per the current plan would not be able to handle a large footfall and block the traffic. Ashitosh Dikshit, President of Citizen Alliance, said: There is not enough space to even have a pick and drop facility. There would be no footpaths left for the pedestrians as the road will be encroached upon. DMRC should have done more in terms of the exit points. Last-mile connectivity would also be a problem. Dikshit added that the road usually suffers traffic jams at peak hours, the service, if not addressed in time, would add to the woes. General Dalbir Singh visited the Army's Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur to discuss tensions in the Valley As the curfew continues in north Kashmirs Kupwara and Handwara area, the chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, on Sunday visited the Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur to discuss the situation in the Valley. The Northern Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda briefed the Chief of Army staff on the overall security situation in the Command theatre, a defence spokesman said. He said the Army chief interacted with the Corps Commanders and took a first-hand assessment of the prevailing internal security situation, specifically in view of the recent incidents at Handwara and Nut Nusa. Protests erupted in the Valley after allegations spread that a soldier molested a schoolgirl in Handwara town, about 75 kilometres from Srinagar on Tuesday April 12. The protesters were fired upon by security forces, leading to the killing of two youths and a 56-year-old woman. On April 13, another demonstrator was killed after being hit by a tear-gas shell, which was fired by the police. On Friday afternoon the Army opened fire on protesters in Kupwara - killing yet another youth - and taking the death toll to five. On Saturday Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visited Handwara and said civilian killings were unacceptable. The chief minister said she had a telephone conversation with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar late last evening, and also met Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda, and told them that incidents like those at Handwara and Kupwara are unacceptable and come as a major setback to the efforts of the state government to consolidate peace dividends in the state. I have told General Hooda to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with law-and-order situations, she said. In a significant move, Congress veterans have said that while poll pacts at state level are prudent, the grand old party must lead the front of their non-BJP allies for the 2019 national polls. The Congress will fight the next Lok Sabha elections on its own. However, we may have an understanding with like-minded parties, Congress veteran Satyavrat Chaturvedi told Mail Today. Echoing similar sentiments, another senior party leader, Anil Shastri, said: Any such national level grouping, in which the Congress is not the lead player will be a non-starter. Congress veterans believe the party will emerge as largest player in 2019 polls. (Pictured: Former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi at Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations) The rumblings within the Congress started recently after another senior leader, Digvijaya Singh, made a controversial remark saying the grand old party was open to fighting the 2019 national polls with the JD-U to defeat the BJP. The remark was interpreted by many as the Congress having given up on its ambitions to provide the next prime ministerial candidate, even as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave ample hints that he was gearing up for a national role. The Congress was quick to downplay Digvijayas remark, saying it was too soon to talk about any such formation at the moment. Down to 44 in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, from 2006 in 2009, the Congress managers are worried that giving too much play to Nitish Kumar may send a message that the grand old party was playing second fiddle to regional parties. Sources said the Congress fully supported Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate of the Congress-JD-U-RJD alliance against the BJP-led NDA, keeping in mind the political realities of the state. In West Bengal too, the Congress forged an understanding with the CPI-M to corner the TMC. There is no clarity if the Congress will have any truce with a regional party in UP, which goes to the polls in 2017. These arrangements have further fuelled rumours that the Congress has doubts over its role in the future national politics. Sources said the Congress must strongly dispel such faulty notions. State level pacts are prudent but nationally the Congress has to play the anchor of a secular coalition, said Shastri. According to Congress strategists, regional leaders have the right to nurse ambitions but must not lose sight of their limitations. A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenged him on her home turf. The feisty Trinamool Congress chief said that she is not scared of Modi at all. Modi ji, I am not scared of you If I wish, the people of Bengal would stop you from entering the state. But I have no such intention, the CM said at a rally at Jorasanko Assembly constituency in north Kolkata. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee attacked PM Modi addressing a rally in Jorasanko The prime minister is slated to visit the state on Sunday, where he will address two rallies at Nadia districts Krishnanagar and Kolkatas Shahid Minar Ground. There are some leaders in the BJP who say Bhag Mamata BhagI want to ask who are they to ask me to go? I was born here in Bengal and they are asking me to go so that they can come and stay here, Banerjee said. The CM also alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was showing off. She said the poll panels decision to issue a show-cause notice to her based on her announcement of upgrading Asansol to a separate district was not based on correct information. Sometimes there is a show-off in show-cause. You cant possibly say it is a strict step. I support show-cause for the right reason but if there is a political bias as well as political vendetta then we will speak up, Mamata said when asked on how she was going to deal with the strict step taken by the commission. Addressing another election rally in Kolkatas adjoining North 24 Parganas district, the Trinamool supremo also said that her party would win the Assembly elections and prepare for an all out fight in the 2019 general elections. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has provided the right ammunition for the newly-appointed president of the Karnataka BJP, BS Yeddyurappa. Two major scams allegedly involving Siddaramaiahs son came to the fore this week and the BJP has launched a political campaign against him seeking a CBI probe in the cases. Earlier this week, it was found that Matrix Imaging Solutions Ltd, in which Siddaramaiahs son Dr Yathindra S is a director, won a bid to set up a clinical laboratory and radio diagnosis and imaging services at the government- run Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). 'This is just the tip of the iceberg'- BS Yeddyurappa, Karntaka BJP chief The firm won the contract by placing the lowest bid, giving rise to suspicion. On Friday, in another embarrassing exposure, it was revealed that the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) had allotted prime land (worth Rs 150 crore) to a firm owned by a friend of Siddaramaiahs son in contravention of rules and regulations. Though Siddaramaiah has claimed innocence in both the cases, but this has dented his image severely. Now, the BJP is demanding a CBI probe in both the cases. 'These are merely speculative reports'-K Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Minister While the government has remained silent over the tender awarded to a company owned by Siddaramaiahs son, a complaint has been filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau by an NGO seeking a probe into the alleged preferential allotment of land. The BJP is of the view that only a probe by the CBI will ascertain the truth in both the cases. Siddaramaiah claims that both the cases are in accordance with the law, so, what is preventing him from handing over these cases to the CBI for an independent probe? Let him prove that there is no nepotism in both the cases, said Jagadish Shettar former CM and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Yeddyurappa went a step ahead and said legal action would be initiated against Siddaramaiah. The two scams are likely to become the highlights of his campaign as Yeddyurappa embarks on a tour of Karnataka this week to assess the impact of drought in the state. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Just wait and watch More skeletons will tumble out of Siddaramaiahs closet, said the newly-appointed Karnataka BJP president. However, putting up a strong defence, the chief minister told the media on Saturday that the Congress High Command had not sought an explanation on the two deals. These are merely speculative reports. No one has asked for an explanation. Transparency has been upheld while awarding the contract. The BJP is day-dreaming of grabbing power by making irresponsible comments, he added. If you are one of those young doctors excited by the new recruitment policy of the UK government to hire more Indian doctors to tackle its acute staff shortage, here is a reality check before you board the flight: Going to the UK can prove to be a dead end for your career, because you will be entering a system that is notoriously racist, discriminatory and awful. The warning comes from some of the top doctors of Indian origin in the UK, including Dr. Kailash Chand, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) and an OBE (Order of the British Empire) recipient from the Queen in 2010. In an exclusive interview to Mail Today in the backdrop of recent move by the UK National Health Service (NHS) to recruit general practitioners (GP) and other clinical staff from India to work in the UK, Dr. Chand cautioned dreamy-eyed aspirants to be aware of the pitfalls of coming to work in the UK. Young doctors attending a coaching session to look for jobs abroad at the Karol Bagh-based Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences There are huge problems. Working conditions in the UK for doctors have deteriorated a hell of a lot. It is not as good as people think, said Chand, a GP with 35 years of experience. Health Education England, the NHS training and recruitment agency, had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Apollo Hospital chains to reportedly hire as many GPs as possible. The details of the deal, however, are still still closely guarded, as the hospital chain refused to respond to requests from Mail Today, regarding the number of doctors or clinical staff who will be covered under the agreement. According to UKs Department of Health, the immediate target is to meet a shortfall of 5,000 doctors in general practice by 2020. Though NHS has always turned to Indian subcontinent to address its staff shortages in the past (as many as 23 per cent of NHS is already filled with Indian doctors), the service had been under attack for its racist and discriminatory practices towards the Indian doctors. A 2001 report by Kings Fund, an English health charity, had accused NHS of perpetuating institutionalised racism against BME doctors, an umbrella term for people belonging to Black, minority and ethnic community, which also include Indian doctors, till the day they retire from service. The report had also noted how the career path for non-White staff is too often blocked and are more likely to get shunted into unpopular specialties and inner-city general practice. Nearly 15 years later, the situation appears to remain the same. Though 33 per cent of the NHS workforce is BME doctors, according to BMA, only five per cent of them are in high medical position. They are not many Indian doctors at a very high positions, said Chand, who counts himself as one of the lucky few. The Bedford-based British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), a 50,000 strong body of Indian doctors blames this extreme disparity on the unfair way in which non-White doctors are assessed for promotions to become specialists. There is a huge difference in pass percentage between Whites and non-Whites in the MRCGP exam that allows doctors to progress in their career towards specialisations, said Dr. Mehta, president, BAPIO. For instance, if you are a White UK-trained doctor; the pass rate is 98 per cent. But if you are a doctor from India, then the rate of clearing the exam is 34 per cent or even less in some specialties, said Dr. Mehta. This happens because the way MRCGP is conducted is not fair. The clinical assessment component of the exam is not conducted with real patients but with actors. Almost all these actors are White and prone to subjective racial discrimination based on aspects such as communication and behavioural traits of a doctor, unlike real patients who are more flexible and non-judgemental while interacting with a doctor, said Mehta. Even for the few who clear the test, aspiring to be a specialist in Pediatrics, Cardiology or Opthalmology is a distant dream. All glamorous specialisations go to European doctors, said Chand, who himself vainly tried to chase his dream of becoming a Paediatrician in the late 1970s only to realise that he did not even get shortlisted in any of the 40 hospitals he applied, eventually specialising in Emergency Medicine. Only non-glamorous specialisations such as Psychiatry, Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine known as Cinderella services go to BME doctors, he said. The discrimination doesnt end there. BME doctors who are in consultancy positions at various UK hospitals are often overlooked by their employers when it comes to conferring the annual merit awards, a recognition that also helps recipients to get a monetary incentive of more than 50,000 pounds. As many as 25 per cent of the consultants at the UK hospitals are BME. Yet, only 4.5 per cent of them get a merit award, said Chand. Complicating the situation further is the current state of affairs in UKs healthcare system. At present, there is very low morale among doctors working in the NHS. Not many local graduates want to work in general practice as the working conditions are awful with a lot of paper work and pressure regarding targets set by the Department of Health, said Mehta. Native junior doctors are leaving the UK in their hundreds to countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as they are unhappy with the new policy regulation of the government under which they have to work seven days a week, he said. There is currently a drought of doctors in the UK. There is a shortage of 5,000 in GPs alone. They will need another 10,000 to 15,000 in other specialties, added Dr. Mehta. The fact that NHS is reaching out to Indian doctors again in its hour of crisis is also a tacit admission that there are no suitable doctors available within the European Union to fill the shortage, a mandatory requirement, as per a new rule introduced by the UK government in 2006, to give preferential treatment for EU doctors in NHS. Doctors from the EU have had major problems of language and are not popular in the UK, claimed Dr. Mehta. Yet, for all the negatives, people like Chand believe that the British society was a lot more biased in the 1970s than it is now. At least multiculturalism is now acceptable in places like London, he said. Robbie Williams is reportedly heading back to the studio with Take That Robbie Williams is reportedly heading back to the studio with Take That to work on new music. It will be the first time Robbie has written with his former band-mates since 2010, and the tracks will feature on the groups mammoth Greatest Hits album, which will come out next year to mark their 25th anniversary. A source told The Sun: Robbie loves being part of the creative process and he has lots to offer. He influenced the last album he featured on with his electro sound, which reflected his solo work at the time. Robbie is also said to be set to join the band for their biggest ever tour, where theyll play the new songs live for the first time. In February Gary Barlow confirmed that the band would tour in 2017 to mark their 25th anniversary. The big goal for this year is getting another Take That album out, Gary told The Sun. Well do a Greatest Hits album next year and tour the year after. A Greatest Hits with everyone would be amazing but I personally cant imagine Jason coming back on stage for quite a few years. But if Rob could do something that would be brilliant.contactmusic.com YouTube to help develop musical talent YouTube has informally launched an initiative to develop music talent under the name YouTube Music Foundry, which gives artists new tools and guidance on how to successfully grow their presence on the video platform, according to YouTube. The Foundry program is one of many the company has created over the last several years to assist artists and the music industry in producing and optimising content. Among the tools artists are learning to use now include live video production, a rapidly growing technology that over the last several years has grown exponentially. hollywoodreporter.com Fossil fuels could be phased out in a decade The worldwide reliance on burning fossil fuels to create energy could be phased out in a decade, according to an article published by a major energy think tank in the UK. Professor Benjamin Sovacool, Director of the Sussex Energy Group at the University of Sussex, believes that the next great energy revolution could take place in a fraction of the time of major changes in the past. But it would take a collaborative, interdisciplinary, multi-scalar effort to get there, he warns. PM Narendra Modi met his 'Guru' PM Narendra Modi on Sunday met the ailing Swami Atmasthananda Maharaj, president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission Order, who he considers his guru. This was his second visit to the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan in Kolkata, where the 98-year-old monk is recovering from age-related illness. The PM spent about 15 minutes in the hospital. He went to the Maharajs room, touched his feet and was blessed by the senior monk. The two spoke in Gujarati and asked about each other's well-being. BJP on its toes in West Bengal The West Bengal Assembly polls have kept the BJP on its toes. On Sunday, a BJP delegation comprising Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, MP Bhupendra Yadav, party national secretary Shrikant Sharma, and Om Pathak met the Election Commissioners and submitted a memorandum, accusing the states chief election officer of acting in a partisan manner in the on-going polls and seeking his immediate removal. Sangh bolsters its stand in UP Ahead of the UP polls, the RSS has started strengthening its ground in the state. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was in Vrindavan this weekend, and backed the priests of Bankey Behari temple who are opposing the reported move by the state government to acquire and develop the shrine. We are with you, Bhagwat said. Bhagwat also said he would talk to Union minister Uma Bharti about the pathetic state of the Yamuna due to pollution. Ex-MLAs are now MCD contestants The BJP on Sunday announced the names of its candidates, including three ex-MLAs, for the MCD by-polls to be held next month in 13 wards of Delhi. Former MLAs Mahender Nagpal and Jintender Singh Shunty will contest from Wajirpur and Jhilmil wards, respectively. Vinod Kumar Binny has been fielded by the party from Khichripur ward. Swamys temple faith in Rajiv BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, a strident critic of the Nehru-Gandhi family, surprisingly hailed former PM Rajiv Gandhi for his efforts to resolve the Ayodhya dispute and said Rajiv would have built a Ram temple if elected PM for a second term. There are two conclusions you can draw from the latest research by think-tank New City Agenda on the propensity of the banks to fall foul of the City regulator. Opposing ones, mind you. First, the regulators Financial Conduct Authority now, Financial Services Authority before have done a splendid job in stamping down on bad practice. This view can be supported by the fact that 53billion of fines have been imposed on the banks since 2000 for a litany of misdemeanours everything from misselling payment protection insurance through to providing rank bad advice in the branches. In other words, the banks have rightly had to atone for their financial sins. Power: Despite issuing 53bn of fines, regulators have done little to change the hard-sell culture of the banks The alternative conclusion is that we have allowed a regulatory monster to form which is about as effective as sticking plaster on a gaping wound. Despite issuing 53billion of fines some of the proceeds admittedly going to good causes regulators have done little to change the hard-sell culture of the banks. Rather than stopping the banks in their tracks, they have allowed them to commit one misselling scandal after another. Only after the damage has been done have they moved in their tanks and hit them with fines. With the big banks now re-entering the financial advice market a market they served atrociously in the past it can only be a matter of time before another misselling scandal comes along. Of course, you will have your own view on the effectiveness or otherwise of financial regulation (please let me know). But my take is that for all the fining and all the redress, regulation has done little to lighten the dark side of our countrys biggest banks. For all the redress, regulation has done little to lighten the dark side of our banks Indeed, by abandoning an industry-wide probe into banking culture last year, the regulator has sent out a signal that it is happy for the merry-go-round to continue spinning. That is, banks missell, regulator issues fines; banks continue to make profits, regulator extends its tentacles ever deeper into the financial services industry. Banks happy, regulator beaming. Everyone pleased bar the poor old customer. Pension injustices Pension injustices are a blight on the financial landscape. They chip away at our faith in pensions as a savings vehicle, especially when they are allowed to linger, fuelling the anger of those victims who feel cruelly let down. Many people with Equitable Life pensions argue with justification they have never been properly compensated for the failure of City regulators to watch over the insurer prior to its near implosion in 2000. Sadly, as each year passes and more of them pass away, their cry for help grows ever quieter. A state of affairs that Government should be ashamed of. There are then those who believe they have been given a rum deal as a result of repeated Government changes to the state pension. Women born in the 1950s feel especially hard-done-by as a result of their right to enjoy a state pension being pushed back. Protest: Many people with Equitable Life pensions argue they have never been properly compensated A petition launched by the splendid Women Against State Pension Inequality has attracted more than 187,000 backers, indicating that their call for fairness has widespread support. Although the determined campaigners have attracted backing from numerous MPs and stirred members of the Work and Pensions Committee into coming up with possible solutions, the Government seems impervious to their collective call for pension justice. Lets also not forget those wonderful workers who between 1997 and 2004 lost the pension fund they had assiduously built. This was a result of their employer going out of business, leaving in place a works pension scheme with insufficient assets to pay all pensions promised. Although these workers (most are now retired) have since received compensation from the so-called Financial Assistance Scheme set up by the Government, they feel it is not enough. On average, they are receiving less than 50 per cent of the pension they would have got if their employer and company pension fund had not imploded not the 90 per cent they were promised by Government. The spirited Pensions Action Group (pensionstheft.org) has long spearheaded the campaign for justice on this issue. Last week, it published a powerful document outlining its case (available via the website). Kiss goodbye to cheap petrol. The oil price has been jumping in the last week as expectations rose that todays meeting of OPEC will lead to a deal to cut production. Combined with the possible weakness of the pound during the EU referendum, we can safely expect the price of a litre of petrol or diesel to keep on climbing. The sunny uplands of 1 a litre for unleaded are already behind us. Car owners and businesses with high fuel costs will be worse off, but it is not all gloom. Higher oil prices will be a fillip to North Sea oil, which is reeling under the recent low price with job losses mounting. BP boss Bob Dudley pocketed an eye-watering 14million pay packet despite huge losses last year Shareholders and the FTSE 100 index will benefit as oil group shares recover. The big oil groups may even be able to pay decent dividends again and their payouts have long been a crucial part of pension fund returns. It may also be welcomed by Bob Dudley, the overpaid chief of BP who suffered a drubbing from his shareholders last week because of his eye-watering 14million pay packet. BP made huge losses last year, due significantly to the falling oil price. Most oil bosses suffered a pay cut. Not Dudley. BP and Dudley cited the companys improved safety record. To give credit where it is due, BP urgently needed to improve its record after the deaths of oil workers and the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But avoiding death and disaster is a basic starting point for an oil company not the cue for a huge pay rise. More dollars per barrel will help BPs bottom line next year and may make next years numbers look a bit better. But that prospect should not allow BP or Dudley, or indeed other board members who agreed his 20 per cent pay rise, to forget their recent humiliation. The chairman said Were listening, but the scale of the shareholder rebellion against Dudleys pay requires more than emollient words from BP. And it requires more than just rethinking next years pay package. And remember this is not a complaint by the usual suspects who agitate against high pay. This is a revolt by City institutions and, most importantly, by the people who actually own the company. A vote on this scale against the pay report requires an immediate response in action. The head of the remuneration committee, Professor Dame Ann Dowling, should be considering her position. Her biggest single task is to oversee boardroom pay and almost 60 per cent of the shareholders have concluded she failed in that task. And yes, frankly, Dudley himself should voluntarily kiss goodbye to some of his pay as a gesture to shareholders. T.V. writes: I was dismayed to see a Herbalife stand inside the Barclays branch at Clapham Junction in London, where two young women were trying to recruit distributors to sell their products. In the US, most of the media treat Herbalife as a pyramid scheme. I raised the matter with bank staff, who simply shrugged their shoulders and said it was a Barclays scheme to help entrepreneurs. In my opinion, it is wrong for the bank to promote Herbalife to customers who will assume it is a respectable, bona fide way to make money. Support: Herbalife sponsors LA Galaxy, the American soccer club where Steven Gerrard plays I think the crucial point in what you told me is that the two women were telling Barclays customers how to make money by selling Herbalife products to friends, family and colleagues. This is not what they were supposed to be doing. Barclays has confirmed that the pair had permission for a display stand inside the branch, but this was for showcasing their products, and not for signing people up as distributors. Why does this matter? It matters because Herbalife is controversial. Not because of the vitamin supplements and shakes that it markets, but because it has recruited several million distributors throughout the world. They pay to join the scheme and sell the products, but they also earn money by recruiting yet more distributors. The American company says it has 38,000 distributors in Britain, though almost all of these seem to be nothing more than customers shopping for their own use. Very few are like the two women who used Barclays as a recruiting station. Daniella Goldman, a senior official at Herbalifes UK base at Uxbridge in Middlesex, told me: Herbalife is a bona fide, New York Stock Exchange listed public company which has been operating in the UK for more than 30 years. Distributors must always comply with an ethical set of company rules and code of conduct, that afford a high level of protection to the consumer. Controversial: The American company says it has 38,000 distributors in Britain She added: We are in favour of promoting UK small businesses and we commend Barclays for providing our members with this opportunity. But one claim by Ms Goldman stood out. Our members are compensated purely on the sale of Herbalife products, she said. This is strange. Logically, nobody recruits their own competitors. Greengrocers sell vegetables they dont sign up other people to become greengrocers and sell vegetables in competition. So why were the Herbalife distributors at Barclays trying to recruit their own rivals? Ms Goldman explained that when she told me members were compensated only through the sale of products, this did not mean they had to sell them personally. Members can earn production bonuses and royalties on product sales made by others in their sales network. This is why Herbalife is controversial and why in the United States the watchdog Federal Trade Commission is conducting an investigation into allegations that just like a pyramid scheme its big profits come mainly from signing up more and more distributors, rather than from genuine sales of products to end users. Last Thursday saw the world premiere in New York of Betting On Zero, a movie docu-drama about Herbalife and a Wall Street campaign by hedge fund giant Bill Ackman to prove it is a pyramid scheme. In the movie, Herbalife bosses hit back, claiming Ackman is nothing more than a market manipulator, out to drive down their share price. It is all a long way from Clapham Junction, but it asks the same questions and raises the same doubts. Could Herbalife survive if it used normal marketing methods? Or is the real money made through a never- ending chain of recruits? Its shakes may be fine, but its structure looks shakier. Bizarre hoops to jump through to get my own money back E.R.H. writes: In 1999 I invested in two funds with Invesco. This was intended for my old age and I am now in my 87th year. I asked for the account to be closed and the proceeds deposited into my bank account, and a few days later I was told the investments had been sold but the proceeds could not be transferred because Invesco needed identity documents, a photograph, household bills and so on. I do not believe I should be expected to jump through hoops to receive my own money. You found yourself dealing with staff at Invesco Global Asset Managements head office in Dublin. They used laws aimed at fighting money laundering and terrorist financing to ask for a copy of your passport, showing your photograph and signature, and certified by a solicitor, accountant, or embassy official. You were also asked for an original utility bill or a certified copy. You were then asked to complete a lengthy questionnaire about your connections or lack of them to Ireland, the US, Canada, Cyprus, Australia and New Zealand. You were asked whether you, or anyone closely related to you or associated with you, is a politically exposed person as defined in European Directive 2005/60/EC. Finally, you had to give your bank details and explain where your money came from in the first place. I suggested to Invesco that it was a bit over the top to ask such questions of an 86-year-old living in Norwich, who just wanted to get his hands on his own money. Happily, common sense prevailed. Invesco will accept copies of your driving licence and your expired passport, without certification. The investment proceeds will immediately be transferred to your bank account and Invesco is adding 100 to make up for the inconvenience. First Utility stopped sending statements and then charged 600 Mrs J.H. writes: My husband and I are customers of First Utility, and until November we received monthly itemised statements for gas and electricity. Since December, we have received nothing, despite forwarding our meter readings. Out of the blue, we have now received a demand for 600. We requested a full breakdown, but this has been denied. Of course, you are entitled to a breakdown of the charges, particularly after you supplied the meter readings. A request for a nice round sum of money just isnt good enough. First Utility has told me: We apologise that Mr and Mrs H did not receive regular bills for a few months. This was due to a technical issue which we have now fixed. If you go online, you will find that your account has been updated to take into account the correct meter readings, and I understand First Utility has also been in direct contact with you to apologise. Makeover: Colin Morton was inspired after visiting his firms California headquarters Fund boss Colin Morton has just clocked up a quarter of a century in investment management. That is no mean achievement in an industry where turnover is notoriously high. But the 49-year-old is not stuck in his ways and is still prepared to embrace new methods of making money for investors. For the past 14 months he has overseen the transformation of Franklin UK Blue Chip, an investment fund he has run since 2000. A fresh investment process has been introduced, and a number of stocks have been jettisoned and new ones bought. As a result, it has been renamed Franklin UK Rising Dividends, a fund which, as its title implies, strives to increase the dividend income it pays out to investors. Though the makeover has yet to attract much attention, Morton believes it will come good in time. Since the new approach was implemented early last year, the fund has generated a positive return commendable given that the FTSE All-Share Index has fallen over the same period. Its ability to capture rising dividends has yet to be tested because it has just paid out its first year of income a touch over 15p per unit under the new investment mandate. But Morton believes there is no reason why the fund cannot be true to its billing. He says: I am sure we can build on this income distribution. Based in Leeds with the rest of Franklin Templetons six-strong UK investment team, he says the overhaul was triggered by a visit he made three years ago to the firms California headquarters. He recalls: Franklin has run a successful rising dividend strategy in the US for years and has tens of billions of dollars invested on this basis. I liked the idea straight away and thought it was something I could transport back to the UK. Rather than launch a new fund, Morton decided instead to apply the strategy to Franklin UK Blue Chip, which many investors mistakenly thought was a fund tracking the FTSE 100 Index. It took about 18 months for him to get his head around how the new investment formula would work. But it was finally applied to the fund at the end of January last year. He explains: The fund will only invest in firms that have grown their dividends in eight of the past 10 years. They must also have not cut their dividend in this time. Finally, they must pay out less than 65 per cent of their earnings in income, thereby indicating an ability to grow future payments. These parameters mean that there are 350 stocks to choose from and the fund is currently invested in 39. Choice: The fund is currently invested in 39 stocks The formula has resulted in some big firms being dropped from the fund, such as Aviva, BP, HSBC, Legal & General and Vodafone. It has also meant the purchase of new stocks, such as Cheltenham-based Spirax-Sarco Engineering and software company Micro Focus. The result is a fund with an overall yield of 3.4 per cent, a figure that Morton reckons is sustainable. The biggest obstacle to increasing the funds income year after year, he says, is the propensity of companies to pay one-off special dividends. While the fund is at the start of its income growth journey, a handful of investment trusts have delivered more than 40 years of consecutive annual dividend rises. For students and young, cash-strapped holidaymakers, hostels play a central role in their travel experience. Most are pretty grim peeling paint on the walls, dubious bathroom facilities, lumpy mattresses and cheap bedding. Larry Lipman, a 58-year-old entrepreneur with a strong record of building businesses, thought that there could be a better way of providing accommodation to bargain hungry holidaymakers and still make money. Four years ago, he founded Safestay, a hostel chain with a difference. Floated on AIM in May 2014 at 50p, the shares are 59p today, but they should move considerably higher as Lipman rolls out the business nationally and overseas. Quality: Larry Lipman offers keenly priced accommodation in Londons Holland Park Bright, welcoming and scrupulously clean, the hostels include cosy bars, 24/7 receptionists, free wi-fi (a must for the young) and top-quality bedding. They are also in grand buildings in central locations, but still cost an average of 20 per bed per night. So far, the group has just four premises one each in Edinburgh and York, and two in London, including a property in the middle of Holland Park, one of the most prestigious areas in the capital. Now, the aim is to move fairly rapidly to ten sites, developing a chain in the UK and selected parts of the Continent. Lipman is an experienced operator. Having established property group Safeland in 1988, he went on to found insurance and auctioneer specialist Hercules Property Services, storage group Safestore and workspace company Bizspace all of which were built up into firms worth tens of millions of pounds. Cheap luxury: Entrepreneur Larry Lipman Now, the plan is to do the same at Safestay, using the contacts and nous acquired during more than three decades in the property sector to find interesting, well priced sites that can be turned into appealing hostels. Safestays first London venture, for example, was in John Smith House, the 18th Century former Labour Party headquarters transformed into a brightly painted hostel with a courtyard bar. Like many early-stage businesses, it has not all been plain sailing. Last summer, for example, the company thought it was going to acquire a prize site in Milan, but walked away because the price was not right. There have also been two share placings for 3million in 2014 and just over 8million last year, to help fund the Edinburgh outlet. And some followers have grumbled about poor occupancy at new sites. Last week, the group unveiled results for 2015 showing revenues up from 1.9million to 4million and a doubling in the value of freehold property assets to 28.8million. There was a 600,000 pre-tax loss after Safestay invested in its hostels, developed its sales and marketing and created a more sophisticated website, capable of offering flexible prices according to demand. Occupancy rates are rising too, especially as properties become more established. John Smith House, for example, saw occupancy increase from 71.8 per cent to 78.6 per cent between 2013 and 2015, while average revenue per bed was up by 17 per cent. Looking ahead, occupancy rates should continue to increase as the hostels become better known. Pretty: Safestay's focus is on communal areas where people can meet and socialise with other travellers An interior view of the Grade I listed hostel in Holland Park, London The company, previously run almost entirely by Lipman, has also beefed up the board. Lipman is still chairman, but two hotel and leisure veterans have joined Philip Houghton as chief executive and Mark Beveridge as finance director. Cheap accommodation is increasingly easy to find, thanks to Airbnb and budget hotel chains such as Travelodge. Safestay is positioned differently, however, with a focus on communal areas where people can meet and socialise with other travellers in a safe environment. A billion pound food producer chaired by a Labour peer is facing industrial action after trade unions claimed that it is trying to claw back the benefit of the Governments newly-introduced National Living Wage from its workers. Food firm 2 Sisters, which is part of 3.5billion Boparan Holdings making Foxs Biscuits, Goodfellas pizzas and Marks & Spencer ready meals among other items, has told staff it plans to cut Sunday and Bank Holiday pay, overtime and time off in lieu for working unsociable hours. The company, which is chaired by Labour peer and former ITV chief executive Charles Allen, is the latest to be drawn into the row as firms try to absorb the cost of implementing Chancellor George Osbornes National Living Wage which rose to 7.20 an hour on April 1 for those over 25. Living Wage row: 2 Sisters is chaired by Labour peer and former ITV chief executive Charles Allen The firm has told staff at its Pennine Foods site in Sheffield that it wants to cut back on higher payments. John Higgins, a spokesman for the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, said he expects a ballot on industrial action to be held as soon as this week. He said a quarter of the firms 800 staff would be hit, some by up to 2,000 a year. Staff at the Foxs Biscuit factory in Batley are also affected. Companies are trying to work out how to pay this increase and subsidise it from existing staff costs, Higgins said. The National Living Wage will increase to 9 an hour by 2020. Ranjit Boparan, who owns 2 Sisters, has been described as Birminghams first billionaire. Former Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King was previously an adviser to the company until last year. It is understood that staff at some other sites in the group may be facing similar contractual renegotiations. The company said: All colleagues at Pennine Foods and Foxs Biscuits in Batley are paid above the National Living Wage. We have been negotiating packages to ensure a fairer and more transparent wage structure which ensures that the majority of our employees will earn more than before, it said. B&Q was last week forced to retreat on plans to cut wages and has offered staff a two-year compensation plan But the company is expected to be cited tomorrow during a debate in Parliament on the National Living Wage and the steps that some companies are taking to recoup costs. Other companies in the spotlight include Samworth Brothers, which makes Soreen malt loaves, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Ginsters pasties. Meanwhile, B&Q was last week forced to retreat on plans to cut wages and has offered staff a two-year compensation plan to buffer the effect. Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, will lead the parliamentary debate. She said she understood the fears of small businesses over wage rises. British tax authorities are heading for a showdown with the media groups behind the Panama Papers expose, demanding they hand over the cache of documents. The Government has pledged 10million for a task-force to investigate the Panama data, but it is understood the authorities have so far only managed to get hold of some of the 11.5million documents. Revenue & Customs told The Mail on Sunday it was determined to get hold of the leaked information to pursue criminal investigations against tax fraudsters and would explore every avenue, nationally and internationally. Demand: Revenue & Customs told The Mail on Sunday it was determined to get hold of the leaked information It said: While we appreciate that the media is not an arm of law enforcement, given the seriousness of the allegations that they have published and the calls they have made for action to be taken, we would reasonably expect them to co-operate in giving us access to the Panama data. The documents were leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca to organisations including The Guardian and the BBC, leading to headlines around the world alleging widespread tax evasion and to calls for a crackdown. Tax authorities from 35 of the richest nations met last week to discuss how to get hold of the Panama leaks and to manage the sharing and exploitation of the database. Sources suggested that they had already obtained part of the database, but not all of it. Guardian News and Media and the BBC both argue they have only electronic access to the papers. GNM suggested Revenue & Customs should contact the UK office of Mossack Fonseca directly. The German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, which was leaked the data, and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which coordinated the newspapers investigation, have said categorically that they will not hand it over. If the data was held in the UK, Revenue & Customs could obtain it through a court order. Lawyers said German and US tax authorities may also be able to take similar action. The nations farmers are poised to wade into the EU debate tomorrow with a special meeting of the National Farmers Union council set to declare its official position. The NFU has so far avoided coming down on either side of the debate, but most observers expect the group to favour remaining in the EU. The critical meeting follows a series of 28 roadshows organised by the union over the past fortnight, and a report, UK Farmings Relationship With The EU. 'Critical': Farmers make big exports to the European Union Though not setting out a formal position, the report stated: For some sectors the EU market is critical. Thirty-eight per cent of all lamb produced in the UK goes to Europe. France alone purchased more than 200million worth of UK lamb in 2014. The report says the UK is a net importer of agri-food products, totalling 39.6billion in 2014. We import nearly twice as many agri-food products from the other EU countries than we export, however our exports are significant. In 2014, we exported 12.8billion worth of products. Approximately 73 per cent of our total agri-food exports were destined for other member states. The NFU in Scotland and Wales have declared they are in favour of staying in the EU. But the Country Land and Business Association has stayed neutral. In a letter to it last week, David Cameron said leaving the EU would be a leap in the dark for farmers. Our farmers have often spent generations building up their businesses; what they do not need is the uncertainty and risk that would come with leaving the EU. A boss at the Government-backed British Business Bank has delivered an upbeat assessment of increasing lending to companies, and is hopeful that it is sustainable. Chief operating officer Patrick Magee said: Theres good news in the bank lending market and the flow of finance is up. The bank market is beginning to recover and the credit appetite is coming back. The asset finance market has been doing really well. It was just under 13billion in 2012 and was more than 16billion in 2015. Then the alternative finance peer-to-peer lending market is growing and theres more equity out there. Small business: Money raised through the alternative finance sector last month was 66% up on March 2015 According to research firm AltFi Data, money raised through the alternative finance sector last month was 66 per cent up on March last year. It said 342.5million of financing was originated during the month, a 12 per cent rise on February, adding that Funding Circle, RateSetter, LendInvest, Zopa and MarketInvoice were the biggest lenders. This month, the International Monetary Funds latest half-yearly Global Financial Stability Report called for urgent action on the problems faced by eurozone banks. It said a third of these would have to overcome significant challenges to be sustainably profitable. But despite the IMFs warnings of a fresh financial crisis, Magee said: Were not back to the heights of 2007-8, but were getting back to what we hope might be a new normal. I dont have significant concerns that this isnt sustainable. People say, OK, theres more finance flowing, but then if you get global worries or other issues then markets begin to seize up again. Were pleased with the progress weve seen and hope that its sustainable because of the diversity on the supply side. In the Budget the Government announced three designated internet platforms for its new referrals scheme for firms rejected for loans by banks In the March Budget the Government announced three designated internet platforms for its new referrals scheme for firms rejected for loans by banks Businessfinancecompared, Funding Options and Funding Xchange. Meanwhile, the BBB announced last week that it has invested 30million in Cordet Direct Lending, a new debt fund focused on medium-sized businesses. Magee dismissed concerns the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme, where the Government acts as a guarantor for loans to small and medium enterprises, is lending to fewer firms. Just 446 were granted loans through the scheme in the final quarter of 2015 against 2,030 in the second quarter of 2009. He said: It had an exceptional period in 2009 because that was after the financial crisis and the banks had no capital and no credit. EFG is finding an appropriate level. Were reviewing it and improving it. Were still supportive of the scheme. Last week, the Bank of Englands Credit Conditions Survey for the first quarter of 2016 found that the proportion of small business loan applications approved increased for the fourth consecutive quarter. Meanwhile, demand from SMEs is expected to rise this quarter. Jo Harris, managing director for business banking at Lloyds Banking Group, said: Default rates on lending have fallen, reflecting an improvement in credit quality, and Bank of England statistics show there was an annual net increase of 1.6 per cent in loans and overdraft balances of SMEs in the year to the end of February. However, in the first quarter of 2016 there was a slight fall in demand from small firms, perhaps as a result of uncertainty in many markets. Lloyds increased its lending by 5 per cent in the last year. Isaiah Baskins (pictured) of North Carolina was taking his daughter to a doctor's appointment at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center when a hospital volunteer began shouting at him and another woman Two families were left rattled and angry after a hospital volunteer began screaming at them, allegedly using racial slurs and forcing them to leave. Most of the encounter at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina was caught on film and the man who filmed the video said that the woman 'called him a n*****' and told him to 'get his black babies out' of the waiting area. The nearly seven-minute video was posted to YouTube by Isaiah Baskins, who is black, in which an older white woman wearing a yellow top gets in Isaiah's face and shouts at another parent, Katie Thomas, who is white. 'Went to Baptist Hospital for my daughter's appointment and went into the family resource center and became a victim of racism. 'Before I started recording she called me a n***** and said get my black kids out. We weren't bothering anybody. I was just taking to someone I just met in the hospital,' Isaiah wrote on the video. Isaiah's and Katie's young children were playing together while they waited in the area before the lady started screaming at them. The video begins after the confrontation has already started. 'Lady what is wrong with you?' Isaiah can be head saying as the woman in yellow storms away from him. 'We need some help. There's something wrong with this volunteer.She's in here acting like a fool. She's already called me a n*****,' he says. The lady then takes a stroller belonging to Katie and pushes it out the door. 'You're getting out,' the lady says when Isaiah asks what she's doing. In the video a hospital volunteer (pictured) rabidly shrieks at Isaiah and another woman Katie Thomas after the parents began speaking in the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's family resource room 'You'er going all over the Internet. We haven'd done anything wrong to you,' Isaiah tells her. Katie then asks her what caused the woman to become so enraged. 'We were peacefully talking while our kids were playing,' Katie begins to say before the woman shouts 'shut your mouth up' back at her. 'I'm done with you. I don't care what you say,' the older woman continues. Katie asks her what's wrong with her, obviously shaken and confused by the outburst. The volunteer then begins screaming 'You shut up! What's wrong with you?' Isaiah continues to remind the volunteer he's recording her as she gets on the phone to call security. The woman gets on the phone to call security and shouts into the phone she's not 'going to take it any more'. Katie begins to ask what the problem is and the woman screams at her to 'shut her mouth up' The woman tells the hospital security to get Isaiah and Katie 'out of here' and then walks over to Isaiah and begins poking him The woman mentions something about Isaiah's underwear and shouts into the phone: 'Will you get these people out of here? I'm not putting up with it!' Isaiah and the woman can be heard getting more and more confused as to what is causing the volunteer's outburst. Isaiah asks the woman, 'Are you on your medication?' Then the volunteer comes at Isaiah saying, 'You just worry about your camera problems.' She then starts shrieking furiously through gritted teeth while poking at Isaiah's body. Her fury is so apparent she seems unable to finish her sentence as her enraged face fills the screen. 'Get out of mine,' the woman shouts rabidly into the camera. Isaiah asks her to stop touching him and puts his arm out to block her. She repeats over and over 'get out' to Isaiah. Then Katie shouts 'don't touch my son' as it becomes clear a toddler is standing next to the arguing adults. 'Don't touch that baby,' Isaiah tells the volunteer, who is continuing to shout at the two families to get out. When Isaiah tells her not to touch him she gets in his face and begins manically screaming into his camera. He repeatedly asks her what's wrong with her. Earlier in the video he claims she 'called him a n*****' and told him to get his 'black babies' out of the room The woman becomes so angry as she tries to get Isaiah to leave the room she has trouble finishing her sentences and shrieks from behind gritted teeth into the camera at him She continues to shriek 'out!' at the family as the children in the room begin to ask what's going on. 'Get his rear out of here! Get your damn underwear out of here,' the volunteer shouts. 'Gray underwear! Get your underwear and get your s*** out of here!' She points at Isaiah's, seeming to blame the fact she can see his gray undergarment as the reason for her tantrum. 'Something is wrong with you lady,' Isaiah says. She grits her teeth again and begins shrieking into the camera: 'Something's wrong with you! Children! Children! Are you a child? How old are you? Get out! Get out! How old am I you dumb -- how old am I?' The volunteer repeatedly starts pushing Isaiah out of the room as Katie gathers her children and Isaiah's outside the waiting room. Isaiah again asks her to stop touching him and she shouts, 'Gray underwear, that tramp! Dirty old tramp!' Then after a few minutes of the shouting back and forth she claims her anger is over the fact she can see Isaiah's gray underwear. Another man asks her why she cares about the underwear but she adamantly wants them to leave Another father exits the room with Katie and Isaiah and tries to defuse the situation when the volunteer starts going after him, too. 'What am I doing?' the other father asks. The volunteer points a finger at Isaiah and shouts , curtly: 'Gray underwear!' 'Who cares?' the father responds. She shouts that she doesn't want to see it. The other fathers says something about calling security and Isaiah agrees, again saying something is wrong with the woman. He then mentions angrily that she called his children 'black'. 'I don't care what color your underwear is,' the woman screams back, seeming to have misunderstood what Isaiah was speaking about. They then begin arguing in the hallway and the woman starts kicking Isaiah in the shins. Finally she goes back inside and security comes minutes later to begin speaking with all three parents. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (pictured) has since apologized to Katie and Isaiah and has ended its relationship with the volunteer Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has issued an apology since the video, which has nearly 200,000 views, came to light and has terminated its relationship with the volunteer. First the hospital commented on the video saying: 'We deeply regret and apologize for this behavior demonstrated by our volunteer in this video. 'We are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all, with respect, dignity and compassion. We are taking action, and this individual is no longer a volunteer with our organization. 'If they havent already, one of our senior executives should be reaching out to you shortly. Again, we apologize for this appalling incident.' Isaiah and Katie are looking into pursuing criminal charges against the woman and filed complaints with hospital security Later, they released a more formal apology to the Winston-Salem Journal. 'Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is shocked and appalled at the behavior demonstrated by our volunteer in this video. 'This behavior does not reflect our identity or our values. This individual is no longer a volunteer with our organization.' Advertisement Not that long ago, in a town not that far away, this adorable couple fell in love over the Star Wars films before carefully crafting outfits to match Finn and Rey, the heroes of the latest chapter in the sci-fi epic. Then, after Victor Sine, 25, proposed to Julianne Payne, 22, in March this year the pair got in touch with photographer Robert Lance Montgomery to put together this one-of-a-kind shoot for their family album. The pair, from Utah, had been attending the Salt Lake City Comic Con event in full costume and decided to make use of their outfits one last time and so traveled to a nearby desert that strongly resembles Jakku, the planet where Finn and Rey meet in the movie. Montgomery was then able to capture these incredible shots that look as if they have come straight out of The Force Awakens, with Julianne's one-year-old daughter Addie even dressed up as droid BB-8. Sine told ABC News: 'I've been pretty nerdy for a long time. I embrace it. And Jules loves things like and crafting and sewing, but she only recently -- when we started dating last year -- embraced her nerdy side. It's really cool to be able to do this together.' The pair will get married on May 28 and are planning to incorporate Star Wars into the ceremony by giving each of their guests a lightsaber to hold up for a photograph, and are discussing the idea of a giant duel as well. Just like the movies: Victor Sine, 25, and his bride-to-be Julianne Payne, 22, posed up a storm during this Star Wars-inspired photo shoot where they dressed up as Finn and Rey from The Force Awakens Supporting cast: Sine took on the role of John Boyega's character Finn from the latest Sat Wars film, Payne dressed herself up as Daisy Ridley's character Rey and Payne's daughter Addie, one, was dressed up as droid BB-8 In a land not far away... Sine and Payne teamed up with photographer Robert Lance Montgomery to capture the images which look like they've come from fictional planet Jakku, but were actually taken in a desert in Utah May the Force be with you: Sine and Payne grew up in California just 15 minutes apart but only met on Tinder last August after both moving to Utah before getting engaged in March this year Completely awesome, this couple are: Sine and Payne are now planning to get married on May 28 and want to incorporate Star Wars into the ceremony by giving each guest a lightsaber Pair of scavengers: Sine and Payne made their costumes themselves, including Rey's staff which was made from objects found in Home Depot, just like Rey's scavenging in the film Selfie: The incredible photo-shoot included several creative shots, such as this one where Rey's staff becomes a selfie stick Just stopping by: The pair went to take the photos in the desert after attending Salt Lake City Comic Con at the end of March Clash of the titans: Sine and Payne take on Darth Vader at Comic Con, a scene that fans of Star Wars will never get to see since the Sith Lord is long-since dead by the time Finn and Rey join the film franchise He's the artist whose 300,000 bronze statue of Margaret Thatcher was hidden from the publics gaze after her daughter Carol complained it didnt include her mothers trademark handbag. Last week The Mail on Sunday revealed that the 10ft bronze baroness completed by Douglas Jennings is collecting dust in a secret storage facility. The statue was to have been placed in Parliament Square. But anyone wanting to verify Mr Jenningss talents only need to pop along to Madame Tussauds in London, where Hollywood stars George Clooney, Robin Williams, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie as well as former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy have all been made with astonishingly lifelike precision by the artist. Douglas Jennings, left with a model of Tom Cruise, was the artist behind the 300,000 bronze statue of Margaret Thatcher, right, that has been hidden from public view Mr Jennings has created wax models of George Clooney, left, Angelina Jolie, centre, and Robin Williams for London's Madame Tussauds attraction Last night, Mr Jennings said: Waxworks were my early career, but so important. I really honed my skill at Madame Tussauds. The level of detail is incredible. With Angelina and George I had to watch their movies over and over again, pausing the videos to get a 230-degree understanding of what they look like. 'But Robin Williams and Charles Kennedy were what we call sit-ins: you see them four times and get to know them so you learn what they are like. 'Robin was as mad and crazy as youd imagine him to be. Its sad because Robin and Charles have both died since. I hope Im not a bad omen. He also created wax sculptures of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, left, and Mohamed Al Fayad, right, Former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed commissioned him to make a waxwork for display at the visitor centre at his Scottish home. The business magnate is dressed in traditional highland costume with a dog by his side. But Mr Jennings seemed to find Nigella Lawson more difficult to capture. The husband of Tara Brown has revealed he has not told their children the Channel Nine reporter is in jail after a botched child abduction attempt in Lebanon. Brown, 48, was arrested along with other members of a 60 Minutes team - David Ballment, 55, Stephen Rice, 58, and Ben Williamson, 37 - following an attempted kidnap of Sally Faulkner's children from their father, Ali Elamine, in Beirut. John McAvoy, Brown's husband and veteran TV producer, has been unable to tell their young children - Jack, seven, and Tom, five - the details on the 'living nightmare' their mum is going through, the Herald Sun reports. Scroll down for video John McAvoy (left), husband of Tara Brown (right), has revealed he has not told their children the Channel Nine reporter is in jail after a botched child abduction attempt in Lebanon 'It's hard to imagine it could be any tougher. From what we know, they are in good health, keeping their spirits up and are being well looked after by the Lebanese authorities,' McAvoy said in a joint statement with Denise Alexander Rice, Cara Williamson and Laura Battistel. 'You can't imagine how comforting it is to know that. That is all that is getting us through at the moment. 'Some of us haven't even told our children what's happening yet. It's not an easy conversation to have with a five or seven-year-old who ask as they go to sleep each night when mummy or daddy is coming home. Understandably we are all anxious and worried sick.' Ms Williamson has not told the couple's young daughters, aged eight and five, about the ordeal yet, the newspaper claims. Mr McAvoy (left) released a joint statement with Denise Alexander Rice, Cara Williamson and Laura Battistel - partners of the other members of Channel Nine's team that was arrested after a failed child abduction attempt David 'Tangles' Ballment (pictured) is a sound recordist who has worked with 60 Minutes for the past six years Mr Rice's three children - a teenage son and twin-daughters in their 20s - are aware of the situation their father is in. The prison where Brown and Ms Faulkner have been taken to is a grim, overcrowded block housing mostly murderers and drug dealers with up to 20 women per cell. Baabda Central Women's Prison is in south-eastern Beirut and built to house 50 prisoners, however as many as 90 people are packed in cramped dark cells behind razor wire fencing. Brown and Ms Faulkner are being held in Baabda Central Women's Prison, where as many as 90 inmates are packed into crowded cells (pictured) Baabda Central Women's Prison is in south-eastern Beirut and built for 50 people, however overcrowding means almost twice as many are held at the centre Prisoners are given one meal a day at the facility, and often seen wearing their own dirty clothing Prisoners are often seen wearing their own dirty clothes in photographs taken inside the centre, and just one meal a day is served to inmates. It comes after it was revealed talks between Ms Faulker, 29, and her estranged husband Ali Elamine have broken down. Ms Faulkner's lawyer, Ghassan Moughabghab, and Mr Elamine's attorney have failed to reach an agreement regarding the custody of their two children despite being urged by Lebanese officials, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Stephen Rice, 58, has won two Walkley awards throughout his career in journalism and has been with 60 Minutes since 2004 Ben Williamson's (pictured) wife, Cara, has not told the couple's young daughters, aged eight and five, about the ordeal yet 'I met the lawyer of Mr Elamine, he put his conditions, we accepted all of them and yet now I am told they will not accept the agreement,' Mr Moughabghab said. Ms Faulkner was arrested along with the 60 Minutes crew by Lebanese police on April 7 and charged with kidnapping offences after Ms Faulkner's children were snatched in a botched kidnapping attempt. Mr Elamine proposed last week that he would drop the kidnapping charge against his wife if she agrees to give up sole custody of the children - Lahela, six, and Noah, four. The 60 Minutes crew was arrested along with Sally Faulkner (pictured with her two children) on April 7 in Beirut, Lebanon Ms Faulkner was attempting to take her children from her former partner, Ali Elamine (middle), who she claims took them last year LEBANON KIDNAP CASE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR THE MUM, THE TV CREW AND THE KIDNAPPING CASE Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner and a Nine Network TV crew made up of reporter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound technician David Ballment, are facing kidnapping and assault charges in Lebanon following a bungled abduction of Ms Faulkner's two children in Beirut. WHAT HAPPENED? The Australians have spent a week behind bars in Beirut after being arrested for the alleged abduction on April 7. The TV crew was filming Faulkner's attempt to retrieve her children Noah, four, and Lahela, six, from her ex-husband Ali Elamine, who she claims kept them in Lebanon without her permission. A professional agency, Child Abduction Recovery International, is believed to have been hired to snatch the children. Two of its members, named in media reports as Britons Adam Whittington and Craig Michael, have also been detained and charged. THE ABDUCTION Security camera footage shows masked men jumping out of a car and snatching the kids from their grandmother and another woman on a Beirut street. The grandmother claims she was attacked and hit on the head with a pistol. The TV crew and recovery agency members were arrested shortly afterwards, while Faulkner hid with her two children in a safe house. Authorities later found the family, arrested Faulkner and returned the children to their father. THE CHARGES Faulkner is facing kidnapping charges. The 60 minutes crew is accused of: - hiding information - forming an association with two or more people to commit a crime against a person - kidnapping or holding a minor even with their approval - physical assault. The offences carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail. LEGAL CASE SO FAR Judge Rami Abdullah told the Australians during a second round of interviews on Wednesday that there was no chance their charges would be dropped. However, he indicated that if Mr Elamine was willing to drop legal action and come to an agreement with his estranged wife, that would help the case against all of the accused. The accused will remain in detention until facing the Baabda Palace of Justice again. Nine has refused to comment on speculation it organised and funded the recovery operation. Advertisement The requirements also included a full religious divorce and agreement that Ms Faulker will never take their children to Australia, as Mr Elamine fears she may never bring them back. The 60 Minutes crew was in Beirut to film Ms Faulkner's attempt to kidnap her children. Prosecutors have also claimed a member of the recovery team said Channel Nine paid $115,000 for the operation. Ms Faulkner (pictured) is facing kidnapping charges over the botched attempt to snatch her children from a busy street Ms Faulkner's lawyer, Ghassan Moughabghab (pictured), and Mr Elamine's attorney recently failed to reach an agreement regarding the custody of their two children despite being urged by Lebanese officials George Clooney, a supporter of Hillary Clinton, broke ranks over campaign financing on Saturday to condemn the 'obscene' sums of money in politics and praised Bernie Sanders in the process. Clooney made the remarks in an interview with Chuck Todd on NBC News' Meet The Press the day after he and his wife, Amal, hosted a fundraiser on Democratic Party hopeful Clinton's behalf Friday night in San Francisco with a price tag of up to $353,400 per couple. Scroll down for video George Clooney, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, broke ranks over campaign financing on Saturday to condemn the 'obscene' sums of money in U.S. politics and praised Bernie Sanders Clooney made the remarks in an interview with Chuck Todd from Meet The Press An excerpt was released on Saturday. The interview will air on Sunday. Todd asked: 'Let me start with a dinner you co-hosted on Friday night. A big fundraiser, I know that you have planned for later tonight. 'Uh, do you look at, uh, how much is being raised, and I think the cost of the Friday night dinner - $353,000 uh, a couple, to be a co-chair - do you look at it yourself and think, "That's an obscene amount of money?"' Clooney and his wife, Amal, hosted a fundraiser on Democratic Party hopeful Clinton's behalf Friday night in San Francisco with a price tag of up to $353,400 per couple The actor said: 'I think that - you know, we had some protesters last night when we, uh, when we pulled up in San Francisco, and they're right to protest.' San Francisco protesters are seen here One sign, referring to Amal Clooney's career as a lawyer, read: 'Why is a human rights lawyer fundraising for an imperialist murderer?' The Hollywood A-lister responded: 'Yes. I think it's an obscene amount of money.' Clooney added: 'I think that - you know, we had some protesters last night when we, uh, when we pulled up in San Francisco, and they're right to protest. 'They're absolutely right. It is an obscene amount of money. 'The Sanders campaign when they talk about it is absolutely right. 'It's ridiculous that we should have this kind of money in politics. I agree completely.' George Clooney said during the interview: 'It's ridiculous that we should have this kind of money in politics. I agree completely' Bernie Sanders has pounced on former secretary of state Clinton over the big-ticket event They go way back: Clooney is seen with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in 2003 Bernie Sanders, a U.S. Senator from Vermont and Clinton's rival in the race for the Democratic nomination to run for the White House in the November 8 election, has pounced on former secretary of state Clinton over the big-ticket event and for accepting large sums of money for her campaign. Sanders told CNN in March: 'I have a lot of respect for George Clooney. 'He's a great actor. I like him. 'But this is the problem with American politics, is that big money is dominating our political system.' Sanders said at the time: 'So it's not a criticism of Clooney. 'It's a criticism of a corrupt campaign finance system, where big money interests -- and it's not Clooney, it's the people coming to this event -- have undue influence on the political process.' Clooney and his wife were going to hold at their house a Saturday night fundraiser in Los Angeles. These photos shows protesters and a member of the Secret Service on Saturday Among those demonstrating Saturday was Frances Fisher (pictured in blue) A fundraiser for Sanders was to take place in the area, with tickets going for a far-cheaper $27 a pop. Fisher is seen holding a sign advertising the Sanders event In response to the dinner, the Sanders campaign on Friday evening sent out an email to supporters asking them to help reach their fundraising goals by chipping in $3.53 a piece, instead. Clooney and his wife were going to hold at their house on Saturday a fundraiser in Los Angeles, Variety reported. Tickets reportedly cost $33,400 each. A fundraiser for Sanders was to take place in the area, with tickets going for a far-cheaper $27 a pop, Variety reported. NBC News reporter Shaquille Brewster tweeted a video Saturday, writing: 'Bernie Sanders supporters shower @HillaryClinton's motorcade with [money emojis] as she passes their LA counter-fundraiser.' Music featuring the words 'We're in the money' can be heard playing during the stunt in the clip. Cash money was thrown at Clinton's motorcade on Saturday Music featuring the words 'We're in the money' can be heard playing during the stunt in the clip Police have launched a double murder investigation after a dinner lady and her teenage daughter were found dead in their home. Officers found the bodies of Elizabeth Edwards, 49, and 13-year-old daughter Katie at their semi-detached house in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on Friday lunchtime. Two people have been arrested in connection with the murders and were last night still being interviewed by police. Pictured: Katie Edwards, 13, is believed to be the girl found dead in her home in Spalding yesterday Dead: Katie is believed to have been found dead with her mother, Liz Edwards (pictured) and it is thought that the pair were stabbed to death Yesterday, officers stood guard around the property, which is in a quiet cul-de-sac, as they continued a forensic search of the house. A broken window on the ground floor of the property was clearly visible. Police would not confirm reports suggesting that both victims had been stabbed. Elizabeth's partner, Graham Green, posted a picture on Facebook of him and his girlfriend together. He wrote: 'My babe has gone but you will always be in my heart forever and ever and ever. RIP.' Neighbours said the dinner lady worked at a local school and lived at the house with her two daughters. Devon Baxter, 18, who has known the family for most of her life, said: 'I used to talk to the mum because she was a dinner lady at my old school. She was a very nice lady. Murders: Two bodies were found in a house on Dawson Avenue, Spalding (pictured), early on Friday afternoon Probe: It is believed that a dinner lady lived in the house (pictured) with her two daughters. Police have launched a murder investigation and made two arrests 'As far as I know she has always lived at the house on her own with the two girls. One of the girls went to a local comprehensive school and the other girl was a few years younger.' Superintendent Paul Timmins said: 'The events that unfolded in Spalding have understandably generated a great deal of local concern and upset. This type of crime is extremely rare and not something we often see. Indeed, we believe this is a completely isolated incident. 'There are extra officers in the neighbourhood and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to please talk to our officers. 'This is very much an active investigation that is in its early stages and police would like people not to speculate as to the circumstances surrounding it. We are looking at a number of lines of inquiry and doing our utmost to get to the bottom of what has happened.' A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm that we are treating the suspicious deaths of two people in Spalding as murder. 'The bodies of two people were discovered at a house in Dawson Avenue just after 12.15pm on Friday. Forensic investigations continue at the scene. Two people have been arrested in connection with the inquiry. They continue to be interviewed.' Broken: The window pane was seen smashed, lying on the floor outside the house where the bodies were seen The mother and 60 Minutes crew who botched the kidnapping of her two children would not be in a crowded Beirut prison if the father had returned the youngsters after a holiday, a lawyer will claim in court. Lawyer Joe Karam, representing the chief planner of the child abduction, Adam Whittington, has shared further details of the high-profile scandal, Herald Sun reports. On April 7, the Nine Network crew filmed Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner attempt to retrieve her children Noah, four, and Lahela, six, from her husband Ali Elamine, who she claims kept them in Lebanon without her permission. Scroll down for video On April 7, the TV crew filmed Ms Faulkner's attempt to retrieve her children Noah, four, and Lahela, six, from her estranged husband Ali Elamine (pictured with Noah and Lahela) Mr Elamine said he would grant Ms Faulker full access rights to their children if she agreed he could have sole custody Mr Karam said custody agreements between the parents had not been honoured, especially by the Lebanese-born father, Mr Elamine. Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner had sent the children to Lebanon last May to see their father after the parents split. Mr Karam said she claims Mr Elamine then told her on Skype he wouldnt be returning them to Brisbane. Especially he promised her the kids he brought here would be brought back, there is a gentlemens agreement that should have been respected in family matters, Mr Karam told Herald Sun. Mr Karam is representing chief planner Adam Whittington (pictured) of the 60 Minutes botched 'child abduction' in Lebanon Mr Whittington said Ms Faulkner (pictured) is 'throwing everyone under the bus' He said mediation is the top priority in family matters, in the interest of the children. The Beirut-based lawyer said a settlement could be made between Ms Faulkner and Mr Elamine, which would have positive knock-on effects and help the others charged. Mr Whittington, Ms Faulkner, Tara Brown and her television crew, three Beirut locals and one Briton have been charged with kidnapping and gang association with criminal intent. Mr Karam said no guns were involved in the botched abduction. Mr Whittington, 40, with duel Australian and British citizenship, believes he may have been the victim of a trap set up by a rival. 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown has told the media she is being kept in a barred, heavily meshed holding cell and was required to wear handcuffs each time she went outside He claims to have been eating breakfast at the time of the child abduction and was nowhere near the dramatic scenes. Mr Whittington founded the recovery team, Child Abduction Recovery International (CARI). In the Beirut prison, Mr Whittington said 'the rats are as big as cats, it is so small [they] can't move, and the toilet in the ground is blocked'. If their respective lawyers didn't bring them meals every day, he said they would be relying on meals every three days or so. Mr Whittington's comments come as it is reported Ms Faulkner's estranged husband might agree to drop the kidnapping charges against her if she agrees to never take their two children on holiday to Australia because he fears she may never bring them back to Lebanon. The case will be back before the Baabda courts on Monday from 5pm Australian time. Ali Elamine (pictured with his children Noah, four, and Lahela, six) has to decide whether to pursue child kidnap charges again his ex-wife Sally Faulkner which may get her 20 years in prison Sally Faulkner's lawyer has reportedly said she was paid for by the Nine Network and had used money given to her by 60 Minutes to the child recovery agency, Child Abduction Recovery International. She is pictured above with her children Lahela, five, and Noah, three Ghassan Mughaghab (pictured), the lawyer for Brisbane woman Sally Faulkner, there would be a very favourable flow-on effect for the 60 Minutes Crew if Ms Faulkner and Mr Elamine reached a private agreement Veteran journalist Stephen Rice (left), David Ballment (centre) and Benjamin Williamson (right) are also in custody in Lebanon CCTV footage supplied by Lebanese authorities appeared to show the bungled kidnapping earlier this week Nearly three-quarters of doctors struck off the medical register in Britain are foreign, according to shocking figures uncovered in a Mail on Sunday investigation. Medics who trained overseas have been banned from practising for a series of shocking blunders and misdemeanours. Cases include an Indian GP who ran an immigration scam from his surgery, a Ghanaian neurosurgeon who pretended he had removed a patients brain tumour, and a Malaysian doctor who used 007-style watches to secretly film intimate examinations with his female patients. Nearly three-quarters of doctors struck off the medical register in Britain are foreign, according to shocking figures uncovered in a Mail on Sunday investigation The revelations come just a week after it emerged health bosses want to lure 400 trainee GPs here from India, to help ease short-staffing in the NHS. Last night Julie Manning, chief executive of think-tank 2020 Health, said: The NHS has thrived on many international doctors coming to work in the UK but the public needs reassuring they are all truly fit to practise in the first place. Figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday via the Freedom of Information Act reveal that 460 doctors were struck off from January 2010 to December 2015. Of those 330 (72 per cent) trained abroad, and 130 in the UK (28 per cent). Foreign-trained doctors now make up a third of NHS doctors. Indian GP Bhajanehatti Lakshminarayana, 71, was struck off after being caught abusing his position to help refugees and asylum seekers stay in Britain for cash. He charged them 80 a time to write letters containing false information supporting immigration applications. Brain surgeon Dr Emmanuel Kingsley Labram, 61, from Ghana, repeatedly told a woman he had removed a tumour during an operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary when he had not. Medics who trained overseas have been banned from practising for a series of shocking blunders and misdemeanours He actually only extracted four small fragments for biopsy. He hid the truth for two years. She only found out the tumour was still in her head after she went private and was told it was inoperable. Malaysian GP Davinder Jeet Bains used a Spy Watch to covertly video consultations with female patients, some of whom he sexually violated while pretending to examine them. He is currently serving a ten-year jail sentence for offences against 27 women, aged 14 to 51. Sudan-trained Dr Ashraf Kamal Elnazir, 55, swindled Kensington neighbour Gabriella Adler-Jensen out of 820,000. The widow was in poor mental and physical health but he manipulated her so she bestowed virtually the entirety of her estate on him. He was struck off in 2013 for disgraceful misconduct, but never convicted of a criminal offence. Other cases involve appalling incompetence. Italian-trained GP Dr Alex Ihekwoaba Chimezie was struck off after he failed to spot heavily pregnant Donna Hunt, 22, had pneumonia and sent her home with paracetamol. Brain surgeon Dr Emmanuel Kingsley Labram, 61, from Ghana, repeatedly told a woman he had removed a tumour during an operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (pictured) when he had not Three days later, she was rushed into hospital. Doctors performed an emergency caesarean and saved the baby but Miss Hunt died the next day. British doctors too have been struck off for the most appalling behaviour. GP Stephen Hamilton repeatedly raped a girl, once strangling her until she passed out and telling her: You deserve to ******g die. Of the foreign trained doctors who were struck off, by far the largest contingent came from India, followed by Pakistan and Nigeria. Dr Ramesh Mehta, president of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, admitted there is a problem with the high strike-off rate among foreign doctors. But he claimed racism played a part. Complaints about ethnic minority doctors tended to get escalated and formalised very quickly, he said, while complaints about white British doctors were more often dealt with by sitting down and sorting it out. Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: International medical graduates make a huge contribution to healthcare in the UK and the overwhelming majority provide safe and compassionate care. But we do recognise that doctors from overseas can find it difficult to adapt to practising here. One of the foremost panda authorities in the world has argued that a scheme to encourage breeding should be scrapped because scientists are failing to introduce the animals back into the wild. In a devastating admission, Dr Sarah Bexell, director of conservation education at the Chengdu Research Base, China, concedes that an international programme to save giant pandas has been a failure. Since the research base was founded in 1987, rescuing six giant pandas from the wild, around 400 pandas have been bred in captivity. But only five have been released into the wild, of which just three survive. Scroll down for video One of the foremost panda authorities in the world has argued that a scheme to encourage breeding should be scrapped because scientists are failing to introduce the animals back into the wild Dr Sarah Bexell, director of conservation education at the Chengdu Research Base, China, concedes that an international programme to save giant pandas has been a failure In a move that will be seen to undermine the work of zoos, Dr Bexell, interviewed on tonights BBC2 Horizon documentary Should We Close Our Zoos? at 9pm, says: Weve learned a lot, filled volumes of journals and text books but we have not made significant headway in terms of conservation. So I guess right now we would almost have to say it has been quite a failure and even though many of these projects even were considered successful for short periods of time, theyve lost ground. Should we continue them? Right now Im feeling no because Im really worried that its sending the wrong message to humanity. Its giving humanity false hope. Since the research base was founded in 1987, rescuing six giant pandas from the wild, around 400 pandas have been bred in captivity but only five have been released into the wild Dr Bexell, who has also reintroduced the black-footed ferret into the American West and the golden lion tamarind into Brazil, believes that zoos are misleading the public about the benefits of captive breeding programmes. She blames the worlds growing population and consumerism for driving pandas out of their natural habitat. I think we need to be brutally honest with the world that science is not just going to clean up the mess for you all, adds Dr Bexell, who is co-author of the book Giant Pandas: Born Survivors. We all have to get behind this. We all have to be a part of the solution. Dr Bexell said: Weve learned a lot, filled volumes of journals and text books but we have not made significant headway in terms of conservation' The Government was criticised last night after refusing to publish official documents revealing details of discussions between Prince Charles and Ministers. The Information Commissioner had ruled it was in the public interest to release the confidential papers about a meeting between the Prince and members of the Government at Clarence House in 2014 after a request by The Mail on Sunday. But following a legal challenge paid for by the taxpayer lawyers acting for the Government succeeded in blocking the release of the material about the meeting of Charles with John Hayes, the then Transport Minister, and Brandon Lewis, then Housing Minister. Blocked: Government lawyers have barred the release of confidential papers documenting Prince Charles's meeting with government ministers despite the Information Commissioner ruling it was in the public interest On Wednesday a QC hired by the DfT, accompanied by six other Government legal advisers, successfully challenged the Information Commissioners ruling that the papers should be released at a hearing in London presided over by judge Peter Lane. The Mail on Sunday, which has been battling for 18 months to see the documents, was excluded from the crucial part of the hearing which was held behind closed doors. This newspaper first asked for details about the Princes discussions under EU rights of access laws known as the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) designed to ensure pubic bodies are transparent when policies have implications for the environment. The DfT argued that the meeting had not been about green issues and as a result the request should be treated as a traditional Freedom of Information (FOI) request. By reclassifying the application it was able to evoke a change in the law that states the Princes communications are exempt from FOI requests. But The Mail on Sunday insisted the matter was an EIR issue and complained to the ICO. Meeting: Ex-Transport Minister John Hayes (left) and former Housing Minister Brandon Lewis (right) In a decision notice dated October 20, 2015, the ICO found that much of the information about the meeting was environmental and should have been released under EIRs. The ICO said that while Charles was within his rights to write to Ministers, he should expect those comments to be made public. The DfT was ordered to release the information but instead chose to appeal the ruling just hours before the deadline for disclosure. Then, just days before the appeal hearing, the Department performed a partial U-turn and disclosed two documents it now accepted were environmental. These included a briefing note advising Ministers on which issues they might like to raise during the talks. The DfT was unable to say how much the appeal had cost. It said: The Government welcomes the tribunals decision that the disputed information was not of an environmental nature. The ICO said it was too soon to say if it would appeal the decision. Dr John Kirkhope, a Visiting Research Fellow at Plymouth University and campaigner for greater transparency on matters relating to the Prince, said: The Government should not be spending taxpayers money trying to keep the Princes dealings a secret. If he is going to lobby, the public should know about it. He is in a position to exert a great deal of influence on Ministers and his dealings should not be a secret. Labours candidate for London Mayor was last night embroiled in his partys anti-Semitism row after it emerged he backed Ken Livingstone over offensive remarks to a Jewish reporter. Sadiq Khan, who is battling Tory Zac Goldsmith in next months contest, objected to Red Ken being suspended as London Mayor in 2006 after comparing the journalist to a concentration camp guard. Mr Khan, a Muslim, said: Ken Livingstone has been elected to serve the city of London by millions of voters. Unelected officials should not be able to suspend a democratically elected Mayor unless he is guilty of a significant offence. Sadiq Khan, right, Labour's candidate for London Mayor, was embroiled in his party's anti-Semitism row after it emerged he backed Ken Livingstone, left, over offensive remarks made to a Jewish reporter An adjudication panel said Mr Livingstone had brought his office into disrepute with his unnecessarily insensitive remark. The Labour Mayor dismissed the row as a huge fuss over nothing. The revelation over Mr Khans comments comes as Labour faces growing controversy over anti-Semitic incidents since Jeremy Corbyn became leader. Earlier this month The Mail on Sunday revealed that Labour councillor Aysegul Gurbuz had been suspended for tweets in her name calling Adolf Hitler the greatest man in history and saying she hoped Iran would wipe Israel off the map. Labour has twice suspended its Woking branch deputy chairman, Vicki Byrne, for posting anti-Semitic tweets. It also suspended Khadim Hussain, former Lord Mayor of Bradford, for a controversial Facebook post. Labour peer Baroness Royall is leading an inquiry into alleged anti-Semitism among Young Labour members. Labour councillor Aysegul Gurbuz was suspended by her party for Tweets in her name calling Adolf Hitler 'the greatest man in history' A spokesman for Mr Khan said: Sadiq has consistently spoken out against anti-Semitism and pledged to protect Londons Jewish community as Mayor. 'Sadiq led the criticism of the Labour Party leadership for failing to take proper action to root out anti-Semitism and has said he wears a badge of shame over the problem. Sadiq was quite clearly talking about the process of suspending Ken Livingstone from the mayoralty and was not making excuses for the awful things that Ken said. Told the crowd the pope 'shouldn't have given him that much time, really' Donald Trump made fun of Bernie Sanders for his brief meeting with the pope, just a few hours after the Democratic candidate shook hands with Francis at the Vatican. The GOP frontrunner told the crowd at a rally in Syracuse, New York, on Saturday that Sanders had spent 'five minutes' with the pope - and that was already too much according to Trump. 'So the pope gave him five minutes. I wonder why the pope gave him five - he shouldn't have given him that much time really,' Trump said according to CBS News. Sanders and the pope met briefly on Saturday morning at Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where Francis lives. Scroll down for video Donald Trump (pictured left during a rally in Syracuse, New York on Saturday) made fun of Bernie Sanders (pictured right at the Vatican) for his brief meeting with Pope Francis The Democratic candidate attended a conference on climate change and economic inequality at the Vatican on Friday and flew back to New York on Saturday. The pope was on his way to the island of Lesbos in Greece and said hello to Sanders before he left. 'You know, he went to see the pope,' Trump told his supporters on Saturday. 'Five minutes. Then he came out. He said, "We talked about the environment, we talked about global warming, we talked about all these different things.'" 'And I said, wait a minute, he was only there five minutes. So the pope gave him five minutes. I wonder why the pope gave him five - he shouldn't have given him that much time really.' Trump also derided Sanders' meeting with the pope during a Fox News interview on Saturday, saying: 'Five minutes sounds like, you know, "Try and get me in to see him so I don't get myself embarrassed before I come back to New York." 'A five minute visit, you can not do much. After you say hello there's no time left.' Both Sanders and the pope have denied that their meeting was political. 'I was leaving Santa Marta. He knew that I was leaving and he was kind enough to greet me,' the Pontiff told reporters. 'I greeted him and his wife and another couple who were with them and staying at Santa Marta. Nothing more. 'It was a matter of politeness and if anybody thinks that greeting somebody amounts to meddling in politics, they should go find a psychiatrist.' Pope Francis (pictured visiting migrants and refugees in the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday) was about to leave the Vatican when he greeted Sanders and his wife at his Santa Marta residence The meeting came just days before Tuesday's Democratic party primary in New York, where polls say Sanders is trailing Hillary Clinton. But Sanders has said the trip was not a pitch for the Catholic vote and instead professed his admiration for the Pontiff. The Democratic candidate, whose parents were Jewish immigrants from Poland, called the pope 'a beautiful man' during an interview with ABC News following the meeting. 'I am not a Catholic, but there is a radiance that comes from him,' he added. 'I just conveyed to him my admiration for the extraordinary work he is doing raising some of the most important issues facing our planet and the billions of people on the planet and injecting the need for morality in the global economy.' Sanders told CBS News he and the pope had chosen not to take pictures during the meeting so that it wouldn't appear political. 'But it is political, isn't it?' CBS News correspondent Seth Doane asked. 'No, if I was really being political, I'd be in New York City right now and not in Rome,' Sanders said. 'For me, the issues that the pope is talking about are issues that I've been talking about for many, many years.' Trump and the Pontiff clashed earlier this year over the billionaire's views on immigration. Pope Francis said in February that Trump was 'not Christian' for wanting to build a wall on the border between the US and Mexico. Trump hit back at the time, saying it was 'disgraceful' for a religious leader to question someone's faith. A Vatican spokesman later said that the pope's statement wasn't a personal attack on Trump, and the GOP frontrunner called the pope's explanatory statement 'beautiful'. Concerns: Harry Greaves, 29, (pictured) went missing on April 7 after trekking up a mountain Concern is growing for an English traveller who went missing after going on a solo trek up a mountain in Peru more than a week ago. Harry Greaves, 29, from Shropshire, was visiting friends in the village of Pisac, near Coscou, when he said he wanted to spend some time alone, on April 7. Carpenter Mr Greaves told his pals that he would return by April 10, but has not been seen or heard from since. The Lucie Blackman Trust, which works to support Britons in crisis abroad, said on its website that a thorough search had been made of the area Mr Greaves was visiting with no sign found of him. It wrote: 'He attended a permaculture course before heading into the jungle with a group. He sent two very positive and happy emails home and seemed to be enjoying his time there.' The website explained that Mr Greaves was an experienced traveller and was well known for being practical and well prepared. It said: 'Harry does often desire to travel alone and he is very practical, self-reliant and used to outward bound activities. He set out with full travelling kit including tent and sleeping bag. 'However, a thorough search of the area he intended to visit has been made without success. 'Whilst it may be that he decided to explore another area than previously planned, concern is mounting for Harry's safety and well-being.' Mr Greaves's family told the BBC it was 'out of character' for him to be out of touch for so long. The Lucie Blackman Trust said a thorough search had been made of the area Mr Greaves (pictured) was visiting with no sign found of him His sister, Ellen Greaves, said: 'He's done a number of outdoor trips before. We understand he went with provisions - with a tent and food.' Get your earplugs ready! Billions of noisy cicadas, part of a group known as Brood V, are set to come out of the ground in several US states in May, the website Cicada Mania says. The cicada website reports that: 'These periodical cicadas have a 17-year life cycle.' 'The last time they emerged was 1999.' Billions of annoyingly noisy cicadas, part of a group known as Brood V, are set to come out in several US states in May (stock image) When the insects come out, they mate, lay eggs in trees, then die, the New York Daily News reported. Young cicadas go underground after they're born - and come back out as adults 17 years later, according to the newspaper. Cicada Mania says: 'Brood V periodical cicadas will emerge in 2016 in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Long Island, NY.' Those states are expected to see members of the Magicicada cassinii, Magicicada septendecim, and Magicicada septendecula species, according to the website. According to Cicada Mania, 'Generally speaking, these cicadas will begin to emerge when the soil 8" beneath the ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit.' 'A nice, warm rain will often trigger a emergence.' 'So, definitely May, but something might happen in April if we have a particularly hot spring.' There could be as many as 1.5 million of the bugs per acre,The Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported. Male cicadas make noisy mating calls to attract female members of the species (stock image) Wendy Weirich is the director of Outdoor Experiences for Cleveland Metroparks and told the newspaper: 'It's going to be a wild ride. It's like Rip Van Winkle for insects.' Other cicada broods are on mating cycles of varying length, including cycles that are 13 years long. Male cicadas make noisy mating calls to attract female members of the species, according to a 2013 story from The Washington Post. At the time, entomologist Russ Horton told the newspaper: 'After the male and female cicada have mated (3-5 days) the female will lay fertilized eggs 24+ in slits cut with her ovipositor on small live twigs.' 'It takes roughly 6 weeks for the eggs to hatch and the nymphs to emerge.' Said the incident had the potential to increase tensions between countries A Russian jet spiraled dangerously close to an American plane over the Baltic Sea earlier this week. The plane, a Russian SU-27, performed a barrel roll over a US RC-135 in international airspace, the US European Command told CNN on Saturday. The Russian jet began its course on the left side of the American reconnaissance plane, then went over it while spiraling on itself and finished on the right side. Russia's aircraft 'performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers' on Thursday during a routine flight, European Command spokesman Danny Hernandez told CNN. Scroll down for video A Russian SU-27 (file picture) came dangerously close to an American reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea on Thursday, according to the US European Command Hernandez said the RC-135 had been intercepted by the SU-27 'in an unsafe and unprofessional manner'. The Russian jet flew just 50 feet away from the American's plane wing tip, he added. The American plane didn't enter Russian territory during the flight, according to Hernandez. 'The unsafe and unprofessional actions of a single pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries,' Hernandez told CNN. The US has complained about the incident to the Russian government. Russian military jets buzzed an American destroyer just a few days ago, also in the Baltic Sea. The guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook reported that pairs of Russian SU-24 attack planes made numerous close-range passes on Monday and Tuesday. On at least one occasion an SU-24 came within an estimated 30 feet of the Cook in international waters about 70 nautical miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which hosts Russian military forces. The repeated flights by the SU-24 warplanes were so close, they created wakes in the water, with 11 passes, a US Defense official said. The planes appeared to be unarmed. A Russian KA-27 Helix helicopter also made seven passes around the Cook, taking pictures. The Cook did not respond except to unsuccessfully query the Russian pilots by radio. Secretary of State John Kerry said that under US military rules of engagement, the Cook could have opened fire. The US Defense official said the commanding officer of the Cook believed that Tuesday's incident was 'unsafe and unprofessional,' but cautioned that a formal US military review of the matter was under way. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the US raised its concerns through its military defense representative at the US Embassy in Moscow. Four friends had taken a seaside selfie just hours before two were murdered and two were maimed by a suicidal drunk driver jilted by his ex-girlfriend. James Moore and Natasha Tash Turnbull, both 24, were killed in a deliberate head-on collision at Lincoln Highway, near Whyalla, northwest of Adelaide, in December 2014. The pair were on a day trip with mates Jason Bristow and Amy Jones so Mr Moore, a palaeontology student at Flinders University, could plan the logistics for a future field trip in the hopes of finding the fossils of an extinct kangaroo, Adelaide Now reports. The foursome snapped their final selfie. Hours later, two of them were dead. Scroll down for video The seaside selfie four friends took just hours before two were killed. James Moore (left) and Natasha Tash Turnbull (right), both 24, were killed in a deliberate head-on collision at Lincoln Highway, near Whyalla, northwest of Adelaide, in December 2014. Amy Jones and Jason Bristow (centre) were seriously injured The foursome snapped a picture at the waters edge of Coffin Bay, near Port Lincoln, after enjoying a barbeque and pizza and later beginning their drive home. Hours later, half of them were dead. Michael Knowles, then-36, had slammed his Nissan Patrol into the path of Mr Moores Mitsubishi Pajero about half-past midnight. He was imposed a mandatory life sentence with a non-parole period of 23 years last Tuesday in the Port Augusta Supreme Court, after Justice Trish Kelly took sentencing submissions. She also jailed him for at least six years on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving but ordered the term be served concurrently with his sentence for two counts of murder. Michael Frank Knowles (pictured) will spend at least 23 years in jail for murdering two people in a failed attempt to kill himself in a road crash During the victim impact statements read out to the court, Ms Turnbull's grieving father Kieren spoke out about his heartbreak over the deaths of his daughter and her childhood friend. 'I feel useless, lost, without direction, angry and full of vengeance... I dream of spending time with you Mr Knowles, just the two of us,' Mr Turnbull said, according to The Advertiser. 'I think of the wonderful young people that you killed or mutilated for life, and for nothing but your own selfish and narcissistic needs.' 'I hope whatever you have left as a soul, truly haunts you for the rest of your life... it haunts my days and it haunts my nights.' At the opening of his trial last week the court heard Knowles had set out to kill himself following a breakup and had told his ex-girlfriend, Teri Gelligan, he planned to take his own life by driving into a truck. She had phoned the police over fears he would harm himself or others, after breaking up with him for his 'manipulative and childish' behaviour. Knowles crashed his vehicle into another car in 2014, killing James Stephen Moore (left) and Natasha Turnbull The court heard that Knowles made a series of Facebook posts in the hours before the fatal crash, including one simply stating: 'the pain ends now' Prosecutor Mark Norman said Knowles 'must have known' that driving his car into the other vehicle with sufficient force to kill himself would probably kill or seriously harm anyone in the other car. 'But despite that knowledge, and instead of choosing to drive into a tree or a rock or a brick wall or even an empty parked car, he chose to drive straight into James Moore's Pajero,' the prosecutor said. Knowles admitted causing the crash and being drunk, but disputed prosecution allegations that he was trying to take his own life. Ms Turnbull and Mr Moore died at the scene and their two friends Amy Jones and Jason Bristow survived the crash but both sustained serious injuries. The court heard that Knowles made a series of Facebook posts in the hours leading up to the fatal crash, including one simply stating: 'the pain ends now'. He was found guilty of murder on Monday in what is believed to be the first time in South Australian legal history that a person has been convicted of murder involving a road crash. If you need help, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au. The Obama administration is preparing to intensify its military operations against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria ahead of ground operations aimed at destroying the group's self-proclaimed Caliphate. Dozens more special operations advisers could be deployed to help Syrian rebels prepare for major ground assaults including against the terrorist's de facto capital of Raqqa. Meanwhile U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters, already deployed in Iraq to help defend American assets there, could be authorized to carry out offensive strikes against ISIS targets. More U.S. special forces advisers could be deployed to Syria in order to help Kurdish fighters prepare for an eventual assault on Raqqa (pictured), the de facto capital of ISIS The information was revealed to the New York Times by five Defense Department and military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The new special forces soldiers would join around 50 already advising Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State, including Kurdish peshmerga forces. They would be separate to the 200-strong 'expeditionary targeting force' which includes Delta Force operatives and is designed to carry out raids on high profile targets in Iraq. Military operations in Syria, including a sustained bombing campaign, are believed to be building up to an attack on Raqqa, in the country's north. The city has become a base of operations for ISIS and is believed to be home to several of its most prominent figures, including the masked executioner Jihadi John until he was killed in a drone strike last November. Colonel Steve Warren, the US military spokesman for the US-led global coalition against Islamic State, said that a 'huge' bombing campaign is about to be unleashed on the city. He added: 'We are not going to telegraph our timeline, because it is something they [ISIS] want to know, but it is coming.' He also said it will only be 'a matter of time' before a drone strike is launched against the group's spiritual leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Meanwhile in Iraq special advisers could be redeployed in order to help assist in recapturing the country's second largest city of Mosul, which fell into the hands of jihadis in 2014. Apache helicopters already deployed in Iraq to defend U.S. forces could be moved into an attack role to help recapture the city of Mosul, a key stronghold of the terror group It was the capture of Mosul that brought ISIS to the attention of the world as a major new power-player in the region after the Iraqi army largely abandoned their posts and fled rather than risk a fight with the brutal killers. The recapture of the city by government forces would be highly significant, and a major political blow to the terror group, which Colonel Warren insists is already on the back foot. Meanwhile the capture of Raqqa, deep inside ISIS-controlled territory, would shatter any illusion that the group has carved out its own functioning nation between Iraq and Syria, and provide a launching pad for attacks on other strongholds in the region. The Apache helicopters would likely be used to support a ground attack by Iraqi army forces. Officials told the Times that it is unlikely any additional resources will be deployed to Iraq, as embattled Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is already facing criticism about the encroachment of American forces by a populace still wary after the 2003 invasion. The news comes after Colonel Warren boasted that around 25,000 ISIS troops, believed to be half of their total fighting force, had been killed in a 20-month wave of airstrikes. Around 600 of that total had come in the last three weeks alone, forcing ISIS to surrender around 40 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq's north, and 10 percent of its Syrian territory, including the ancient city of Palmyra. Prominent figures such as Omar 'the Chechen' al-Shishani, one of the group's most competent battle commanders, and Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, a top financier, have also been killed. Iraqi forces, once in full retreat from ISIS, are now closing in on Mosul, which fell to ISIS in 2014. Pictured, soldiers show off an ISIS flag captured from a town surrounding Mosul Meanwhile operations by special forces have seen several high-profile targets captured, including one believed to be Sleiman Daoud al-Afari, a chemical weapons expert. Colonel Warren said that such intense pressure on the group has caused it to become 'paranoid and in chaos.' But while military operations have yielded success in the Middle East, by far ISIS's biggest threat to the West has always been in its slick propaganda operation. From Twitter recruiters to HD-quality films of battles and executions, the group's ability to inspire attacks abroad still remains. Recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels have unearthed veins of sympathizers and trained fighters embedded in Europe and prepared to carry out large-scale suicide and gun attacks. Security services in France and Belgium have carried out dozens of raids on suspected terrorists in recent weeks, leading to arrests of high-profile targets such as Salah Abdeslam who are now believed to be informing on their former allies. The three other boys described them as 'weak swimmers' The Coast Guard sent two lifeboats and a helicopter to look for them Witnesses said the two boys were up to their waist when they disappeared A frantic search is underway after two teenage boys were swept away by strong currents off the San Francisco coast. The two 17-year-old boys, who have not been named, were playing in the water with three friends in Ocean Beach when they went missing, SF Gate reported. All five boys got pulled under around 4:20pm and only three - two aged 17 and one 18-year-old - made it back. The Coast Guard dispatched two motorized lifeboats and a helicopter in an effort to find and rescue them. Officials have launched a desperate search for two 17-year-old boys who went missing after being pulled under by strong current in Ocean Beach (pictured during the search), San Francisco, on Saturday All five held one another's arms and ran into the water late on Saturday afternoon, SF Gate wrote. The two boys had water up to their waist when the current swept everyone away. The three friends came back to the shore and were taken to the hospital in stable condition. They said the boys were weak swimmers, Fire Department spokesman Jonathan Baxter told the website. 'Ocean Beach conditions on a good day are generally enough to pull a grown man into the water,' Baxter added. The two 17-year-olds were both wearing swim shorts when they went missing. One of them wore blue shorts while the other's were grey. The San Francisco Fire Department also sent rescue teams looking for them while the Parks Department conducted an investigation on land. The search and rescue operation was still ongoing on Saturday evening. A young woman, 22, who works at a cattle station, is trying to beat cancer by taking high doses of Vitamin C and using an infrared sauna daily. Doctors told Carissa Gleeson, from outback Western Australia, chemotherapy would give her a 50 per cent chance at surviving five years of synovial sarcoma in her lower back, a rare cancer of soft tissue. She had visited the doctor with a lump on her back, and was diagnosed with the rare cancer in March last year, when she was just 21-years-old. Carissa Gleeson (pictured), 22, who works on a cattle station, has turned her back on chemotherapy and is instead using alternative medicine in an attempt to beat rare cancer of soft tissue, synovial sarcoma She had previously worked as a station hand - mustering cattle and even catching feral bulls While she admits 'it wasn't easy to accept', Ms Gleeson said she wouldn't accept the poor prognosis. 'I just woke up one day and said to myself: "Well, I have two options. I can sit here and feel sorry for myself or I can get up off my a*** and do something about it",' she told Sunshine Coast Daily. The 22-year-old now eats organically, has cut sugar save for some fruit from her diet, drinks alkaline water, takes Vitamin C intravenously and has ozone therapy, ultraviolet blood cleaning, and an infrared sauna daily to detox. 'I believe in what I am doing and I have 100% faith I can heal myself.' Since her diagnosis, her partner Andrew Briggs (right) has taken over the majority of work at the couple's 4,000-acre farm near Perth Instead she eats organically, has cut sugar from her diet, drinks alkaline water, takes Vitamin C intravenously and has ozone therapy, ultraviolet blood cleaning, and an infrared sauna daily to detox (pictured in sauna) However, she said she believes chemotherapy might be the right choice for many other cancer sufferers. Ms Gleeson pictured in her infrared sauna with partner Andrew Briggs 'I am not trying to encourage anybody to try and walk away from their doctor's recommendations,' she said. The Cancer Council said the use of alternative therapy to treat cancer was 'unproven'. 'Alternative therapies are often promoted as 'cancer cures' but they are unproven and have not been scientifically tested. 'They may cause harm or suffering to those who use them instead of conventional medical treatments,' the statement said. Ms Gleeson is working with US and Australian doctors, but her treatment is not funded by the government because it is considered alternative. To take the financial burden - averaging $5,000 a week - off her partner and father, Ms Gleeson has launched aGoFundMe page to help raise money for her treatment. Since her diagnosis, her partner Andrew Briggs has taken over the majority of work at the couple's 4,000-acre farm near Perth. She had previously worked as a station hand - mustering cattle and even catching feral bulls. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Health, Cancer Council and Ms Gleeson for comment. You can donate to her GoFundMe page here or read more about her story here. Since her diagnosis, her partner Andrew Briggs has taken over the majority of work at the couple's 4,000-acre farm near Perth To take the financial burden, averaging $5,000 a week, off her partner and father, Ms Gleeson has launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money for her treatment (Mr Briggs and Ms Gleeson pictured) Ms Gleeson has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for treatment, costing an average of $5,000 each week, to give relief to her partner Mr Briggs While she admits 'it wasn't easy to accept', Ms Gleeson said she wouldn't accept the poor prognosis Doctors told Ms Gleeson chemotherapy would give her a 50 per cent chance at surviving five years of synovial sarcoma in her lower back, a rare cancer of soft tissue 'I just woke up one day and said to myself: "Well, I have two options. I can sit here and feel sorry for myself or I can get up off my a*** and do something about it",' she said Bitter rivalry between the candidates, tough questions from the audience and Wolf Blitzer's beard - it could only be the Democratic presidential debate in New York. But in the hands of Saturday Night Live, this particular debate also featured a slap-fight, a noogie, and questions from Seinfeld character Elaine Benes. Kate McKinnon was on form as a question-dodging Hillary Clinton while Larry David reprized his miserly Bernie Sanders impression. Larry David and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who worked together on Seinfeld, went head-to-head as Bernie Sanders and Elaine Benes, a character from the sitcom, on Saturday Night Live Benes grilled Sanders over his plan to break up the banks, to which he replied: 'Once I'm elected president, I'll have a nice schvitz in the White House gym, I'll sit them down and yadda yadda yadda, they'll be broken up' Some of the best interactions came between Benes, played by host Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David, who produced the sitcom she is best known for starring in. After being introduced by Blitzer, played by Beck Bennett, Benes said: 'Hi there, I have two questions. My first is for senator Sanders.' Bernie interrupts: 'I couldn't hear the question.' After being informed that she hand't asked the question yet, Benes continues: 'You've been pretty vague in the past, how exactly are you going to break up the big banks?' Beck Bennett took on debate hosting duties as Wolf Blitzer, joking that he shaved his beard 'just ten minutes ago' After giving several evasive answers, Sanders says: 'Once I'm elected president, I'll have a nice schvitz in the White House gym, I'll sit them down and yadda yadda yadda, they'll be broken up.' Benes responds: 'What? No, no. You can't yadda yadda at a debate. Also, you yadda yaddaed over the best part.' Sanders shoots back: 'No, I mentioned the schvitz.' Benes then takes Sanders to task about raising taxes on the rich, saying it would be bad for actors who made a lot of money on famous sitcoms. After he shrugs off her concerns she mentions that it would also be bad for the creators of those sitcoms who also made a lot of money. After squirming around for a few moments, David's Sanders points to Hillary, saying: 'You should vote for her!' At another point in the debate, Clinton was taken to task about her stance on the minimum wage. Blitzer asks: 'You recently stood by governor Cuomo as he signed a $15 minimum wage into law. Do you no longer think it should be $12?' 'I have said from the beginning that it should be a combination of 12 and or 15,' Hillary responds. Bernie then cuts in suggesting she is lying before the two end up shouting at each other face to face before a childish slap-fight breaks out. While debating the national minimum wage Hillary and Bernie began shouting at one another before getting into a childish slap-fight, mocking their verbal clash at the real Democratic debate Hillary eventually overpowers Sanders, giving him a noogie and shouting: 'You feeling that Bern?' Hillary eventually overpowers Bernie before putting him in a headlock and rubbing her knuckles against his head. 'You feel that Bern, huh?' she shouts. The real-life Hillary and Bernie have been competing for votes in New York ahead of the state's primary on Tuesday. As well as a considerable number of delegates, the city has extra relevance as Clinton's adopted home state and Sander's birth place, meaning the competition has been particularly fierce. This 4-year-old girl, whose name has not been released, was shot dead after her 5-year-old brother grabbed her father's gun A 4-year-old girl was shot dead after her 5-year-old brother grabbed a gun belonging to her father, who then fled their Philadelphia home. The girl, whose name has not been released, was shot once in the face when the gun went off around 2.25pm on Saturday. She was pronounced dead at the scene five minutes later. Police are still searching for the father, who has been identified as 30-year-old Maurice 'Stephon' Phillips. No arrests had been made by Saturday night. A semiautomatic pistol has been recovered from the home. Phillips posted a photo on his Facebook of a semiautomatic pistol with a box of hollow-point bullets on February 14. Homicide Capt James Clark said police 'desperately' needed to find the girl's father, he told Philly.com. The girl lived in the home with Phillips and her mother Tera Riddick. Neighbors said she had five siblings, three sisters and two brothers. Riddick was known for being a protective mother who never let her children play outside the home, which is in Philadelphia's violent Kensington neighborhood. Neighbor Louise Sawyer said she once asked Riddick why she never brought her kids out. The mother responded: 'I'm not bringing these kids out here with all this trouble'. Police are still searching for the father, who has been identified as 30-year-old Maurice 'Stephon' Phillips. Last month Phillips posted this photo of a semiautomatic pistol, the same kind of gun recovered from the scene Phillips also posted this image of an assault rifle on his Facebook Sawyer said the neighborhood, where drug needles can be seen on the street, had been plagued with shootings and drugs. Sixty violent crimes have been reported in the neighborhood in the last month, according to data collected by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The family's home is in an area that police refer to as the 'gun grid'. Family friend Crystal Dougherty said the girl had been outgoing and loved Barbie dolls. 'She was a sweet, loving, little girl,' Dougherty said. 'She was full of life.' The girl lived in the home with Phillips and her mother Tera Riddick (pictured). Riddick was known for never letting her children play outside the home, which is in the violent Kensington neighborhood A man who allegedly shot and killed one firefighter and wounded another as they responded to a call for help Friday night, was released from custody Saturday evening, police said. Authorities had taken the man into custody and interviewed him after the shooting at a home in Temple Hills, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C., the Prince George's County Police Department said in a news release. A 13-year veteran of the Prince George's County Fire Department, 37-year-old John Ulmschneider died Friday night at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, 19, also was shot, and was in serious but stable condition after coming out of surgery Saturday, department officials said. Swain, who authorities said was shot four times, is expected to survive. Kevin Swain, (pictured left with girlfriend Betty-Ann Humbert) is in serious but stable condition after being shot in Maryland on Friday night, while fellow firefighter John Ulmschneider, 37 (right), was killed Swain (pictured) was responding to a call of a medical emergency at a property on Friday night before a man inside opened fire, hitting him and Ulmschneider Ulmschneider (pictured far left), who was nicknamed'Skillet', was a father and husband and had served the fire department for 13 years before being shot dead Ulmschneider, who was nicknamed 'Skillet', was a father to a 2-year-old girl and a husband As of Saturday, no charges had been brought against the shooter and he was released from police custody Saturday evening, according to a statement tweeted by the police department. Ulmschneider, who was nicknamed 'Skillet', was a father to a 2-year-old girl and a husband, ABC News reported. Images from Swain's Facebook show him with girlfriend Betty-Ann Humbert, who he had been dating for 17 months. The pair were wounded while answering the call for help around 7:30pm Friday. Firefighters went to the Temple Hills home after the brother of the man who lived there told authorities he was concerned about the man's safety, said Mark Brady, spokesman for the fire department. The man said his brother had trouble controlling his blood sugar and recently blacked out. He told authorities he was worried because his brother wasn't answering the phone or the door and his car was parked in the driveway, Brady said. When the firefighters arrived on the scene, the person inside was unresponsive and the property locked, so they decided to force entry, police Chief Henry P. Stawinski III said. As that was happening, the person inside fired several rounds through the door, striking the two firefighters and his brother, authorities said. Stawinski said that once officers got into the home, the gunfire stopped. He added that no officers had fired their weapons. There were no police officers present when the firefighters decided to enter the home, Prince George's County Police Department spokeswoman Julie Parker said. Brady said that's something firefighters do fairly routinely when there's a concern about someone's safety. He said anytime there is an incident such as this, the department will review its protocols and possibly make changes. 'The firefighter medics made a decision that this was indeed a reason they needed to get into that house as soon as possible. Time could have been of the essence,' Brady said. Ulmschneider was hit in the chest and later died from the wound. Swain was shot multiple times in the body and transported to a hospital in critical condition. Ulmschneider was flown from the scene (pictured) to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center where he died. Swain came out of surgery on Saturday and is expected to survive The pair had approached a house on Sharon Road (file image) and attempted to enter only to find it locked when a man inside opened fire on them Brady said Ulmschneider was described as a 'good old hard working country boy who loved his job.' Diana Krieger, whose daughter is married to Ulmschneider's brother, told The Washington Post that he was a 'caring man' who had dreamed of being a firefighter since high school. 'He wanted to help others, he loved doing what he was doing, being a paramedic and a firefighter, and I really believe that he was doing God's work,' Krieger told the newspaper. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered the state's flag to be flown at half-staff in Ulmschneider's memory. 'His legacy as a husband, father and firefighter, and his commitment to protecting others, will not soon be forgotten by his loved ones, the community, or Maryland,' Hogan said in a statement. The brother of the man who lived at the home was not seriously injured, Prince George's County police Chief Henry P. Stawinski III said at a news conference. He is in fair condition, after suffering a shoulder gunshot wound, The Washington Post reported. The alleged shooter, who hasn't been identified, was described by the newspaper as being a 61-year-old man. Two other firefighters with the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department suffered minor injuries while seeking cover after the shooting. A firefighter injured a knee and the other injured her jaw. The two were treated at the hospital and released Saturday. Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker told Fox 5: 'Once again, unfortunately, I've got to go before the people of Prince George's County and let them know that we have lost another one of our brave firefighters doing what they do every day.' She also says Bambaataa was unaware of the men who offered a bribe and that they did not have authorization to speak on his behalf He also claims to have recordings of men offering him money to shut up Savage says he has only just now gained the courage to speak out He alleges that he was molested on several occasions Afrika Bambaataa, hip-hop pioneer and creator of breakthrough 1982 track 'Planet Rock,' has been accused of child molestation by three more men. The recent claims come just a week after former music industry executive and Democratic Party activist Ronald Savage, 50, came forward claiming that Bambaataa abused him at least five times in 1980. Hassan Campbell, 39, told the New York Daily News that Bambaataa started hanging out at his Bronx apartment during the late 1980s. Campbell said the hip-hop legend would give him meals, a roof over his head, a bed or money whenever he needed it. But he said it was the 'worst place to be' as he told the Daily News that Bambaataa sexually abused him numerous times when he was 12 and 13 years old. 'He is a pervert,' Campbell added. 'He likes little boys.' Scroll down for video Accused: Afrika Bambaataa (pictured in 1986), one of hip-hop's 'founding fathers,' was first accused of abusing a 15-year-old boy in the 1980s, when he was in his twenties. He created hip-hop collective Zulu Nation But now three more men have stepped forward saying that the hip-hop legend sexually abused them as well. Hassan Campbell (pictured) said that Bambaataa abused him numerous times when he was 12 and 13 Another man, who requested anonymity told the Daily News that he knows what Savage is saying 'is true because he did it to me'. The 50-year-old New York man said: 'I have never spoken to anybody about this and when I did, I said "Holy s---, they finally caught up to him."' But those two men aren't the only ones backing Savage's sexual abuse claim, a 51-year-old former New Yorker named Troy, who only wanted to be identified by his first name, told the Daily News that Bambaataa abused him, too. Troy, who lives in North Carolina told the paper that he's 'been dealing with this for years'. 'Victim': Ronald Savage (pictured) said he was molested on multiple occasions and that he has since developed intimacy problems 'It's a shame this didn't come out earlier.' Campbell and Bambaataa's other accusers all say the music star showed them pornographic pictures or videos and then performed oral sex on them 'He showed me a book with a picture of a penis and said, 'You don't have to be gay for me to suck your d---,' Troy said. Savage told the Daily News that he first met the DJ and producer in 1980. At that point Savage, then 14, was one of many 'crate boys,' kids who would carry around crates of records for DJs in Bambaataa's Zulu Nation hip-hop collective. 'It was just about fun, hanging out, listening to music,' says Savage of those heady Bronx days. But according to his story, all that was about to change. Savage, who had the nickname 'Bee-Stinger,' was the youngest member of the Zulu Nation, a group dedicated to politically aware hip-hop that threw parties across Manhattan. 'I had a big name on the street. I was the youngest of the Zulu Nation. Nobody bothered me back then because nobody messed with the Zulu Nation,' he told the NY Daily News. But one day when he was 15, Savage said, he cut class and went to Bambaataa's home - and things turned nasty. 'I was in the living room, another gentleman was there, and they was DJing,' he told the paper. 'Bam told me I could go into his bedroom "cause the TV was on."' Two other men have come forward claiming that they were also sexually abused by Bambaataa (left in 2006). One man did not wish to be identified while the other man only gave the name Troy Savage said he was in the bedroom for around three or four minutes before Bambaataa took out his own penis and began touching himself. Savage alleges the DJ then performed the same act on him. He said that Bambaataa then left the room and another man entered with his penis already out. At that point, Savage said, he fled. But Savage accuses Bambaataa, now 58, of molesting him on a number of occasions. At one time, he says, Bambaataa came to his house and made Savage lie on the bed with his legs crossed while the DJ performed a sex act on him. 'I bugged out,' he said, 'It confused me 'cause I had never had sex before in my life and... my first time being touched was by a man.' The judicial delegate said that the experiences left him uncomfortable with close physical contact, hurting his relationships with girlfriends, as well an instinctive suspicion that other male friends might try something similar, something he said he has trouble shaking off today. Savage claimed that he didn't know who to trust with the information as his friends were in the Zulu Nation, and that he feared for his family's life. Only now, he said, has he been able to come forward. 'I'm not looking for any compensation from Afrika Bambaataa. That's not what this is about,' he said. 'The only thing I wanted was for this man to answer my question - why me?' Bambaata's lawyer, Kimi Tozaki, issued a rebuttal to Savage's remarks last week. 'Defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client's reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from associating or dealing with him,' she wrote. 'The statements show a reckless disregard for the truth, were published with knowledge of their falsity, and are being made by a lesser-known person seeking publicity,' she added. Denial: Bambaataa's lawyer denies all of Savage's claims, saying Savage 'seeks publicity' from her client (pictured above in 2015), who is now 58. Savage says he just wants to know 'Why me?' Savage released an autobiography - 'Impulse Urges And Fantasies: Life Is a Bag of Mixed Emotions, Vol. 1' - in 2014. However, court records from restraining order made by Savage against an ex-girlfriend's new partner, Daniel Harris, suggest that he had already discussed his Bambaataa claims with her before 2011, the NY Daily News said. The records say that Harris told Savage in a July 2011 phone call, 'I know about the Bambaataa thing,' according to the paper. The publication also claimed to have heard recordings of 'two high-ranking Zulu Nation officials' offering Savage $50,000 to drop the claims, and that Savage can be heard on the recordings 'repeatedly' saying that he doesn't want the money. Tozaki told the NY Daily News that Bambaataa was unaware of the men's actions and that neither of them were 'given authority to speak on Bam's behalf.' 'My reason for coming forth is that something needs to happen,' Savage said to the paper. He added that he had sought legal council but that he was told the statute of limitations on the allegations had expired. New York state has some of the strictest child abuse laws in the country. As a felony crime there it has a statute of limitations of five years, sometimes starting only when the child discloses the crime, and ending when the child turns 18 at the latest. For civil cases, a suit must be filed by the time the victim turns 23. A teenage girl who claims she was groped by an elderly man on a flight has been told by the airline she 'wore extremely short shorts' and had repeatedly climbed over another passenger. Chelsea Schiffel was travelling with her family from LA to Sydney on a United Airlines flight in July 2014 at the age of 15 when she alleges she was touched inappropriately, News Corp reported. The girl alleges the man touched her breasts twice after her mother Narelle, 42, had got up to speak to a family member, who was seated in the rear of the plane. Chelsea Schiffel (pictured) was on a flight in July 2014 when she alleges she was touched inappropriately The teenage girl alleges the man touched herafter her mother had got up to speak to a family member When her mother complained to airline staff members and demanded for different seats, the pair were asked to return to their same seats for the remainder of the flight. In a letter to the family, United Airlines denied the pair's allegations and suggested her choice of clothing may have bear some of the blame. 'The flight attendants and passengers also stated that you and your daughter were allowed to move to other seats several times, that Chelsea repeatedly moved in and out of her seat, crawling over the other customer who was attempting to sleep, and that your daughter wore extremely short shorts,' the United Airlines said in a letter, obtained by News Corp. 'You have provided no evidence of any negligence on the part of United regarding this matter.' She claims the airline told her she 'wore extremely short shorts' and had climbed over another passenger She was travelling with her family from LA to Sydney on a United Airlines flight at the age of 15 (stock image) However, Chelsea said what a woman wears should not bear any responsibility for any alleged sexual attack on them. 'For me it comes across, by them saying that, (it) feels like they were telling me that I was asking for it,' Chelsea told the publication. The family has attempted to take legal actions against United Airlines but insufficient evidence has hindered the case. A black former soldier is suing the Ministry of Defence for injuries sustained during winter training when he claims his hands were exposed to freezing temperatures. Abdoulie Bojang, 30, was training in Banff, Canada, and is seeking 200,000 after he says his hands were exposed to temperatures of -30C. He claims the army 'failed to take into account his ethnicity' during the training exercises, according to the Sunday Times. A spokesman for solicitors Bolt Burdon Kemp said: 'Service personnel of African and Afro-Caribbean descent, including those of mixed race, are particularly vulnerable in low temperatures.' According to one lawyer at Irwin Mitchell at least 450 Commonwealth soldiers have suffered cold injuries in the past decade. Abdoulie Bojang, 30, was training in Banff, Canada, is seeking 200,000 after he says his hands were exposed to temperatures of -30C. He is suing the MoD over claims of non freezing cold injuries (File photo) The ex-soldier, originally from Gambia who now lives in Warwickshire, was medically discharged from the army in September last year. Bojang, who served with the Royal Logistic Corps, has lodged a claim in the High Court via his barrister Christopher Barnes. In the soldier's claim about the 2014 exercise in the Rocky Mountains, it says: 'During the afternoon he noticed that his feet were numb as were both of his hands. 'He made his way to the resort lodge to warm his hands and saw that they had changed colour.' A spokesperson for Bolt Burdon Kemp added: 'The MoD has acknowledged research indicating that these groups are 30 times more likely to contract an NFCI (non-freezing cold injury) than Caucasian service personnel. The ex-soldier, originally from Gambia who now lives in Warwickshire, was medically discharged from the army last September. He claims the army 'failed to take into account his ethnicity' during the training exercises (File photo) 'Even mild injuries can leave long-term effects such as problems regulating body temperature. HOW TO PREVENT NON-FREEZING COLD INJURIES Limit exposure Keep feet and hands as dry as possible Regular hot food and drink Early recognition of symptoms, evacuation and treatment Report incidents properly to help identify clusters of cases Most importantly, be aware of the early signs of cold injury Advertisement 'The damage to a military career and the prolonged pain can even result in depression. 'Many of our clients have problems with day-to-day living because their hands have been affected so that their manual dexterity is reduced. 'Personnel from the Commonwealth will often find that, following a cold injury, they are restricted to working in warm climates. 'This means they can no longer follow any plans they may have made to make a life in the UK, Europe or North America.' A non-freezing cold injury comes about when the core temperature of the body remains below its natural level for a long period of time. When someone's core temperature falls too low the blood vessels constrict, thereby reducing blood flow to hands and feet. This has the effect of reducing the amount of oxygen transported to those extremities. This is harmful even though body tissue does not freeze. Bojang, who served with the Royal Logistic Corps, has lodged a claim in the High Court via his barrister Christopher Barnes (File photo) If there is no immediate treatment nerve and blood vessel damage can occur, sometimes causing permanent injury. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: 'When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. 'Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation, we do so.' Last year a parliamentary select committee chaired by MP Madeleine Moon heard that hundreds of military personnel are injured every year because the MoD fails to follow its own safety rules. Lawyers representing injured service men and women told the Defence Select Committee that the armed forces fail to learn from past mistakes resulting results in the death and injury of soldiers every year. Firefighters were forced to rescue a partygoer from a rooftop bar with a crane after he fell asleep in the toilet and woke up to find the club had closed. The drunk man was lifted down to safety from Rocket Bar in Adelaide at around 6.30am - an hour-and-a-half after it closed. Police said the man had fallen asleep in the toilet and woke to find the club had closed. The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service was called to assist the man and used the bucket on the truck's ladder to bring him down. Video footage showed the young man being fastened to a harness before he was taken down in the crane. Scroll down for video Firefighters were forced to rescue a partygoer from a rooftop bar with a crane after he fell asleep in the toilet and woke up to find the club had closed The drunk man was lifted down to safety from Rocket Bar in Adelaide at around 6.30am - an hour-and-a-half after it closed A top expert on Islamist radicalisation is being investigated for saying that a slain Muslim shopkeeper was 'not a real Muslim', it has been reported. Shiraz Maher, a researcher at King's College London, wrote on Facebook that he does not 'regard Ahmadis as Muslims' - days after a taxi driver admitted killing Asad Shah because he 'disrespected' Islam'. Mr Shah, part of the Ahmadiyya community, was knifed to death in his shop in what was feared at the time to have been a sectarian attack against the peace-loving branch of Islam he followed. Shiraz Maher (right), a researcher at King's College London, wrote on Facebook that he does not 'regard Ahmadis as Muslims' - days after a taxi driver admitted killing Asad Shah (left) because he 'disrespected' Islam' Earlier this month, taxi driver Tanveer Ahmed, accused of his murder, said through his lawyer that he killed the much-loved family man because he had claimed to be 'a prophet'. Days later Mr Maher, a senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, reportedly wrote on Facebook: 'I really wonder if I'm missing something here but I don't regard Ahmadis as Muslim.' According to Richard Kerbaj of the Sunday Times, the Sunni Muslim added: 'Obviously this does not mean I think they should be persecuted or suffer for their beliefs ... yes, condemn the murder and, more long term, suck up the heat out of Muslim hostilities directed towards them but that still doesn't mean that they should then be accepted as Muslim.' The newspaper reports that he has since apologised for his 'ill-advised and misjudged' comments 'given the circumstances of Asad Shah's murder and the political context thereafter'. Hours before his murder, Mr Shah had written on Facebook: 'Good Friday and very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation' He told the Sunday Times that he had often said Ahmadis should not be targeted for their beliefs. A representative from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK told the Sunday Times that his earlier remarks risked 'creating division'. King's told MailOnline this morning that it is investigating and insisted the comments were his own opinions. Mr Shah, 40, was killed at his Glasgow shop on March 24 - the day before Good Friday. Hours before his murder, he had written on Facebook: 'Good Friday and very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation.' Mr Shah belonged to the Ahmadiyya community, which promotes peace and tolerance but has been persecuted by members of orthodox Islamic sects in Pakistan. Tanveer Ahmed, 32, remains in custody charged with murder. MailOnline has made attempts to reach Mr Maher for further comment this morning. Film producer Avi Lerner called Barack Obama a 'coward' for failing to crack down on Google over piracy. The 68-year-old said the White House's failure to force the search engine giant to improve its anti-piracy measures was costing Hollywood millions of dollars a year. 'It's a major problem and it's something that I don't know if anyone can stop, because the government, the president, Congress are all scared of Google,' said Lerner, who was behind a string of blockbusters including the Expendables movies and London Has Fallen. Producer Avi Lerner called Obama a 'coward' for not cracking down on the tech giants over piracy. He said his production companies lost $250 million after The Expendables 3 leaked online At a Beverly Hills gala thrown in his honor, the financier said his production companies lost $250 million after The Expendables 3 leaked online. 'The government, the president, is such a coward. He's scared of Google so we are losing millions,' he said. 'They should tell Google to stop piracy. They should make a law that anyone helping piracy -- and not helping to stop piracy -- should go to jail or get penalized or whatever.' A near perfect copy of The Expendables 3 leaked onto file-sharing sites in July 2014, three weeks before its theatrical release date. It was downloaded around 100,000 times within hours and Nu Image said more than 10 million copies were made before its release. Lerner believes that since a portion of Google's advertising revenue is coming from piracy-related sources, the company has no incentive stop it without being forced. Google, which was not immediately available for comment, modified its algorithms in 2014 to lower the search engine's ranking of piracy websites, but many studio executives believe the tech giant has not gone far enough. Hollywood lobbied intensively in 2012 for the creation of two pieces of legislation -- the Protect Intellectual Property Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act -- which would hold websites hosted outside the US to the same standards as those within the country. But Google, along with other big players in Silicon Valley, resisted action they claimed would stifle the Internet and pave the way for US authorities to shut down websites without due process. The movie mogul was at a gala thrown in his honor at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California on Saturday. Pictured left, with Gerard Butler, right, star of London Has Fallen, which Lerner helped produce The event marked the end of a boycott against the Beverly Hills Hotel after the owner, the Sultan of Brunei, passed Sharia law in his country calling for homosexuality and adultery to be punishable by stoning US congressional leaders put the legislation on hold following a wave of protests led by Google and Wikipedia denouncing the bills as a threat to Internet freedom, and the bills were never signed into law. 'We have to protect our intellectual property or why are we doing this? Why be creative? Why put your blood and sweat and tears into writing a movie only to have it stolen?' said Heidi Jo Markel, the founder of Eclectic Pictures who has worked with Lerner on several films. The producer, who was also at the dinner hosted by social services agency Aviva Family and Children's Services at the Beverly Hills Hotel, called on the United States to emulate Britain, which she described as much tougher on piracy. 'The UK has got so good about punishing people for theft and we just sort of look the other way. We've got to change that,' she said. The gala honoring Lerner marked the end of a boycott against the Beverly Hills Hotel after the owner, the Sultan of Brunei, passed Sharia law in his country calling for homosexuality and adultery to be punishable by stoning. It was the first red carpet rolled out inside the hotel since 2014. Loose Women's Lynda Bellingham was warned ten times about her husband Michael Pattemore, a friend of the couple has claimed. Denise Sutton, 50, who first met Pattemore in Moraira, Spain in 2003, said she spoke to Lynda on several occasions to express concerns about him. Her claims come just weeks after it emerged Bellingham's sons Michael and Robbie Peluso publicly alleged he had squandered thousands from her estate and evicted them from the family home. Denise Sutton, 50, (pictured) who first met Michael Pattemore in Moraira, Spain in 2003, said she spoke to Lynda on several occasions to express concerns about him Within months of her death, he had been to Dubai three times, as well as Peru, Canada and on a round-the-world trip for eight weeks. He has also posted selfies of himself in Canada, New Zealand, Tahiti, Australia and Cuba to his late wife's Twitter account. A friend has claimed she repeatedly warned Lynda about her husband Michael Pattemore (pictured together at her investiture ceremony in 2014) Speaking to The Sunday People, Ms Sutton said: 'I must have warned Lynda ten times not to trust Micky.' But the Loose Women star ignored her advice and said she had the situation under control - and assured her that her estate would be left to her sons, not Pattemore. The actress, famous as the 'Oxo mum', died of bowel cancer in 2014 and the brothers are now challenging Pattemore over her will. She died just 10 days after the publication of her memoirs, Theres Something Ive Been Dying To Tell You, in which she revealed for the first time she had terminal bowel cancer. Ms Sutton said that when she first met Pattemore, he slept on friends sofas and even took a 5,000 euro loan from her. And it was only when he started selling time share apartments that his luck turned around. It was during this time he met Lynda when she travelled to the area looking to buy a home. Ms Sutton said: 'He was telling me all about how Lynda had invited him to her home in North London and how he couldnt believe his luck.' She later bumped into Lynda in Spain - before later blurting out to her that she was concerned about him. Pattemore posted this photograph of Twitter last year showing him enjoying the sights of Cuba Another image showed him beside a small fixed-wing airplane, though it was not clear what country he was in The photographs, including this image of the Great Wall of China, were posted on his late wife's Twitter account Here is another selfie Pattemore posted of himself, this time taken in Tahiti Pattemore drinks a glass of wine while admiring Ayers Rock in Australia during his around the world trip Pattemore has denied accusations he is squandering Lynda's money - stating the will is still in probate Just a few weeks ago, Pattemore faced a huge backlash after claiming in an interview with Spirit and Destiny magazine that he regularly had sex with Lynda's ghost. That 'disrespectful' interview marked the final straw, her hotel guest relations manager son Robbie, 27, said. 'She should be remembered for all the wonderful work she did as an actress and the inspiring courage she showed at the end of her life, not for these tacky revelations that are tarnishing the reputation she worked so hard for,' he told the Mail on Sunday. 'When I read the interview about her ghost, I knew it was time to stand up for her, and give our side of everything thats happened since my mothers death. 'Our stepfather always says hes close to us, but thats not the case. We want the public to know that a lot of what theyve been told just isnt true.' Speaking recently about the allegations, Mr Pattemore has said the situation is 'frustrating' and insists the whole story hasn't been given. Mr Pattemore, from Crewkerne, Somerset, said: 'We are still going through probate so everything [in her will] is still frozen.' Yesterday he declined to comment when contacted by The Sunday People. He could not be reached for comment today. Robbie, left, and Michael Peluso, pictured with mother Lynda Bellingham when they were children Lynda, who found fame as the Oxo mother and with appearances on Loose Women, died in 2014 Detained journalist Tara Brown is a 'brilliant journalist' who was 'trying to expose the truth of a story' when she was arrested in Lebanon earlier this month, Today Show host Karl Stefanovic said defending his coworker on Sunday. In a statement released through Channel Nine, Mr Stefanovic said he has been trying to explain why Brown and the 60 Minutes crew's are in jail to his daughter who likes to ask a lot of questions - just like Brown, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Brown, 48, was arrested along with other members of a 60 Minutes team - David Ballment, 55, Stephen Rice, 58, and Ben Williamson, 37 - following an attempted kidnap of Sally Faulkner's children from their father, Ali Elamine, in Beirut. Scroll down for video Today Show host Karl Stefanovic (pictured) called 60 Minutes journalist Tara Brown a 'friend, colleague, mother and brilliant journalist' in a statement released on Sunday defending his coworker Mr Stefanovic said he has been trying to explain why Brown and the 60 Minutes crew's are in jail to his daughter who likes to ask a lot of questions - just like Brown (pictured with her husband John McAvoy) Ms Faulkner (pictured) is facing kidnapping charges over the botched attempt to snatch her children from a busy street Mr Stefanovic says he believes Brown was trying to get to the bottom of the truth of a complex story and that asking the right questions is what makes a journalist. 'Tara is a friend. She is a colleague. She is a mother. She is a brilliant journalist. She has asked those questions over and over again. She has consistently broken stories, and forensically exposed wrong doing in society all around the world. She has religiously and without favour fought for the truth,' he said in the statement. 'Journalism - by definition is the work of collecting writing and publishing news stories and articles. Who, what, when, where, why are the cornerstones of journalism,' he continued. 'It's brilliant in its simplicity and it's so easy to remember. Armed with those tools we go out into the wide world and ask away. At its most basic, we inform. At its best, it's powerful. We can expose the wrongs. We can make a difference. It all though starts with a question.' The Today Show host's comments come just hours after Brown's husband revealed he has not told their children that their mother is in jail in Lebanon. John McAvoy, Brown's husband and veteran TV producer, has been unable to tell their young children - Jack, seven, and Tom, five - the details on the 'living nightmare' their mum is going through, the Herald Sun reports. 'It's hard to imagine it could be any tougher. From what we know, they are in good health, keeping their spirits up and are being well looked after by the Lebanese authorities,' McAvoy said in a joint statement with Denise Alexander Rice, Cara Williamson and Laura Battistel. Mr McAvoy (left) has revealed he has not told their children the Channel Nine reporter is in jail after a botched child abduction attempt in Lebanon David 'Tangles' Ballment (pictured) is one of the 60 Minutes crew members in jail and has worked with 60 Minutes for the past six years as a sound recordist 'You can't imagine how comforting it is to know that. That is all that is getting us through at the moment. 'Some of us haven't even told our children what's happening yet. It's not an easy conversation to have with a five or seven-year-old who ask as they go to sleep each night when mummy or daddy is coming home. Understandably we are all anxious and worried sick.' Ms Williamson has not told the couple's young daughters, aged eight and five, about the ordeal yet, the newspaper claims. Mr Rice's three children - a teenage son and twin-daughters in their 20s - are aware of the situation their father is in. The prison where Brown and Ms Faulkner have been taken to is a grim, overcrowded block housing mostly murderers and drug dealers with up to 20 women per cell. Baabda Central Women's Prison is in south-eastern Beirut and built to house 50 prisoners, however as many as 90 people are packed in cramped dark cells behind razor wire fencing. Brown and Ms Faulkner are being held in Baabda Central Women's Prison, where as many as 90 inmates are packed into crowded cells (pictured) Baabda Central Women's Prison is in south-eastern Beirut and built for 50 people, however overcrowding means almost twice as many are held at the centre Prisoners are given one meal a day at the facility, and often seen wearing their own dirty clothing Prisoners are often seen wearing their own dirty clothes in photographs taken inside the centre, and just one meal a day is served to inmates. It comes after it was revealed talks between Ms Faulker, 29, and her estranged husband Ali Elamine have broken down. Ms Faulkner's lawyer, Ghassan Moughabghab, and Mr Elamine's attorney have failed to reach an agreement regarding the custody of their two children despite being urged by Lebanese officials, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Stephen Rice, 58, has won two Walkley awards throughout his career in journalism and has been with 60 Minutes since 2004 Ben Williamson's (pictured) wife, Cara, has not told the couple's young daughters, aged eight and five, about the ordeal yet 'I met the lawyer of Mr Elamine, he put his conditions, we accepted all of them and yet now I am told they will not accept the agreement,' Mr Moughabghab said. Ms Faulkner was arrested along with the 60 Minutes crew by Lebanese police on April 7 and charged with kidnapping offences after Ms Faulkner's children were snatched in a botched kidnapping attempt. Mr Elamine proposed last week that he would drop the kidnapping charge against his wife if she agrees to give up sole custody of the children - Lahela, six, and Noah, four. The 60 Minutes crew was arrested along with Sally Faulkner (pictured with her two children) on April 7 in Beirut, Lebanon Ms Faulkner was attempting to take her children from her former partner, Ali Elamine (middle), who she claims took them last year LEBANON KIDNAP CASE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR THE MUM, THE TV CREW AND THE KIDNAPPING CASE Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner and a Nine Network TV crew made up of reporter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound technician David Ballment, are facing kidnapping and assault charges in Lebanon following a bungled abduction of Ms Faulkner's two children in Beirut. WHAT HAPPENED? The Australians have spent a week behind bars in Beirut after being arrested for the alleged abduction on April 7. The TV crew was filming Faulkner's attempt to retrieve her children Noah, four, and Lahela, six, from her ex-husband Ali Elamine, who she claims kept them in Lebanon without her permission. A professional agency, Child Abduction Recovery International, is believed to have been hired to snatch the children. Two of its members, named in media reports as Britons Adam Whittington and Craig Michael, have also been detained and charged. THE ABDUCTION Security camera footage shows masked men jumping out of a car and snatching the kids from their grandmother and another woman on a Beirut street. The grandmother claims she was attacked and hit on the head with a pistol. The TV crew and recovery agency members were arrested shortly afterwards, while Faulkner hid with her two children in a safe house. Authorities later found the family, arrested Faulkner and returned the children to their father. THE CHARGES Faulkner is facing kidnapping charges. The 60 minutes crew is accused of: - hiding information - forming an association with two or more people to commit a crime against a person - kidnapping or holding a minor even with their approval - physical assault. The offences carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail. LEGAL CASE SO FAR Judge Rami Abdullah told the Australians during a second round of interviews on Wednesday that there was no chance their charges would be dropped. However, he indicated that if Mr Elamine was willing to drop legal action and come to an agreement with his estranged wife, that would help the case against all of the accused. The accused will remain in detention until facing the Baabda Palace of Justice again. Nine has refused to comment on speculation it organised and funded the recovery operation. Advertisement The requirements also included a full religious divorce and agreement that Ms Faulker will never take their children to Australia, as Mr Elamine fears she may never bring them back. The 60 Minutes crew was in Beirut to film Ms Faulkner's attempt to kidnap her children. Prosecutors have also claimed a member of the recovery team said Channel Nine paid $115,000 for the operation. Ms Faulkner's lawyer, Ghassan Moughabghab (pictured), and Mr Elamine's attorney recently failed to reach an agreement regarding the custody of their two children despite being urged by Lebanese officials News outlets in England and Wales have been gagged by the courts in order to prevent them revealing full details of the celebrity's initial extra-marital affair - or even naming them The married celebrity who took out an injunction to stop the Press reporting that they had a threesome with another couple allegedly had a second affair with a hairdresser. News outlets in England and Wales have been gagged by the courts in order to prevent them from revealing full details of the celebrity's initial extra-marital affair - or even naming them. However, the star's identity has been widely reported elsewhere, including in a Scottish newspaper, a popular blog and one of America's biggest news websites. Now, the Sun on Sunday has reported the celebrity - who has children with their famous spouse - had a second affair just five months after having the threesome with another couple. The hairdresser, who is based in America, claims to have met the multimillionaire on a dating app where they exchanged pictures and agreed to meet at a 500-a-night hotel for sex. The former lover claims the celebrity, who is known only as PJS, initially used a fake name and claimed to be both single and younger than their real age before admitting they were the well known celebrity. The lover said when they first met up they went to a bar and then walked hand in hand through a park before returning to the hotel and had sex. The stylist said: 'PJS made it seem like they had an open relationship. PJS didn't seem to care about us being seen. 'I don't think the partner found out about us but it looks like PJS knows how to cover tracks. 'I was told they spend long periods apart - I think they put on a front of togetherness for their children but it is a different story behind closed doors.' Appeal judges will decide tomorrow whether to lift the ban on identifying the married celebrity. This week a poll by MailOnline revealed eight out of 40 people asked on a London street believed they could name the star despite the ban. Britain's newspapers have asked the judges to lift a ban which is preventing them from reporting on a 'well-known' man's 'extramarital activities'. The Sun On Sunday wanted to publish an 'account' of the man's 'sexual exploits' with others. The star took legal action and earlier this year two Court of Appeal judges imposed an injunction - preventing the newspaper from identifying the man in an article. Gavin Millar QC, who is leading News Group Newspapers' legal team, told Lord Justice Jackson, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Simon that information had now been published outside the jurisdiction of England and Wales and was available to the British public via the internet. He said that, because of that, the ban should be lifted. She says he texted picture showing Cabinet Ministers outside Chequers, the Prime Ministers official country home John Whittingdale had two-year relationship with Stephanie Hudson who claims he showed her Advertisement This is the photograph 'privacy minister' John Whittingdale sent to his porn star lover - showing senior ministers relaxing over lunch. Married ex-Page 3 model Stephanie Hudson, 36, said the Culture Secretary texted her the image, which shows Cabinet Ministers outside Chequers, the Prime Ministers official country home near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The photograph is a major breach of protocol and is thought to be the first such picture ever to be published. It comes as Ms Hudson claimed Mr Whittingdale, the Minister in charge of media privacy laws, showed her highly-sensitive documents to show off' as he worked on his Ministerial Red Box over breakfast. Mr Whittingdale, the Minister in charge of media privacy laws, photographed Cabinet Ministers at a private meeting at Chequers and secretly texted it to Ms Hudson. The picture is above Cabinet Minister John Whittingdale (left and right) had a two-year relationship with former porn star Stephanie Hudson (left) who claims he showed her confidential Government papers at his constituency home The shocking revelations come days after it emerged that Mr Whittingdale, 56, had a sexual relationship with a dominatrix with claims the story had previously been buried because he was in charge of press regulation. Mr Whittingdale, MP for Maldon, Essex, last night refused to discuss his two-year affair with Ms Hudson. A spokeswoman said: John is a single man. He is entitled to a private life. And a source close to the divorced Mr Whittingdale insisted that Ms Hudson did not have access to Government papers. Last night, David Cameron was standing by Mr Whittingdale. However, a Government source told The Mail on Sunday: His [Mr Whittingdales] behaviour is causing raised eyebrows in Whitehall. The new claims are made by Ms Hudson, a medical receptionist, who appeared topless in tabloid newspapers until the early 2000s and once took part in a soft-porn TV series. In a candid account of their turbulent on-off relationship, Ms Hudson says: After meeting on the internet, Mr Whittingdale told her he was an arms dealer; He called his local Essex constituents oiks; The couple were asked to leave the Savoy Hotel for 'drunken heavy petting'; He took her to the Commons and turned off the lights to avoid being caught on CCTV and kissed and groped her; He said of immigrants: If you let one in, they all want to come; He two-timed her with a dominatrix. In a separate investigation, The Mail on Sunday has learned of new details of Mr Whittingdales political links to Eastern Europe and a pro-Vladimir Putin Ukrainian oligarch; in addition to relationships with two Eastern European women 20 years his junior. In an interview with this newspaper, Ms Hudson says Mr Whittingdale studied his Cabinet papers at his Essex home dressed in a blue silk kimono dressing gown at the breakfast table, after a long morning bath. She recalled: The Red Box was open on his breakfast table and all the papers were strewn on the table. He would show me his work schedule and the letters when I would sit next to him. He was always saying this important person had been writing to him and he had to respond to so and so. The now-married ex-Page 3 model (left) says the Culture Secretary showed her highly-sensitive documents to show off as he worked on his Ministerial Red Box over breakfast and revealed he was seeing dominatrix Mistress Kate (right) at the same time She added: I always felt he was trying to show he was important, you know: Look at me, I am big. It would have been easy to read the papers either across the kitchen table or when he was out of the room. There was something about Ofcom written on one of them. The couples relationship began in 2013 and continued after his Cabinet promotion following the May 2015 Election. Ms Hudson says Mr Whittingdale told her last July he planned to make a major decision that would anger the BBC. He said he had a big decision to make about the BBC that would upset a lot of people. Mr Whittingdale, a long-standing critic of the BBC, was brought into the Government with orders to lead a shake-up of the Corporation. And coincidentally, last night it was reported that he is looking to force the BBC to sell its 500 million stake in UKTV which owns ten channels including Dave, Gold and Yesterday and give half the proceeds to the Treasury. The special Cabinet meeting at Chequers where Mr Whittingdale photographed Ministers to entertain his lover also took place in July. Ms Hudson, who stored Mr Whittingdales number on her mobile phone under the pet-name Sexybum, says he told her in advance that he was going to Chequers another apparent breach of security protocol texting her the day before the meeting: Off to Chequers tomorrow. She replied: You mean chukkers men in white jeans? [A polo reference.] And Whittingdale answered: Er no the Prime Minister's country residence. On the day, while other Ministers were lunching on the Chequers terrace, Mr Whittingdale astonishingly took an impromptu mobile phone photo of ten senior Ministers including George Osborne, Michael Fallon, Nicky Morgan and Sajid Javid. He texted it that day to Ms Hudson who replied: Pretty house. The photograph at Chequers is likely to anger Mr Cameron, who bans mobile phones at Cabinet meetings, partly for security reasons. The extraordinary affair between the Cabinet Minister and porn star Ms Hudson, who is estranged from her American businessman husband, began in late 2013. The mother of three noticed that Whittingdale had winked at her profile on the dating website Match.com, to show he was interested. Ms Hudson says she was not deterred by the 20-year age gap, adding: Ive always liked older men. Their first date was at the trendy Saatchi Gallery off Kings Road, Chelsea. Initially, Mr Whittingdale, then chairman of the influential Commons Culture Select Committee, fibbed about his career. He told me he was a Russian arms dealer and had just come back from the Ukraine, said Ms Hudson. I dont know if he was just being careful or trying to make himself more attractive by sounding mysterious, but it wasnt necessary I liked him. Bizarrely, it was their shared interest in Margaret Thatcher that prompted him to own up to being an MP. He only told me he was an MP after I told him I admired Margaret Thatcher, said Ms Hudson. She and her twin sister Samantha were the first twins to appear topless in red-top newspapers together, known as The Boobie Twins. Ms Hudson also appeared in Playboy magazine and in a US soft porn cable TV series, Hotel Erotica, playing the role of Paloma, a postgirl, in a naked lesbian romp. Mr Whittingdale earns 135,500 a year, yet Ms Hudson says she paid for most of their dates. THE RED BOX RULES All Ministers are given a Red Box in which to carry Government papers. The documents sometimes contain top-secret information. The cardinal rule is that Ministers should never leave the contents of their Red Boxes where their security could be compromised. Cabinet Office guidance says that official documents must be appropriately protected. Government sources say Ministers should never read documents in public in case they are seen by unauthorised individuals. All Ministers are given a Red Box (pictured) in which to carry Government papers. The documents sometimes contain top-secret information Advertisement They first went to bed after their fourth meeting. Ms Hudson says Mr Whittingdale told her of his relationship with a dominatrix, known as Mistress Kate, who plies her trade in London, complete with her own dungeon. When the BBC last week revealed Mr Whitingdales relationship with the dominatrix, he insisted he met her under her real name on Match.com and had no idea she was an escort until approached by the media, at which point he ended the relationship. However, Ms Hudson says she believes Mr Whittingdale was sleeping with the dominatrix and her at the same time. Around February 2014, John told me that he would have to live like a monk for a while because the newspapers had found out a woman hed gone out with was a prostitute. He told me it was all over long before he met me. But last week, I discovered he was sleeping with her at the same time as me, and we always had unprotected sex. It made me angry. I feel so betrayed, not only that he was lying to me, but also he was taking that kind of risk with my health. Ms Hudson describes Mr Whittingdale as very intelligent, but cold and calculating. He would walk over anyone to get ahead. He would call me whenever he needed some emotional support or had free time. But when I would want to see him, he would not be there. We split up during our relationship about four times, but every time he would come back. There was one time when he kicked me out of his St Jamess flat [in London]. I came downstairs and cried. I eventually got a taxi home. She added: Emotionally, he hurt me a lot. Ms Hudson said that in December 2013, she and Mr Whittingdale got drunk on the cheapest red wine on the list in the American Bar at Londons Savoy Hotel. The final bill, which the MoS has seen, was 87.75. We started kissing passionately and it got quite steamy with his hands all over my boobs, she said. We were warned to stop by the staff as it was upsetting other guests, but we soon started again, and were asked to leave. John said wed better go. They also used his Commons office for trysts. He always turned the lights out so we wouldnt be recorded on CCTV going down the corridor outside. Once we were in the office, we groped each other and kissed passionately. According to Ms Hudson, Mr Whittingdale showed little regard for his constituents, and could be outspoken. I once asked him what he was up to and he said he was at a fete in his constituency with some reprobate oiks, by which he meant the local people. When we discussed immigration once, he said The trouble is if you let one in, they all want to come. Ms Hudson says her Winchester educated Tory ex-lover was embarrassed to be seen with her in public. He knew that I was a Page 3 model. He said it could be embarrassing for him as he once campaigned against Page 3. If he found my past embarrassing, why date me? A source close to Whittingdale did not dispute that he had a relationship with Ms Hudson, but claimed she did not have access to government papers. The source described Ms Hudsons claims as tittle tattle. Anti-EU campaigner Mr Whittingdale appeared to be in hiding yesterday and he pulled out of a Vote Leave speech in Oxford. How Page 3 model who claims Whittingdale showed her highly-sensitive documents was one half of 'The Boobie Twins' with her sister and starred in TV show Hotel Erotica In her glamour modelling heyday, Stephanie Hudson enjoyed the dubious distinction of being one of Britains first Page 3 twins, with her sister Samantha. They were crowned The Boobie Twins. She also made an appearance in an American soft porn TV series, Hotel Erotica. Stephanie Hudson, who has revealed she enjoyed a two-year relationship with John Whittingdale, was one of Britains first Page 3 twins and also starred in American soft porn TV series, Hotel Erotica. She is pictured above in the dark blue underwear Broadcast on a cable channel, and still available to buy online as a DVD, it centred on the sexual escapades of guests at the fictitious beachfront Blue Hotel. In one episode, Stephanie plays a postal worker who has a threesome with a male character and another woman. Before she and her sister sought fame in the US, Stephanie landed a small part in a Lynda La Plante Channel 4 drama, The Killer Net. In one episode of Hotel Erotica (DVD pictured above), Stephanie plays a postal worker who has a threesome with a male character and another woman Stephanie, from Malvern, Worcestershire, said: I went to America more to become an actress, as I wanted to make it big in Hollywood. 'My favourite actress is Emma Thompson, and I wanted to become as successful as her. Advertisement Twelve Syrian refugees have arrived in the Vatican after Pope Francis' visit to the Greek island of Lesbos. The refugees taken in by Pope Francis following his visit have hailed the pontiff as a 'saviour' for offering them a new life. 'All refugees are children of God,' the 79-year-old pope said on the flight back to Rome referring to their religion, adding that though his gesture was 'a drop in the ocean' he hoped 'the ocean will never be the same again'. In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa, the families, who spent their first night in Rome at a Catholic charity, expressed their gratitude to the pontiff for his 'gesture of hope'. 'We saw friends and relatives die in the rubble, we fled Syria because we no longer had any hope,' said Hasan, an engineer from Damascus, who arrived in Italy with his wife Nour and two-year-old son. After fleeing to Turkey, Hasan and his family joined the migrant trail to Europe, piling into a rubber dinghy that set out from the Turkish coast for Greece. 'But it was overloaded,' said Hasan, recalling the pitch black of the sea at night and the waves rocking the vessel. Pope Francis sid one of the refugees he met on the Greek island of Lesbos was the Muslim widower of a Syrian Christian woman killed by extremists for refusing to renounce her faith. Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday that 'she is a martyr.' Departing from his prepared remarks, Francis shared his experiences of the day earlier with thousands of people gathered for his blessing. He says among the 300 refugees he greeted Saturday on Lesbos was a Syrian widower with two children. The pope said: 'He is Muslim, and he told me that he married a Christian girl. They loved each other and respected each other. 'But unfortunately the young woman's throat was slashed by terrorists because she didn't want to deny Christ and abandon her faith.' Scroll down for video Twelve Syrian refugees have arrived in the Vatican after Pope Francis' visit to the Greek island of Lesbos. Journalists surround Syrian refugee Suhila, wearing a white head scarf (centre), and her daughter Masa as they arrive at the St. Egidio Community in Rome Suhila and her family are part of three Muslim families that Pope Francis flew back with him to Italy from Greece, where they were in a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa, the families, who spent their first night in Rome at a Catholic charity, expressed their gratitude to the pontiff for his 'gesture of hope' Syrian refugees Wafa, at center with white scarf, and her husband Osama, second from left, hold their children's hands as they arrive with another Syrian family Another refugee called Hasan, an engineer from Damascus, who arrived in Italy with his wife Nour and two-year-old son, said: 'We saw friends and relatives die in the rubble, we fled Syria because we no longer had any hope' Syrian refugee Nour, smiles back as she enters the St. Egidio Community in Rome. Three families of Syrian refugees boarded the Pontiff's aircraft shortly after 1pm at the end of his lightening visit to Lesbos 'In Lesbos, we understood that we were stuck in a place that we could not leave, (we were) in a trap, a prison', he said describing the pope as 'our saviour' for whisking them off the island, where thousands of migrants risk being sent back to Turkey under a new EU-Turkey deportation deal. Wafa, who was also on the papal flight from Lesbos with her husband Osama, eight-year-old daughter Masa and six-year-old son Omar, together with her husband, described the 'constant bombardments' in recent months around their home. 'Since then (my son) has barely spoken... he is locked in an impenetrable silence,' she said. 'Even today, he wakes up every night crying and we cannot get him to play with his sister.' Wafa said she and her husband, who are from Damascus suburb of Zamalka, had opted to cut ties with the past. 'But we know we took the right decision,' she said. After their stay on Lesbos, which seemed interminable, 'Francis gave us a new life,' she said. Ramy, a 51-year-old teacher from the eastern Islamic State-occupied city of Deir Ezzor, fled Syria with his wife Suhila and three children - sons Rashid, 18 and Abdelmajid, 16, and seven-year-old daughter Al Quds - after their home was destroyed in the war. 'We discuss a lot and find it hard to imagine what life will be like in the future: we don't know whether we will start over in Europe or whether, one day, we will be able to return to a Syria free of war and violence,' he told La Stampa. 'We are grateful to the pope, we will prove ourselves worthy of this opportunity and the gift he gave us,' he told La Stampa, while adding he did not know whether he would remain in Europe for the long-term or 'one day, return to a Syria that is free of war and violence.' Syrian refugee Wafa, center with white head scarf, and her husband Osama, left, answer reporter's questions with an interpreter. The three families, who had initially set their sights on reaching Germany or another European country, are now expected to seek asylum in Italy Two-year-old Riad sleeps on the shoulder of his father Hasan. Migrant arrivals in Greece have drastically fallen since Turkey agreed to take back all irregular migrants landing on the Greek islands in return for billions in EU cash and other concessions Over 1.1 million people have crossed clandestinely from Turkey to Greece since the start of 2015, with hundreds drowning en route Pope Francis waving to his congreagtion during the Regina Coeli prayer in the Saint Peter's square at the Vatican today The three families, who had initially set their sights on reaching Germany or another European country, are now expected to seek asylum in Italy. Their arrival brings to around 20 the number of refugees living in the Vatican, which has under 1,000 inhabitants. A similar intake across Europe would see six million people given asylum on the continent of 300 million. Last year, the pope had appealed to every Catholic diocese in Europe to take in a refugee family - an appeal that fell on deaf ears in most parts of the continent. Migrant arrivals in Greece have drastically fallen since Turkey agreed to take back all irregular migrants landing on the Greek islands in return for billions in EU cash and other concessions. Over 1.1 million people have crossed clandestinely from Turkey to Greece since the start of 2015, with hundreds drowning en route. A Vatican spokesman said earlier: 'The Pope has desired to make a gesture of welcome regarding refugees, accompanying on his plane to Rome three families of refugees from Syria, 12 people in all, including six children.' The Vatican said Pope Francis wanted to 'make a gesture of welcome' to the three families who arrived in the camp before the new EU deal with Turkey was implemented on March 20. It is understood that paperwork for the 12 people, including six children, was arranged in advance. Two of the families are from the Syrian capital Damascus, while the third is from the ISIS stronghold of Deir el-Zour in the north of the country, near the frontier with Iraq. Pope Francis said: 'Today I renew my heartfelt plea for responsibility and solidarity in the face of this tragic situation.' The Vatican will take responsibility for supporting the families. But the Catholic Sant'Egidio community will take care of getting them settled initially. While on Lesbos, Pope Francis blasted people smugglers and arms traffickers who he blamed for worsening the current refugee crisis in Europe. Addressing a large group of asylum seekers in a reception camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis said migrants were not numbers but people with 'faces, names and individual stories' who were prayed upon by 'unscrupulous thugs'. The 12 asylum seekers arrived in Rome along with the Pope shortly before 4pm today following the short flight from Lesbos Pope Francis today greeted the three Syrian families he rescued from a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos following his visit The six adults and six children all arrived in Lesbos before a controversial new immigration deal with Turkey was implemented While on the flight, Pope Francis showed journalists some drawings made by children ahead of his visit to the refugee camp today The image, which was held up by the Pope, included a crying sun, a sinking boat and five refugees crying for help as their boat sank behind them Pope Francis brought three Syrian refugee families back to Rome with him following his trip to the Greek island of Lesbos Pope Francis brought a dozen Syrian asylum seekers, pictured, back to Rome with him following his visit to a Lesbos refugee camp The refugees, pictured, are from three families, and will be resettled in Rome at the Vatican's expense according to a spokesman The refugees joining Pope Francis all arrived on Lesbos before a new EU deal with Turkey to deport new arrivals Pope Francis kissed a refugee baby after his arrival at the Moria camp on Lesbos this morning with Patriarch Bartholomew, left Pope Francis was surrounded by children after his arrival in the refugee camp where he pledged to highlight their plight Pope Francis told the asylum seekers 'you are not alone' during his brief visit to the camp in Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos Pope Francis has been critical of the handling of the refugee crisis by the member states of the European Union Refugees in the Moria camp warmly greeted Pope Francis during his five-hour visit to the island of Lesbos earlier today Pope Francis, pictured arriving at the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos this morning told the asylum seekers: 'You are not alone' Pope Francis had lunch with some asylum seekers at the Moira detention camp in Lesbos, pictured, before he returned home The Pontiff was greeted at the camp by a large group of children, some of whom arrived in Greece without their parents. Addressing the refugees, he said: 'You are not alone. Do not lose hope.' The teenage boys who have made the perilous journeys from their homelands to Greece alone were lined up at the entrance, shaking the hands of the pope and two other religious leaders. Some were holding a Syrian flag. Many refugees fell to their knees and wept as Francis approached them. Others chanted 'Freedom! Freedom!' as he passed by. Francis bent down as one young girl knelt at his feet sobbing uncontrollably. A woman told the pope that her husband was in Germany, but that she was stuck with her two sons in Lesbos. 'Refugees are not numbers, they are people who have faces, names stories and need to be treated as such,' Francis tweeted. He urged the European Union to change its policy towards the migrants. He said: 'We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity.' The pope's visit to the island, which has seen the majority of the arrivals of migrants heading into Europe, is highly symbolic. It comes shortly after the European Union began deporting new arrivals back to Turkey under a controversial deal meant to stem the refugee flow. The pope then met men and women who have fled their homelands seeking refuge in Europe. Some wept as they met the pope. Refugees from Pakistan who are being held in the camp and facing deportation to Turkey created a banner pleading for help from Europe Pope Francis addressed the refugees at the Moria reception centre in Lesbos where he told them that they were not alone Pope Francis used his brief trip to highlight the humanitarian crisis on Lesbos resulting from the Sryian conflict Pope Francis urged the international community to deal with the ongoing crisis and treat people in a way worthy of 'common humanity' A migrant handed Pope Francis a note as she shook hands with the pontiff during his visit to the Moria refugee camp this morning Members of the Yazdi Christian community, who have been purged by ISIS pleaded with Pope Francis today for help Pope Francis, pictured today urged the European Union to treat refugees 'in a way that is worthy of our common humanity' A small child clutched by his mother, who appeared to be tearful at sight of the Pope, kissed the Pontiff's hand during his visit to Lesbos Dozens of teenage migrants also turned out to shake hands with the Pope, who looked delighted to meet them as he made his way through the camp The Pope smiles as he greets two young migrants, who look delighted to meet him, during a visit to the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island The Pontiff shakes hand with another man as he is escorted by Patriarch Bartholomew into the camp early on Saturday morning 'GOOD MANNERS' MEETING BETWEEN POPE AND U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Saturday's meeting with refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos came as the Pope insisted an earlier meeting with U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was just 'good manners'. The pair had met at the Pope's residence before he departed for Greece, sparking claims of political interference. But the Pope said: 'Mr Sanders knew that I was leaving and he was kind enough to greet me. 'I greeted him and his wife and another couple who were with them and staying at Santa Marta. Nothing more. 'It was a matter of politeness and if anybody thinks that greeting somebody amounts to meddling in politics, they should go find a psychiatrist.' Mr Sanders agreed and said: 'I just conveyed to him my admiration for the extraordinary work he is doing raising some of the most important issues facing our planet and the billions of people on the planet and injecting the need for morality in the global economy.' Advertisement One man wept uncontrollably and wailed as he knelt down before Francis on Saturday and said: 'Thank you, God. Thank you. Please Father, bless me.' Children offered Francis drawings and the pope praised one little girl for her artwork, saying 'Bravo. Bravo.' Then as he handed it off to his staff he stressed: 'Don't fold it. I want it on my desk.' As he walked by them, shaking hands with the men and bowing to the women, the refugees shouted out their homelands: 'Afghanistan.' 'Syria.' One little boy ducked his head through a fence to kiss Francis' ring. Pope Francis said: 'This is a voyage marked by sadness, a sad voyage,' the pope told reporters during the flight from Rome. We will witness the worst humanitarian disaster since the Second World War. We will see so many people who are suffering, who are fleeing and do not know where to go. 'And we are also going to a cemetery, the sea. So many people never arrived.' Greek Prime Minister Alex Tspiras greeted Pope Francis upon his arrival on Lesbos. During a brief formal meeting, he spoke about the efforts made by the Greek people in dealing with the refugee crisis. He said: 'I am proud of this, particularly at a time when some of our partners - even in the name of Christian Europe - were erecting walls and fences to prevent defenceless people from seeking a better life. 'That is why I consider that your visit is historic and important.' He said the pope's visit 'is a very important opportunity to show the need to stop the war, the taking advantage of people and to give the possibility of a legal route for these people who leave their homes and search for a better future in Europe'. A group of about 200 people held a brief protest near the scene where Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew I and Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos II held a prayer ceremony and tossed floral wreaths into the sea in memory of the refugees and migrants who died trying to reach Europe. The protesters were chanting 'No Borders, No Nation. Stop Deportation'. Pope Francis, pictured, used his lightening visit to criticise those who are exploiting the humanitarian crisis such as people smugglers The Vatican confirmed a dozen refugees accompanied Pope Francis back to Rome at the end of his brief visit to Lesbos Pope Francis, pictured earlier today on Lesbos, held a child during his brief visit to Lesbos where he highlighted the refugee crisis A migrant fell to his knees as he greeted Pope Francis during today's five-hour visit to the Greek island of Lesbos Moments earlier, police detained a woman attempting to display a banner inside the enclosure of the crowd gathered to watch the ceremony. As she was being led away, the woman said she was a volunteer working in Lesbos on the refugee issue. The Vatican official in charge of migrants, Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio attacked the EU-Turkey plan, claiming it essentially treats migrants as merchandise that can be traded back and forth and doesn't recognise their inherent dignity as human beings. The visit is meant to highlight the plight of refugees, thank the Greek people who have welcomed them in, and to show a united Christian response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding. Hours before Francis arrived, the European border patrol agency Frontex intercepted a dinghy carrying 41 Syrians and Iraqis off the coast of Lesbos. The refugees were detained and brought to shore in the main port of Mytilene. Pope Francis and the Orthodox leaders threw wreathes into the sea to commemorate the migrants lost at sea Pope Francis, pictured with Patriarch Bartholomew, right, threw wreaths into the sea to commemorate those migrants lost at sea Pope Francis made the gesture, along with the representatives of the Orthodox church, during his lightening visit to Lesbos Pope Francis attacked the European Union's handling of the refugee crisis and the plan to deport people to Turkey from the camp: 'We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity' Refugees held banners calling for freedom during Pope Francis' trip to Lesbos this morning to highlight the humanitarian crisis The migrants are held in a camp on Lesbos behind a razor wire fence with locked and bolted gates to prevent them escaping One migrant child painted a Syrian flag and pushed it through a gap in the fence of the migrant camp on Lesbos Also ahead of the visit, municipal crews scrubbed the walls of the capital and port after graffiti reading 'Papa Don't Preach' was sprayed in black at several points on the seafront in Mytilene. A handful of senior Orthodox clergy in Greece have been highly critical of Francis' trip, though the protests are nothing compared to the protests that greeted St. John Paul II's visit in 2001. The wreath-tossing ceremony scheduled for later Saturday is a gesture Francis first made when he visited the Italian island of Lampedusa in the summer of 2013, his first trip outside Rome as pope, after a dozen migrants died trying to reach the southern tip of Europe. He made a similar gesture more recently at the U.S.-Mexican border, laying a bouquet of flowers next to a large crucifix at the Ciudad Juarez border crossing in memory of migrants who died trying to reach the U.S. 'He is slightly provocative,' said George Demacopoulos, chair of Orthodox Christian studies at the Jesuit-run Fordham University in New York. Citing Francis' Mexico border visit in February, in the heat of a U.S. presidential campaign where illegal immigration took center stage, he added: 'He is within his purview to do so, but that was a provocative move.' Before heading to the Moria refugee camp, Pope Francis held a brief formal meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right A large group of local people welcomed Pope Francis on his flying visit to Lesbos this morning to highlight the refugee crisis A young Yazdi child appeals for help this morning inside the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, pictured Pope Francis tweeted his support for the refugees before flying out from Rome this morning on his flying visit to Lesbos The Vatican insists Saturday's visit is purely humanitarian and religious in nature, not political or a 'direct' criticism of the EU plan. The Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos II spoke Saturday during a visit to a migrant detention center on the Greek island of Lesbos along with Pope Francis and the spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. 'Unfortunately it is not the first time we denounce the politics that have brought these people to this impasse,' Ieronymos said. 'We will act however, until the aberration and depreciation of the human person has stopped.' Ieronymos was clear in his criticism of the European response to the refugee crisis, which has resulted in a deal with Turkey whereby new arrivals to Greek islands are sent back to Turkey. 'Only those who see the eyes of those small children that we met at the refugee camps will be able to immediately recognize, in its entirety, the `bankruptcy' of humanity and solidarity that Europe has shown these last few years to these, and not only these, people,' he said. He closed his speech by calling on the United Nations to address 'this tragic situation that we are living. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I raises a baby during the visit of Pope Francis to Lesbos earlier today Many of the migrants who greeted Pope Francis at the Moira refugee camp today are facing deportation to Turkey It is believed Pope Francis will take 10 asylum seekers from the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos back to Rome with him this afternoon Pope Francis was greeted on the tarmac upon his arrival in Lesbos by the leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church, pictured An armed guard stood talking on the phone while standing on a wall overlooking the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos But spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi told reporters that Francis' position on Europe's 'moral obligation' to welcome refugees is well-known, and that the EU-Turkey deportation deal certainly has 'consequences on the situation of the people involved.' The Vatican official in charge of migrants, Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, was even more explicit, saying the EU-Turkey plan essentially treats migrants as merchandise that can be traded back and forth and doesn't recognize their inherent dignity as human beings. The March 18 EU-Turkey deal stipulates that anyone arriving clandestinely on Greek islands on or after March 20 will be returned to Turkey unless they successfully apply for asylum in Greece. For every Syrian sent back, the EU will take another Syrian directly from Turkey for resettlement in Europe. In return, Turkey was granted concessions including billions of euros to deal with the more than 2.7 million Syrian refugees living there, and a speeding up of its stalled accession talks with the EU. Pope Francis spent approximately five hours on Lesbos before returning to Rome with three Sryian Muslim migrant families Protesters outside the camp condemned the deal between the European Union and Turkey over the deportation of migrants Ankara has agreed to accept refugees deported from the EU if Europe resettles Syrian migrants already based in Turkey Pope Francis was greeted on the tarmac at Lesbos by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the start of the pontiff's five-hour visit Pope Francis, pictured arriving in Lesbos this morning, where he has announced he will take home a dozen refugees from the camp Human rights groups have denounced the deal as an abdication of Europe's obligations to grant protection to asylum-seekers. The son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, Francis has made the plight of refugees, the poor and downtrodden the focus of his ministry as pope, denouncing the 'globalization of indifference' that the world shows the less fortunate. Aside from the inherently political nature of the trip, it also has a significant religious dimension. Francis will be visiting alongside the spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and the head of the Orthodox Church of Greece, Athens Archbishop Ieronymos II. Lombardi said the ecumenical significance of such a meeting was 'obvious' - and he credited Greece's politicians with their willingness to let the religious leaders take center stage as an 'appreciated' gesture of discretion. Meanwhile, refugees tried to break down a barbed wire border fence between Greece and Macedonia on Saturday afternoon The seven-strong group of male refugees grabbed hold of the wire in the lower part of the fence and also pulled at the metal bars Despite the chance of injury being highly likely, the men pulled at the fence with their bare hands as they desperately tried to get through By the time the group had successfully managed to pull the border fence down enough, police had arrived to make sure they did not get through The man, dressed in a grey long-sleeved top and jeans with a pink towel around his face, gave up after a couple of minutes and jumped down from the structure England's top Catholic cleric blasts David Cameron's Syrian refugee programme branding it a 'great disappointment' The Syrian refugee resettlement programme set up by David Cameron is a 'great disappointment', the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has said. Cardinal Vincent Nichols said Britain's response to the crisis was 'going very slowly' and called for a major increase in the number of people being taken in. Asked if he believed governments needed to show more humanity, the archbishop of Westminster replied: 'I do.' Cardinal Vincent Nichols, centre, attacked David Cameron's response to the Syrian refugee crisis branding it a 'great disappointment' He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think we have the resources as a very rich country. Think of a country like the Lebanon and some of the other Middle Eastern countries where they have a proportion of refugees present which represents 30-40 per cent of the population and they cope. 'We are a very rich country and I think with a greater cohesiveness between a spirit of willingness that is there among many and mechanisms which governments can put into place, we could be doing more.' He added: 'There are aspects of the government policy that are commendable but I've said surely that can be speeded up. Surely in the first year we can see really how many could be taken and then multiply that by five. 'At the moment it's going very slowly and it's a great disappointment.' The Prime Minister announced plans to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in Britain at the height of the crisis. The scheme will cost more than half a billion pounds, the Government revealed earlier this week. Cardinal Nichols dismissed suggestions that the UK should not be taking in refugees because some Britons are struggling to make ends meet. He told the programme: 'I don't think the struggle of people in the destroyed villages in and around Mosul and other parts of Syria, those struggles are not the same as our struggles.' Boris Johnson has warned about the prospect of 77million Turks being allowed access to Britain if their country was to join the EU. The London Mayor and leading Brexit campaigner also launched a direct attack on David Cameron, George Osborne and Theresa May for saying they would restrict access to the UK to EU migrants who had already secured a job only to drop the idea after opposition from Brussels. Mr Johnsons grandfather, Wilfred Johnny Johnson, was born Osman Kemal to Turkish journalist and later government minister Ali Kemal Bey, who was lynched by a mob in the 1920s for his anti-Nationalist sympathies during the Turkish War of Independence. Mr Johnson told the Sunday Times: I am very pro-Turkish but what I certainly cant imagine is a situation in which 77million of my fellow Turks and those of Turkish origin can come here without any checks at all. That is really mad that wont work. Scroll down for video London Mayor Boris Johnson has bluntly dismissed warnings about the impact of Brexit on trade On EU migration, he pointed to comments from the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Home Secretary vowing to ensure that only EU migrants with a job could automatically come to the UK. But it was rejected by Brussels as not in line with EU law. We were told repeatedly in the run-up to this negotiation that we would be able to decide that only people who had jobs lined up could come here and we were just told to bog off and we got nowhere on that, he said. Im a believer in the power of immigration to transform economies. It can be a very beneficial thing but people should be able to control it; 69,000 people per year come in search of work. On free movement he said the world had changed since it was devised. We not only have huge movements now of workers within the EU and typically from countries at a much or substantially lower level of economic development, but also uncontrolled migration into the EU and then within the EU from outside. When the ideologues set up Schengen back in the late 1980s they didnt think that would happen. It didnt cross their minds. It comes as Mr Johnson has accused David Cameron of talking 'b******s' about the European Union - as he warned there is still no way of restraining immigration. He dismissed suggestions that UK trade would be hit by Brexit as tensions over the looming referendum ramped up. Mr Johnson also claimed the Prime Minister was told to 'bog off' by fellow EU leaders after after asking permission to refuse access to would-be migrants without jobs. The blunt comments came as a Cabinet minister warned that Brexit is an act of 'self harm' that would cause an 'economic rupture' on the scale of the 2008 credit crunch. Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb said business would depart the country, factories would close and jobs would be lost with 'disastrous' consequences for families. David Cameron and US President Barack Obama played table tennis during his 2011 visit to the UK The Treasury is set to publish its official assessment of Brexit tomorrow, outlining the threats. It will be the first time the Government spells out its view of the costs and benefits of EU membership, and is expected to warn of recession, a slump in exports, and rising prices. As the remain campaign mobilises heavyweight backers, Barack Obama is also due to urge Britons to vote to stay during a visit this week. But Commons leader Chris Grayling insisted that the US president did not 'understand' the situation the UK was in. Mr Johnson has also lashed out at American 'hypocrisy' for recommending a sharing of sovereignty that it would find unacceptable. In an interview with the Sun on Sunday, Mr Johnson said Mr Cameron had been wrong to claim he could stop foreign job-hunters flocking to the UK. 'We were told repeatedly in the run-up to this negotiation we'd be able to decide only people who had jobs lined up could come here,' he said. 'I can give you the quotes. It was Theresa, Dave and George who kept saying it. But it could never be delivered because of a European Court judgment in 1991. 'It ruled that anybody can go anywhere in search of work, that's why we were just told to bog off.' Mr Johnson said 69,000 people a year were currently coming here for work 'and if this rate continues, that's nearly 700,000 people added to our population over the next decade'. The MP is to hit the campaign trail in a specially hired Boris Bus - a red double-decker London Routemaster. This weekend he has appeared at events in Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne. 'What recent experience has shown is we are not going to get change without voting to leave,' he said. 'The remain side took a big gamble, which was that people's natural inertia and fear would keep them in and, therefore, that reform could be pretty fictitious. It could be a rigmarole. Commons Leader Chris Grayling 'They thought that by June 23, everybody would have forgotten about the so-called reform agenda and people would be too nervous of getting out. 'But the whole endless cacophony of warnings is losing credibility. People are losing patience with it. 'The PM was very clear before the whole campaign began that Britain could have a great future outside the EU. He said we would have absolutely no difficulty trading around the world. 'Now there is this idea that trade is entirely controlled by governments, that no trade takes place unless governments agree with each other. 'Well, b******s. It's nothing to do with governments. It's to do with businesses, people and enterprises deciding they have something to buy or sell. 'This will accelerate as a result of getting rid of so much bureaucracy and political interference.' But Mr Johnson rejected suggestions that a vote for Brexit would mean Mr Cameron being immediately resigning as Prime Minister. Former chancellor Ken Clarke has suggested Mr Cameron would not last '30 seconds' if the country votes to leave. 'No, no, no,' Mr Johnson said. 'We want continuity and stability. Dave has massive support among the Tory parliamentary party. 'He commands respect around the world. There's been no leader of an EUgovernment that has stepped down as a result of an adverse referendum result for 20 years whether on the EU or any other subject.' Asked about Mr Obama's expected intervention this week, Mr Johnson said: 'It's hypocritical of the Americans to exalt us to further loss of control when America would never dream in a millions years of surrendering sovereignty. 'The Americans don't accept foreign jurisdiction over any aspect of American life, and quite right, too.' President Obama is expected to spell out America's support for Britain remaining within the EU during his visit this week When the cubs are fully grown they will be able to run up to 70mph, which will make hunting prey far more simple While she firmly holds the creature her three cubs practice their hunting skills and attempt to kill it Advertisement These stunning - and graphic - images show a mother cheetah teaching her cubs the art of the kill in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. She chased down a reedbuck, also known as an African antelope, and held it from behind, allowing her cubs to practice the skills needed for them to survive alone in the wild. Safari tour guide Thomas Nkwazi, 32, who took the photos said: 'The mother began by stalking the prey and catching it before allowing her cubs to rush in and help her. 'She was holding the common reedbuck from the rear to give her young ones a chance to practice their killing skills. They practiced for a long time, since they are not experienced to kill.' When the cubs are fully grown they will be able to run up to 70mph, which should make hunting prey far more simple. Thomas said: 'Looking at the pictures you can tell they had no idea what to do to kill the reedbuck, as they were just biting anywhere.' Cheetah mothers typically give birth to a litter of three cubs, all of which will stay with her for one-and-a-half to two years before venturing off on their own. Thomas said: 'Female cheetahs are solitary unless mating or accompanied by their cubs. Once she gives birth to her cubs then this means a lot of responsibilities - making sure they are safe, feeding them and teaching them survival skills.' There are fewer than 10,000 cheetahs left in the wild, making the cheetah Africa's most endangered big cat. These stunning - and graphic - images show a mother cheetah teaching her cubs the art of the kill in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana The cheetah mother chased down a reedbuck, also known as an African antelope, and held it from behind, allowing her cubs to practice the skills needed for them to survive alone in the wild She kept a firm grip on the creature, to give the young ones a chance to practice their essential killing skills When the cubs are fully grown they will be able to run up to 70mph, which should make hunting prey far more simple Cheetah mothers typically give birth to a litter of three cubs, all of which will stay with her for one-and-a-half to two years before venturing off on their own Safari tour guide Thomas Nkwazi, 32, who took the photos said: 'The mother began by stalking the prey and catching it before allowing her cubs to rush in and help her' A couple have spoken about the horrifying moment they saw their friend's head blown off during the Port Arthur massacre - 20 years on from the mass-murder that shook Australia to its core. John and Gaye Fidler escaped with their lives after playing dead while gunman Martin Bryant stood over them in the Broad Arrow Cafe in Tasmania. But three of their close friends, Wally Bennett and brothers Kevin and Ray Sharp, were killed right in front of them in the attack on 28 April 1996 which claimed 35 lives. Mrs Fidler has now opened up about the distressing moment she turned around and saw Ray's lifeless body. Port Arthur survivors John and Gaye Fidler (pictured) have spoken about the terrible day their friends were killed in front of them They escaped with their lives after playing dead while gunman Martin Bryant (pictured) stood over them in the Broad Arrow Cafe in Tasmania 'I can remember saying 'the man behind me hasn't got a head'. And with that, I sat up again, and I said, 'Oh. It's Ray',' she told Seven's Sunday Night program. 'And then of course, the others under the table told me to shut up, which I did, and just lay down very quietly.' She revealed that she thought her husband might have died after she saw a cut around his neck. 'John had a cut across his neck like a rope cut which turned out to be a shot, a bullet that had gone through Kevin's arm and grazed John's head. The attack on 28 April 1996 claimed the lives of 35 people, pictured is footage from the attack Former Prime Minister John Howard introduced tighter gun laws to help prevent another tragedy 'And instead of saying to him, 'Are you alive?' I said, 'Are you dead?' Which was a silly thing to say, but you're just not even thinking.' Mr Fidler pushed his wife down on the ground and under a table as soon as he heard the first shot. 'I can't remember breathing. We were covered in body matter,' he said. 'He was standing over us. We closed our eyes. I know I closed mine. We didn't move. He must have just thought I was dead and he turned around and walked away.' They both campaigned for tighter gun laws along with Walter Mikac who lost his wife Nanette, and daughters Alannah, six, and Madeline, three, in the mass killing. Mr Mikac told the program that he felt 'cheated by the world', but he decided to turn his grief into positive change, He wrote to the then-Prime Minister John Howard, pleading him to do something about the gun laws to avoid another tragedy. Mrs Fidler (pictured) has now opened up about the distressing moment she turned around and saw Ray's lifeless body Mr and Mrs Fidler have campaigned tirelessly for tighter gun laws to prevent another tragedy Mr Howard introduced much stricter laws including the 1996 'National Firearms Buyback Scheme' which took 660,959 firearms out of private homes. All rifles and semi-automatics surrendered by the public were destroyed. 'Often it takes a terrible tragedy to bring a nation to a point where it changes direction,' Mr Howard told Sunday Night. Paramedic Peter James, who had to attend each and every body at the mass killing, has also opened up about the horrific scene. 'I've seen one old lady, she's looked up and he's got her right through the forehead, you know. Just, people in mid-stride with burgers still in their hand.' In footage recently revealed by the program, Bryant was seen confessing to his horrific crimes when he mistakenly thought the camera had stopped rolling during a police interview. 'I'm sure you'll find the person who caused all of this,' a young Bryant tells police shortly before he raises his hand and motions towards himself as he mouths the word 'me'. 'You should've put that on recording,' he adds. Walter Mikac (pictured) lost his wife Nanette, and daughters Alannah, six, and Madeline, three, in the mass killing Mr Mikac (pictured with his family) said he felt 'cheated by the world', but he decided to turn his grief into positive change Britain may be facing a schooling crisis over the next few years after claims that there is a 10,000 shortfall in the number of primary places available. The news comes as thousands of parents await letters tomorrow to find out if their children have got a place at their first-choice school, or whether they will have to settle for another. The shortfall is likely to make it even harder to get into any parent's first choice, with hundreds of outstanding schools massively oversubscribed. Britain is facing a schooling crisis over the next few years as it emerged that there is a 10,000 shortfall in the number of primary places available. File image Last year, one in five students missed out on their chosen school, and new figures show that by 2019-2020, there will be more pupils than places in the south east, the north and the midlands. The Department for Education claims that free schools - independent institutions that were introduced under the Coalition - will make up the numbers, and denies there is any shortfall. But demand is set to rise over the next four years, and many schools have already been extended to to create new places added since 2010 - and more are needed by 2019. The figures, seen by the Observer newspaper, allegedly show that there have been 300,000 places created since 2010 and 336,000 more are needed by 2019. But a source close to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan claims that the figures are a Labour smear, adding: 'They either made a fundamental miscalculation or they're being deliberately misleading'. The source said that Labour originally claimed the number was 100,000, then downgraded it to 85,000, which was also proven to be untrue. The Department for Education said that data shows that nearly 600,000 additional pupil places were created between May 2010 and May 2015, with many more delivered since then and in the pipeline. Of those, 400,000 were in primary schools, and the rise follows a decrease of 200,000 primary places between 2004 and 2010. A spokesman added: 'These figures are utter nonsense and based on historic data, meaning thousands of more places have been delivered and planned since, giving families the choice of a good local school. 'Since February weve allocated 2.7 billion of funding to provide the places needed by the 2019/20 academic year. 'The places are reflected in the calculations as they are based on a snapshot at May 2015 - given the lead in time for planning and approving new places, councils will not have been able to factor this investment into their plans.' However, the news comes at a time when the Conservatives' controversial education policy is already under intense scrutiny, being called into question by their own MPs. The Conservative-led Local Government Association is even expected to directly challenge ministers on how to meet the demand in the face of massive funding cuts, The Guardian reports. Local authorities have a duty to provide school places, but the Government's plan to force all schools to become academies - independent from council control - makes the job all the more challenging. The news comes as thousands of parents await letters tomorrow to find out if their children have got a place at their first-choice school, or whether they will have to settle for another. File image The data shows that Bexley, Greenwich, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Slough in the south east, Bolton, Manchester, Oldham and Leeds in the north, and Leicester, Birmingham and Walsall in the Midlands, face the biggest shortfalls. Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member for children and families at Leeds city council, compared the situation to 'having both hands tied behind our back', calling it 'totally illogical'. She added: 'We will have to provide yet more places because we are under a legal obligation to do so, but at the same time we will be stripped of the power to do so,' reports The Guardian. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is currently coming under pressure from her own fellow Conservative MPs over academies proposals The official number of places needed was confirmed by the Department for Education, but Labour accused the Governement of covering up the true extent of the crisis, suggesting they shortfall may be as high as 85,000. And critics claim that many of the free schools planned are not in the areas of most need. Tomorrow, an unprecedented numbers of children up to 80,000 are expected to miss out on their preferred primary schools this year as the national places crisis intensifies. A baby boom fuelled by migration has left many local authorities at breaking point and the most over-populated won't be able to offer some families a single place. Experts said the problem could get worse as councils lose powers to create new places because more schools are becoming academies, which are free from local authority control. They also warned of over-crowding in classes and poor facilities as schools struggle to keep pace with the rising birth rate ahead of the allocation letters, which will place 600,000 pupils tomorrow. The news comes as the Conservative government faces serious questions from its own MPs over its academy conversion plan, who expressed major concerns during a Labour-led debate on the issue. Tory backbenchers repeatedly ask Education Secretary Nicky Morgan why the proposals are needed when schools which want to convert already have the power to do so. Tory Steve Brine (Winchester) said he had 'many questions' about the plans. He said: 'If I were to sum up the concerns expressed to me by teachers locally it would be confusion, I think, as to why something that is so obviously not broken needs fixing.' London Mayoral hopeful Sadiq Khan has hit out at 'desperate' smears after it emerged he shared a platform with extremists. Mr Khan spoke at a 2003 conference alongside a man convicted of terrorism and a militant who helped to train the ringleader of the July 7 London bomb attacks. Yasser al-Sirri had been sentenced to death in Egypt over a political assassination attempt, while another speaker was Sajeel Abu Ibrahim, better known as Sajeel Shahid. Labour's London Mayoral candidateSadiq Khan has denied any wrongdoing over allegations that he shared a platform with extremists Shahid called for violence against British troops and ran a training camp in Pakistan where known terrorists learned how to make bombs and fire rocket- propelled grenades. One of his graduates was Mohammed Siddique Khan, who led the gang of four suicide bombers on the deadliest terrorist attack ever committed in Britain, killing 52 people on the London Underground and a bus on July 7, 2005. At the conference, Mr Khan - who is a strong favourite to win the mayoral race - gave a speech about representing a 9/11 conspirator and criticised two anti-terrorism bills for targeting Muslim groups. The 'First Captives Conference' was set up to support terror suspects in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. It was organised by the Islamic Observation Centre, which was run by al-Sirri. A spokesman for Sadiq Khan said he had done nothing wrong. 'This is desperate stuff. Sadiq has always been totally honest about his time as a leading human rights lawyer. 'At the time of this conference Sadiq was chair of Liberty, the pre-eminent human rights organisation, and spoke out because it was quite literally his job. 'Sadiq has always condemned all extremism and has suffered death threats and protests as a result. Mr Khan speaking in front of an image of Tory rival Zac Goldsmith 'As mayor of London, Sadiq has pledged to be the British muslim who takes the fight to the extremists.' Labour frontbencher Jon Ashworth accused Mr Khan's Tory rival Zac Goldsmith of running a 'despicable' campaign. 'I think Zac Goldsmith is running one of the shoddiest, most despicable campaigns I have ever seen,' he told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live. 'If there is a candidate who deserves to lose it is Zac Goldsmith.' But current London Mayor Boris Johnson told the Sunday Times: "It's plain that Sadiq Khan has serious questions about some of the people he has endorsed and some of the people he has shared platforms with. "For me this goes to his judgment and his ability to unite the city. 'What reasonable Muslims want to see, like all Londoners, is somebody who is willing to stand up against really dangerous extremists. Thieves have stolen a large box of letters sent to Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams by young fans of his children's books, he has revealed. The comedian told his 1.6 million Twitter followers this morning that 'a large box of letters from children' was among post that had been taken. The Little Britain star, 44, said Scotland Yard had informed him of the crime and he apologised to fans who had not received a reply to letters they had sent. Thieves have stolen a large box of letters sent to Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams (shown) by young fans of his children's books, he has revealed (File photo) Walliams said: 'The @metpoliceuk just told me my post was stolen, including a large box of letters from children that had been sent via @HarperCollins. 'So I apologise if you sent a letter & have not received a reply as I do endeavour to reply to everyone. If in doubt please write again.' A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Police in Camden were called on 8 April by a member of public who had found a number of discarded items of post. 'Officers are in the process of contacting the intended recipients and enquiries are underway to establish whether an offence has been committed. Enquiries continue.' The Little Britain star, 44, said Scotland Yard had informed him of the crime and he apologised to fans who had not received a reply to letters they had sent (above) The spokesman could not confirm any individual victims related to the crime. Walliams has written six books for HarperCollins, with Demon Dentist, Ratburger and Gangsta Granny all becoming children's best-sellers. According to the publisher's website his seventh book is due to be released in November. On last night's episode of the ITV programme the singing group 100 Voices of Gospel received the golden buzzer, sending them straight through to the live semi-finals. Everyone needs to be loved and this is the message this choir is trying to give to the world, said the group's leader. The judges can expect a lot of energy, a lot of power, a lot of love she said before their rendition of This Little Light of Mine. Prosecco's soaring popularity means global supply could soon run out, experts have warned. Britons consumed more than 40million litres of the Italian sparkling wine last year - eight times as much as in 2012, according to figures published in The Grocer. The UK Prosecco market was valued last year to be worth more than 330 million, up 72 per cent on the previous year and growing. Popping bottles: Britons consumed more than 40million litres of the Italian sparkling wine last year. File image According to a survey released last year some 59 per cent of people said Prosecco was their preferred glass of fizz. But rising costs means retailers are looking for cheaper alternatives, raising questions over whether the Prosecco bubble could be about to burst. Toby Magill, of market research firm IRI, told the Sunday People: 'Supply is finite. Demand is growing everywhere in the world so there's a limit on what retailers can get their hands on. 'Like champagne, Prosecco is geographically limited and can only be produced in a small region of Italy.' Richard Thorburn, commercial manager at wine merchant Lanchester Wines, told The Grocer that Spanish, French and German offerings are looking more attractive as retailers try to meet demands. Proseccos growing popularity is not just because its cheaper than champagne. Many people think it is also easier to drink being lighter, more citrusy and less dry than its French rival. In its native Italy, Prosecco is known as a springtime drink and it is meant to be drunk young, rather than left to age. Favourite fizz: Some 59 per cent of people said Prosecco was their preferred sparkling wine. File image Meanwhile Marks and Spencer revealed this week it has seen a 62 per cent rise in sales of frizzante, a Prosecco which is not as effervescent as other leading brands or champagne. According to the company, its most popular brand Vino de Tavola Frizzante Rose is up nearly 80 per cent from last year. Tesco revealed that it had added a Prosecco frizzante to their wine offering last October and that 'initial sales prove it is being enjoyed by customers'. Frizzante wines have small bubbles which help mask the wine's sweetness and are considered slightly less effervescent than champagne. Prosecco takes its name from the grape that is used to make it. The home of this wine is the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. Frizzante indicates that this wine is only lightly sparkling. A man will be jailed for 45 days after he tied an extension cord around his pit bull's neck and left it there for so long it cut into the animal's skin, causing a serious infection. Daniel Loredo, 30, of Ennis, Texas, was convicted of animal cruelty last April and placed on community supervision after his two-year sentence was suspended. He will be serving 45 days instead, along with a $2,000 fine. The months-old pit bull puppy suffered a severe wound from the cord, which was left for so long it became embedded in its neck. The animal was eventually euthanized. Daniel Loredo, 30, of Ennis, Texas, (left) will be jailed for 45 days after his pit bull puppy was found with an extension cord tied around its neck (right, with cord removed) Three children saw the injured pit bull puppy and called the Ennis animal control officers, who then traced the animal back to Loredo and his wife, the Ellis County Press reported. He was convicted of a felony, and agreed to a 730 day sentence in April 2015. But the sentence was suspended, and Loredo was placed on community supervision for five years instead. In addition to paying a $2,000 fine, the 30-year-old will serve 45 days in jail. He is also banned from owning any animals. The dog had an infection and had to be put down at the local SPCA The puppy, which was found with the cord cutting into its neck, was suffering from an infection and taken to the county's SPCA where it was euthanized. In January of this year, a video was released showing a dog with a massively swollen head because the abused pitbull's nylon collar had been wound extremely tightly around its neck. The animal, which was rescued in Sardinia, Italy, made a recovery despite the alarming injuries. Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski didn't completely shut the door on the saga with journalist Michelle Fields telling Chris Wallace that it was a 'little unrealistic' for him to apologize for touching her and calling her 'delusional' because they've 'never spoken.' 'I'd be happy to have a conversation with her, but to apologize to someone I've never spoken to and candidly don't ever remember having any interaction with, I think is something that is a little unrealistic right now,' Lewandowski said this morning on Fox News Sunday. Prosecutors in Palm Beach County, Florida announced Thursday that a potential criminal battery case against Lewandowski was dead in the water because there likely wasn't enough evidence to convict. Scroll down for video Donald Trump's campaign manager Corew Lewandowski went on Fox News Sunday this morning and said he wouldn't be apologizing to journalist Michelle Fields just yet The controversy stems from a March 8 incident in which Fields accused Lewandowski of grabbing her hard enough to leave a bruise as she walked alongside the candidate trying to ask a question. At first, Lewandowski denied the encounter took place, calling Fields 'delusional' on Twitter. On Fox News Sunday Lewandowski said he had tried to call Fields that night after seeing on Twitter posts from her boyfriend, the Daily Caller's Jamie Weinstein. 'Trump always surrounds himself [with] thugs,' Weinstein had written. 'Tonight thug Corew Lewandowski tried to pull my [girlfriend] to ground when she asked tough [question.]' Lewandowski noted that he turned his phone records over to the Palm Beach district attorney's office, which 'clearly shows I called her phone number that evening when I got back and read about this on the Twitter feed.' Fields has said publicly that Lewandowski never got in touch. 'I tried contacting Ms. Fields after reading on her boyfriend's Twitter feed that something took place that evening, but to this day I've never heard from Mrs. Fields, or Ms. Fields,' he said, slightly screwing up her name, 'So I am happy that the Palm Beach County district attorney has decided not to move forward with any charges,' the campaign manager added. He called the altercation 'the sum total' of his relationship with the journalist, noting the 'whole incident lasted less than three seconds.' 'It was me moving from one location into another location,' he said. 'And I would have remembered if I had tried to violently throw someone to the ground,' he added. 'Or if there was an incident which would have been more memorable.' 'But there wasn't.' A father has spoken of his 'heartbreak' after he witnessed horrifying footage of his 12-year-old daughter allegedly being 'beaten up by three adults'. Ellie Hussey was believed to have been on her way home from school in Bransholme, Hull, when she was set upon by the gang of women. This shocking footage of the alleged attack on Thursday has now gone viral, having amassed tens of thousands of views and hundreds of shares on Facebook. Ellie Hussey was believed to have been on her way home from school in Bransholme, Hull, when she was allegedly set upon by the women This shocking footage of the alleged attack on Thursday has now gone viral, having amassed tens of thousands of views and hundreds of shares on Facebook The video, recorded by one of Ellie's friends, shows her appearing to be restrained by one woman while being repeatedly kicked and punched. Ellie's father Mike Hussey, 48, said he was 'sickened' by the video but wants it to be shared to shame the alleged attackers. He told Mirror Online: 'It makes you feel sick to see that as a dad. Kids get into scraps but when it's three adults against a child that's a different league. 'It's not right and my heart just broke seeing what had happened.' The video, recorded by one of Ellie's friends, shows her appearing to be restrained by one woman while being repeatedly kicked and punched Ellie claims she knew the women and believes they are aged between 18 and 21. Humberside Police are now investigating after the footage was put online, however no arrests have yet been made. A Humberside Police spokesman added: 'Humberside Police are investigating reports that a 12 year old girl was assaulted by three women in the Soffham Close area of Bransholme at around 3.45pm on Thursday 14th of April. 'Our inquiries are ongoing and initial reports indicate that although shaken by the incident, the 12 year old girl had no visible injuries.' UK-bound migrants were among hundreds involved in a ferocious battle with far-right vigilantes in Paris, it emerged today. All were caught on video using iron bars, planks of wood and bottles during the disturbances outside Stalingrad Metro station, in the north of the French capital. It was the latest in a long list of hugely violent incidents caused by Europe's growing migrant crisis, and also comes as France's Socialist government tries to cope with increasingly unrest among workers and students opposing new employment laws. Terrifying scenes: A video shows a ferocious battle involving hundreds of rioters erupting at a migrant camp War on the streets: Under the Stalingrad metro in Paris residents filmed the shocking scenes from up high Many of those caught up in the latest trouble in Paris suffered serious injuries and 'four migrants were taken to hospital,' said an investigating source, who claimed many wanted to get to Britain as soon as possible. Violence erupted last Thursday night after police arrested a man for being drunk and disorderly close to the Metro station. He was among a group of 'anti-crime' vigilantes who were baiting and throwing stones at the migrants. Fighting started at around 9pm, as the two groups clashed in a residential street. Windows were smashed, as locals barricaded themselves inside their flats. Police arrived soon afterwards, using baton charges and tear gas to briefly restore order, as officers were also attacked. The police are said to have been pelted with bottles and debris when they arrived at the scene of the fight between the homeless migrants and a so called 'anti crime brigade' from Stalingrad, which lies in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. The video was filmed from the relative safety of a nearby apartment on the Boulevard de la Vilette. There were reports of more fighting later in the evening, with the far-right attackers 'pledging revenge,' said the source. Tensions are extremely high in Paris as thousands of refugees fleeing wars in countries such as Afghanistan and Syria use the city as a hub to get to other parts of Europe. The city is a staging point for many trying to get to camps in Calais, where they hope to complete the last leg of their journey to the UK, where many want to claim asylum. Armed and dangerous: Scores of people armed themselves with planks of wood, metal bars and debris Growing camp: nearly 1000 migrants have arrived in the area in just over a month, many travelling from Calais Stricter controls in the northern Channel ports, and the razing of illegal camps, mean that many migrants now stay in Paris for far longer. The makeshift camp in Stalingrad was until the end of last month the temporary home for nearly 1,000 migrants, mostly Afghans and Eritreans. Police and immigration officials cleared the site on 30th March, but hundreds returned a few weeks later. Parisians who object to foreigners sleeping rough on their streets are increasingly taking the law into their own hands, as they become more frustrated with the inability of the authorities to cope. Police in Paris are particularly overstretched at the moment, because of almost daily rioting by students and trade unionists protesting new employment reform being introduced by President Francois Hollande's Socialist government. Demonstrates congregate in the Place de la Republique almost every night, with some breaking off late at night to go on the rampage. Successful dispersal: Riot police fire tear gas into the camp successful managing to disperse the riot The masses sleeping rough have also been swelled by an increasing number of Roma gypsies arriving. 'Spring is always the time when more people chose to set up their camps on the street,' said a local council spokesman. 'Everything is being done to try and control the situation.' Belgium is among those countries where people have also turned on immigrants, with increasingly popular far-right skinhead groups promising 'drastic action' against newcomers they associate with a range of social problems, including terrorism. Voorpost, a Belgian White Power organisation that is being closely monitored by security services, says its membership has rocketed in recent weeks. There has also been serious unrest between local people and migrants in countries such as Germany, Finland and other parts of France. Attacks on Germany's refugee shelters are increasingly common. Government statistics reveal that last year there were about 1,000 such crimes, five times the number reported in 2014. Mr Lenton became overwhelmed, left the counter and hid in a cupboard The customer demanded the Mr Lenton enter a non-existent tunnel to get it He claims a man became angry when he had to wait to pick up his parcel Mr Lenton posted the entire story in a series of bizarre tweets on Twitter Man was working at Nuance, a former duty free provider at the airport A former duty free employee at Sydney International Airport has shared a bizarre story on social media, claiming he once 'faked his own death' to avoid dealing with a difficult customer. Patrick Lenton, who was reportedly working for duty free provider Nuance at the time, was stationed at the collections desk where passengers pick up pre-purchased duty free goods. In a series of tweets on Twitter, Mr Lenton relayed the story of an incident he once faced with an angry customer. The 30-year-old took to Twitter to share the bizarre incident where he was forced to fake his own death to escape from a difficult customer Patrick Lenton claims he had to fake his own death by hiding in a cupboard out the back of the duty free collections desk, to avoid dealing with a customer He claims 'an angry British man' strode up to the collections desk counter to pick up a package and 'thrust his boarding pass' at Mr Lenton without saying a word. Now, my hackles are already raised basically, because who doesnt even say "hello" or "Im here to pick up my c**p?" Mr Lenton posted on Twitter. So I stare back at him, holding it loosely in my hands and he taps his watch. Mr Lenton said he went to retrieve the man's package but it was nowhere to be found. The incident took place while Mr Lenton was working for duty free provider Nuance, who no longer have a contract with Sydney International Airport. Nuance has since been replaced by another provider, Heinemann Tax & Duty Free. The customer apparently walked up to counter and thrust his passport at Mr Lenton without greeting him He then informed the customer that his products would arrive at the collections desk in approximately ten minutes time, via a runner. The man was apparently infuriated, even though Mr Lenton claims 'his flight was six hours away and he only had to wait for 10 minutes'. 'This isn't good enough, I expect better service, I want a full refund, I have a plane to catch', the man allegedly yelled at Mr Lenton. Mr Lenton attempted to explain to the customer that the tunnel for a conveyor belt did not exist The situation became even more confusing when the man assumed the parcel was arriving via a conveyer belt, instead of being delivered in person. What Im not seeing is you making my parcel arrive any quicker, can you make the conveyer belt go faster,' the man allegedly yelled at Mr Lenton. Mr Lenton claims he tried to explain to the customer that the products were being delivered by hand, and there was no such thing as a conveyer belt. The customer reportedly did not listen, and demanded Mr Lenton get into the tunnel and retrieve his package from the conveyer belt. 'At some point, I decide to stop protesting the existence of the tunnel, and start saying Im not getting in the tunnel,' tweeted Mr Lenton. The customer apparently refused to believe the tunnel did not exist, and repeatedly demanded that Mr Lenton get into the non-existent tunnel to get his package. Giving up on providing any sort of response, Mr Lenton decided to go out the back and hide behind a cupboard. After half an hour an employee working for a different company attempted to look for Mr Lenton on behalf of the angry customer. The customer apparently refused to listen to Mr Lenton and demanded he enter the non-existent tunnel and make the conveyer belt move faster 'A random perfume seller, not even from my company comes into the back room and shes calling out 'hello, hello, theres a man who is worried that someone is stuck in a tunnel,'' said Mr Lenton. The 'perfume seller' explained to the customer that she was unable to find the person he was looking for. Not long after the customer had received his package, he left. 'He stayed around for about 20 minutes looking concerned, before I visibly aw him shrug, resign himself to my hypothetical death and leave,' tweeted Mr Lenton. 'Next day, we received a memo from HR that we are 'not to go into the tunnel and leave the desk unattended due to customer complaints''. Daily Mail Australia confirmed with Sydney International Airport that Mr Lenton was a former employee of Nuance. The duty free provider no longer operates at the airport and has since been replaced by another provider, Heinemann Tax & Duty Free. Mr Lenton walked away from the counter and hid behind a cupboard in hopes the customer would stop making impossible demands Mr Lenton claims he saw the customer waiting for approximately 20 minutes after he could not be located, before the customer shrugged his shoulders and walked away The Labour leadership has been accused of 'snobbery' after turning down tens of thousands of pounds in sponsorship from McDonald's. The fast food giant wanted to display a stand at the party's conference in Liverpool this autumn backing British farm produce. But the ruling National Executive Committee - which is dominated by allies of leader Jeremy Corbyn - rejected the offer. Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, dominated by allies of Jeremy Corbyn, refused the offer from McDonald's to provide a stand at party conference Labour backbencher Wes Streeting, who once had a part-time job at McDonald's, criticised the decision. "I'm exasperated that we should throw away 30,000 worth of sponsorship like this,' he told the Sun on Sunday. "It smacks of a snobby attitude towards fast-food restaurants and people who work or eat at them." In a pointed dig at Mr Corbyn, who has been a vegetarian for decades, he added: "McDonald's may not be the trendy falafel bar that some people in politics like to hang out at but it's enjoyed by families across the country." The Conservative Party and SNP have reportedly accepted offers from McDonald's to put on an "interactive experience" display in support of British farm produce at their conferences. Asked why the bid for Labour's Liverpool conference was turned down, a party spokeswoman said: 'We do not comment on commercial decisions.' Mr Corbyn ruffled feathers last year when he appointed vegan MP Kerry McCarthy as Labour's farming spokeswoman. The famous 'Golden Arches' of McDonald's She has suggested that meat should be slapped with tobacco-style health warnings. In a post on her personal blog, Ms McCarthy also revealed her dread of Christmas because meat is everywhere in huge quantities. Her friends, who are normally nice and interesting and funny, suddenly start sharing pictures online of stuffing turkeys, smothering potatoes in beef fat and boiling ham in Coke, she wrote. Miss McCarthy, who as shadow environment secretary is supposed to represent the food and farming industries, wrote the blog after spending a previous Christmas Day as usual with a bunch of meat-eaters. She described the ordeal of fussing over them to make sure theyre not using the same serving utensils for the vegetables and the meat, and that the vegetarian gravy hasnt got muddled up with the ordinary gravy, and trying to help with the serving up and clearing away without having to get too up close and personal with bits of dead animals. To be honest I got rather sick of it, she wrote in 2010, five years after becoming MP for Bristol East in a blog entitled A Vegan at Christmas. And for the first time I felt, I dont really want to do this again. Yes, Christmas should be about spending time with family, but perhaps next year Ill just turn up in time to see them vegging out in front of Dr Who and EastEnders. behind her and has now married with one daughter Miriam Stuart was just five years old when her entire family were slaughtered in front of her. On one April evening in the year 1982, Louis Giambi, then 47, had been hired as a hit-man to assassinate someone who was about to testify in a court case. Tragically, he got the wrong house and ending up shooting William Stuart, 33, his wife Catherine, 34, and their adopted daughter, three-year-old Sandra, in the face. All three were killed. During the brutal murders, Miriam was hiding in her bedroom and her life was spared, but the events that followed changed her life forever. A mother's love: Miriam and her mother Catherine Stuart. For a year after the April 17, 1982, killings of William and Catherine and their two-year-old daughter, Sandra the crime went unsolved Convicted: Louis Giambi was 47 when he was found guilty of the tripple murder. Now 79, he will die in jail It was two years before the crime was finally solved and Miriam had her day in court, but at the age of seven, she was unable to identify the gunman who wiped out her family. Miriam explained what happened that led her to be the only once in her family to survive. Giambi apparently smashed his way into the Stuarts' house through a rear door, herding the adults into an upstairs bathroom, before shooting each of them in the face with a silenced .22-caliber handgun. She described how she and her sister were in their bedroom when they heard the man tell her parents to 'get in the closet' in an upstairs hallway outside their door. In court, she told how the man came into the bedroom telling the sisters, 'Turn around. You'll not want to see this.' 'I peeked and saw Sandra in the doorway', she said. 'After Mommy, Poppy got shot. Sandra started to cry,' she said. The man told Sandra, 'If you don't stop crying, I'm going to shoot you,' she added. Her sister ran back to her bed, trailing blood on the carpet. Running back into the bathroom she crawled under her fathers body and began to cry. Cruel and calculating, Giambi shot her, and the little girl died instantly. Troubled life: Miriam was sent to her aunt and uncle's house in South Carolina after the murders, but they couldn't handle her. After bouncing around various relatives, she become involved in drugs and prostituion Incredibly, the gunman did not return to shoot Miriam. To this day, she is not even sure that he knew of her presence. She fled the house and ran across the street in the pouring rain to a neighbor's home where she said, 'My folks are dead.' Despite Miriam being unable to identify Giambi in court at his trial, it was a former cellmate, Patrick Bohror, in the federal prison at Raybrook, New York, to whom Giambi confessed. He told Bohror how he killed the Stuart's claiming, 'when you go in on a job, you don't leave any witnesses, big or small.' The defense claimed that Bohror was motivated by his own self interest in trying to secure a deal for a shorter sentence by co-operating with authorities, but in the end it was Giambi who was sent to jail and handed three life sentences. Now 79, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars, but that doesn't stop Miriam who is now 39, from scouring the Internet to see if anything new has been written about the convicted murderer. 'I hope he rots in there,' she says. Only the death penalty would have been sweeter.' Speaking to Philly.com she tells how the murders threw her into life of drugs and prostitution, tearing apart family ties. Yet she also insists the murders made her stronger and more caring. 'It took me many, many years being lost in my addiction, countless lonely and cold nights, to finally realize I wanted something different,' she said. 'I want people to know it is never too late to change and turn your life around into something positive.' Changed for good: In 2013, Miriam met Eric Smith, a former pastor. He helped turn her life around Before the horrific murders, Miriam lived a comfortable life surrounded by a large family. Adopted from Peru along with her younger sister, she felt extremely loved. After the tragedy, she was whisked to South Carolina to be with her uncle, William's brother, John and his wife Pam. The upheaval caused a tremendous shift in her feelings and she felt unsettled and unloved. 'I was very angry that my parents died,' she told Philly.com. 'I blamed everybody; I even blamed myself, especially for my sister.' So traumatic had the murders been, Miriam would constantly have nightmares. It was more than her uncle John and auntie Pam could handle and so they sent her back to the northeast to live with her paternal grandparents in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It even proved too much for them also, and Miriam was taken to her maternal grandparents. The stress of dealing with her, tore their marriage apart. Miriam says in her teenage years, she became addicted to drugs and would regularly smoke pot and snort cocaine, but it was the start of a downward spiral that saw her have a broken marriage and then jail time, followed by years of living on the streets of Philadelphia. Without the guidance of grandparents or other family members, $500,000 in insurance money that was given to her after the triple homicides was simply frittered away. Working the streets very nearly killed Miriam after a client ran her over her with his car, fracturing her pelvis, collarbone, and nose, and puncturing her lung. She could not walk for almost two months. 28 years after the murders, she reached out to her uncle in South Carolina once again. She had become estranged from the Stuart family, but she decided to reach out to them and build bridges. 'Not only did I always want a relationship, but I would like to know more about my dad and any stories that you remember,' she wrote in an email . 'I know I was a very rebellious child and always acting out, but I was lonely, scared, and very confused,' she added. Bundles of joy: Now married to Eric, they couple have a two-year-old daughter, along with other children from previous relationships John Stuart wrote back: 'Yes, you were young, but you were out of control and there was nothing we could do about it. Please be assured there was never any blame or resentment toward you about what happened in Pine Hill. NONE!!' 'I am afraid things will never be what they could have been under different circumstances.' Miriam tells Philly.com that there was a tone of finality in his last message to her in 2010. Six years on, and things have greatly improved for the once innocent little girl who had to endure the slaughter of those she loved the most. At a Philadelphia Dunkin' Donuts in March 2009 she ran into a former pastor, Eric Smith, 47.. The pair got off to a warm start and began dating - but the pair knew of one another from earlier times. In the midst of Miriam's turmoil when she had been arrested for drug possession and dealing, Eric would be the one she turned to in his religious and healing capacity. After her arrest, Miriam was given rehab instead of jail time. The arrest changed her and she has began to change her life for the better. Having graduated from Community College of Philadelphia, she now works at two addiction-treatment agencies helping others that have faced similar demons to her own. In 2013, she and Eric married and the couple now have a two-year-old daughter. Eric tells Philly.com that she has incredible survival skills and generous nature. A Royal Marines-led taskforce comprising 150 elite soldiers has been set up to patrol the Mediterranean and form an instant response to terrorist atrocities. Led by the Marines but likely to involve SAS members in the event of an attack, it will be used to respond to massacres at tourist resorts such as that seen in Tunisia last year. Almost all countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including those in southern Europe and North Africa, are considered at risk of terrorist attack. The taskforce, comprising Royal Marines and SAS (pictured) troops, will respond to terrorist attacks in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea According to the Daily Star Sunday, the unit is based on the RFA ship Fort Victoria in Cyprus and is supported by two Merlin helicopters. Utilising SAS commandos, it is ready to fly into countries under attack where British citizens are at risk. A source told the paper: 'We are aware of potential targets Islamic State could attacks and we need to make sure that we have a contingency in place.' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence told MailOnline: 'The Special Purpose Task Group is designed to organise an agile force of Royal Marine commandos and equipment into one ship for a range of military operations in support of UK interests.' It is understood the unit has so far been involved in training operations in the region, including ship boarding exercises. On June 26 last year thirty Brits were killed when an ISIS-inspired gunman opened fire on tourists at a resort just north of the city of Sousse, Tunisia. Seifiddine Rezgui Yacoubi, armed with an assault rifle, opened fire on tourists relaxing on the beach before storming a hotel. He was eventually killed after exchanging fire with police. Tourists have increasingly become targets in ISIS's self-declared war against the West, with resorts in Egypt also having been targeted in the past 12 months. However, Tunisia is battling growing insurgency due to its porous borders with Libya, where ISIS and Al-Qaeda are believed to run training camps. ISIS also controls the country's coastal city of Sirte, where it is battling government forces for control of the local oil industry. It is believed the attack will help in attacks similar to that seen in Tunisia last year, when ISIS-inspired gunman Seifiddine Rezgui Yacoubi (pictured) massacred dozens of tourists on a beach investigating said yesterday the girl was shot by her brother, 5 A father has admitted shooting his four-year-old daughter in the face - after her death was blamed on her brother, 5. Maurice 'Stephon' Phillips fled after his young daughter was shot dead at his Philadelphia home. The girl, whose name has not been released, was shot once in the face when the gun went off around 2.25pm on Saturday. Maurice 'Stephon' Phillips has admitted shooting dead his 4-year-old daughter (left), whose name has not been released, at the home he shared with her mother Tera Riddick (right) She was pronounced dead at the scene five minutes later. Police investigating the shooting originally said that the youngster had been shot by her five-year-old brother. But after Phillips was arrested, he told officers that he had been playing with the gun and it had gone off accidentally, WNCN reports. Some reports state she was shot in the face, while others say she was shot in her chest. Police say a semiautomatic pistol was recovered inside the home. Phillips posted a photo on his Facebook of a semiautomatic pistol with a box of hollow-point bullets on February 14. Homicide Capt James Clark said police 'desperately' needed to find the girl's father, he told Philly.com. Police are still searching for the father, who has been identified as 30-year-old Maurice 'Stephon' Phillips. Last month Phillips posted this photo of a semiautomatic pistol, the same kind of gun recovered from the scene Phillips also posted this image of an assault rifle on his Facebook Police arrived at the home (pictured) around 2.30pm on Saturday. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene The girl lived in the home with Phillips and her mother Tera Riddick. Neighbors said she had five siblings, three sisters and two brothers. Riddick was known for being a protective mother who never let her children play outside the home, which is in Philadelphia's violent Kensington neighborhood. Neighbor Louise Sawyer said she once asked Riddick why she never brought her kids out. The mother responded: 'I'm not bringing these kids out here with all this trouble'. Sawyer said the neighborhood, where drug needles can be seen on the street, had been plagued with shootings and drugs. Sixty violent crimes have been reported in the neighborhood in the last month, according to data collected by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The family's home is in an area that police refer to as the 'gun grid'. Family friend Crystal Dougherty said the girl had been outgoing and loved Barbie dolls. A same-sex Canton couple won't let anything stand in the way of their wedding - even a warning from a supposed 'guest' that their day 'will be ruined' by anti-gay-marriage protesters. Chad and Keith thought that they were spreading joy when they sent out invitations to their May wedding to friends and family. But then they received a very nasty R.S.V.P. that threatened to turn their nuptials into an 'anti-gay show', Fox 8 Live reported Friday. Scroll down for video Engaged: Chad (left) and Keith (right) are getting married in May, but one of their 'guests' doesn't like the idea. That person, who did not identify themself, has threatened to 'ruin' their day with an anti-gay-marriage protest Courtesy of WOIO The typed, unsigned letter read: 'Just wanted to let you both know, you have sent an invitation to the wrong people. 'You thought we supported you as a couple, well boys you were so wrong! 'Your invitations were forwarded to an anti-gay group in Canton-Akron area, they will be attending your wedding. Protesters will be there.' The letter goes on to call gay marriage 'not normal' and 'a sin' and promised that some of their friends would only attend the wedding to protest. 'Like it or not, this is going to happen,' the letter continued. 'This day is going to be ruined for you. 'This is going to be a fun show to watch. You both are going to get what you deserve. See you at the anti-gay show!' But despite the threats, the men aren't backing down - they're not changing the date or venue of the wedding. 'Never even crossed my mind,' Keith told Fox. 'I never even thought about canceling and quite frankly, other than our initial shock of the letter this made us both want to do it more.' Long-time partners: Chad and Keith have been a couple for nine years, and have put a lot of love into their wedding - which is why they're refusing to change the location or date of the event The pair met nine years ago, and have been planning their marriage in detail. 'It's something we waited a long time for, we honestly never thought we'd be able to do it,' Chad said. The couple have built their own cake stand, picked out colors and hand-made gifts for their guests - even their mystery hate-mailer, whose identity they haven't yet worked out. Thankfully, they've received much support from friends, family and even strangers since their story broke. And now a church in Canton is inviting people to send the men letters and cards of congratulations. Good wishes can be sent for the attention of Chad and Keith to New Vision United Church of Christ, 3129 Market Ave North, Canton, Ohio 44714. This, Chad says, is why the haters aren't putting a stop to the wedding. 'Love will win in the end, that's what it comes down to,' he said Supporters of presidential candidate Donald Trump stormed out of a GOP convention in Georgia carrying the hall's American flag after Ted Cruz backers were chosen as delegates despite the front runner's primary win. Fourteen GOP conventions across the state were tasked with electing 42 of the state's 76 delegates who will go to Cleveland in July for the national convention. Each district chose three delegates and three alternatives. In most of the meetings, supporters of Cruz swept most of the spots, while John Kasich and Trump, who won Georgia's primary on March 1, were left with few. At the Seventh District gathering, Debbie Dooley, a tea party organizer and Trump ally, was defeated in delegate bid. Donald Trump supporters stormed out of a GOP convention in Georgia on Saturday after the Republican presidential candidate lost delegates Trump supporters in Ga 7th District walk out -with flag- after losing delegate fight. https://t.co/ly9knGKntZ #gapol pic.twitter.com/HSlRL3QYnk Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) April 16, 2016 Following the results, a Trump supporter grabbed the room's American flag and several others stormed out of the convention hall. In a video of the incident, what appears to be a security official, tries to stop them as several others in attendance watched, baffled at the event taking place. One person can be heard clapping while several others head straight for the door at the back of the room. In some areas of the state, however, Trump fared fairly well. He earned two delegates in the Second district, one in the Fourth and one in the 14th. 'This is a very insider-driven process, so it's naturally difficult for outsiders to affect the outcome,' Brian Jack, Trump's national delegate director, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 'We are investigating concerns of delegate suppression in a few Congressional district conventions, as we want to ensure everyone was treated fairly.' He said that Trump 'did better than most expected in Georgia, earning a majority of supporters within our delegate slots'. Republican operatives estimated that Trump received 12 or 14 delegates in Saturday's conventions, which is about one-third of the delegates that were up for grabs. Cruz's campaign, however, grabbed at least 31 delegates on Saturday. Thirty-one of Georgia's of the 76-delegate total will be chosen at the GOP convention in Augusta on June 3 and 4. Trump won the Georgia primary, but if the national convention goes into several rounds of voting, the delegates of Georgia can vote for another candidate. Pictured above is a Trump rally in Hartford, Connecticut This group often includes well-known officials and activists. In 2012, the list included Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Attorney General Sam Olens, House Speaker David Ralston, prominent tea party leader Julianne Thompson and Gov. Nathan Deals wife, Sandra Deal. The only three delegates already determined are Republican National Committee members Randy Evans and Linda Herren and state GOP chairman John Padgett. Delegates will have to vote in relation to the results of the March 1 primary in the first round of voting at the national convention. But the state party only binds delegates to support Trump for the first ballot at the convention. Any delegate may shift his or her support to any other GOP contender who might emerge if Trump cant lock up the nomination before a second round of voting. Preparing for that scenario, Ted Cruz supporters in Georgia are trying to secure want to secure as many of those spots as possible. The Georgia results come as Trump prepares for Tuesday's primary in New York. There are 95 delegates at stake in the Empire State, and it's important for Trump to win a big majority of them. There are 14 statewide delegates and three delegates in each congressional district. If a candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the statewide vote, he gets all 14 delegates. Otherwise, he has to share them with other candidates. If a candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the vote in a congressional district, he gets all three delegates. Otherwise, again, he has to share. Trump leads statewide in the most recent preference polls, with right around 50 per cent. New York is a large and diverse state, so he probably won't win all the congressional districts. Let's say Trump does make it to 50 percent, but Kasich or Cruz wins five congressional districts; Trump will take 77 delegates on the night. The chief planner of the botched kidnapping attempt of two children in Lebanon earlier this month claims he can prove Channel Nine paid him more than $115,000 to plan and carry out the snatch. Child Abduction Recovery International founder Adam Whittington, who is being detained in jail in Beirut with a 60 Minutes crew, is expected to show evidence of two payments from Channel Nine's accounts department at a hearing on Monday, according to The Daily Telegraph. Mr Whittington claims he received the large sum in two separate internet wire transfers months ago. Scroll down for video Adam Whittington, (pictured) the chief planner of the 60 Minutes botched 'child abduction' in Lebanon, said on Sunday that he can prove Channel Nine paid him more than $115,000 for the snatch Reporter Tara Brown (pictured) has been detained on kidnapping charges with a 60 Minutes crew that filmed the 'child abduction' of Sally Faulkner's two children in Lebanon on April 7 Ms Faulkner (pictured) travelled to Lebanon to retrieve her children, Noah, four, and Lahela, six 'It was direct from Channel Nine, it was from their accounts department and they paid it in two instalments,' he told News Corp from the Baabda detention centre on Sunday. 'I have the receipts and internet payments, for them (Channel Nine) to claim they weren't involved is a joke.' Mr Whittington's allegations come one day after he complained to News Corp about the appalling jail conditions and accused Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner of 'throwing everyone under the bus.' On April 7, the TV crew filmed Ms Faulkner's attempt to retrieve her children Noah, four, and Lahela, six, from her husband Ali Elamine, who she claims kept them in Lebanon without her permission. On Wednesday, Ms Faulkner was charged with kidnapping. The 60 Minutes crew, including journalist Tara Brown, is accused of: hiding information, forming an association with two or more people to commit a crime against a person, kidnapping or holding a minor even with their approval, and physical assault. A total of seven people are facing charges as a result of the operation. Ms Faulkner's claims her children Noah and Lahela were taken to Lebanon by her estranged husband Ali Elamine (pictured with Noah and Lahela) in 2015 and he refused to bring them back It was reported that Mr Elamine said he would drop the charges against Ms Faulker is she agreed he could have sole custody Mr Whittington said on Saturday that the operation to bring Ms Faulkner's children back to Australia was doomed and now she is weaving a different tale so she can be released at the expense of the seven other people in jail. In the jail, Mr Whittington said 'the rats are as big as cats, it is so small [they] can't move, and the toilet in the ground is blocked.' Although there were talks that Ms Faulkner's estranged husband might agree to drop the kidnapping charges against her if she agrees to give him sole custody, herher Lebanese lawyer Ghassan Moghabghab said on Saturday night that negotiations had broken down. Ali Elamine - who allegedly took their children to Lebanon in 2015 and never returned - said he would grant her access rights if she agreed to never take the children to Australia, out of fear that she wouldn't bring them back. She must also agree to a full religious divorce - a list of demands Ms Faulkner's lawyer Ghassan Moghabghab says he will be able to secure because he has legal rights to the children in Lebanon. 'Legally he is the one with custody,' her Lebanese lawyer Ghassan Moghabghab told the News Corp. Ghassan Mughaghab (pictured), the lawyer for Brisbane woman Sally Faulkner, said negotiations between Mr Elamine and Ms Faulkner had broken down Ali Elamine (pictured) has to decide whether to pursue child kidnap charges again his estranged wife Sally Faulkner which may get her 20 years in prison Mr Moghabghab warned that because Mr Elamine had been granted sole care of the children from religious authorities, he would likely be calling all the shots in the international custody battle. If an agreement is reached between the estranged pair over the weekend, it could be registered in the next court appearance on Monday and Ms Faulkner could be on a flight back to Brisbane within the week, without her children. Speaking to ABC's 7.30, Mr Moghabghab revealed that there would be a very favourable flow-on effect for the 60 Minutes Crew if Ms Faulkner and Mr Elamine reached a private agreement. 'When there is not (kidnapping charges) - when he withdraws his charges, there will be only the public charges here, and everything will - they will not go out there indefinitely, but they will take this into consideration,' he said. 'When there is not charges from Mr Elamine, it will be a much more better for her.' 'It will help everybody, I think. It will help everybody.' 'It will help everybody, I think. It will help everybody': Ms Faulkner's lawyer says that if Mr Elamine drops the personal kidnapping charges against her, it will have a favourable flow-on effect for the whole team Sally Faulkner's lawyer has reportedly said she was paid for by the Nine Network and had used money given to her by 60 Minutes to the child recovery agency, Child Abduction Recovery International Meanwhile, Mr Elamine has remained tight-lipped about the entire ordeal, instead focusing on the wellbeing of his two children and mother - who was allegedly hit with a pistol on the head during the dramatic kidnapping that was captured on security cameras. 'We're keeping to ourselves about the whole situation, there is a personal side, a family side and a judicial side to all of this and all I can say at the moment is everyone is doing okay and we are getting through this process,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'I took her to the doctors for a check up on head scan today, she is okay. 'On that (pistol) I can't really tell you what happened I wasn't there but she was and I have read reports that that is what she said. Veteran journalist Stephen Rice (left), David Ballment (centre) and Benjamin Williamson (right) are also in custody in Lebanon In her only interview on the matter so far, Ms Faulkner told The Australian on Friday she was doing well behind bars at Baabda Central Women's Prison in south-eastern Beirut. 'Please tell my mum and dad how well I am and also (husband) Brendan and my in-laws,' she said. Ms Brown is also behind bars at the prison. 'I am fine but my loved ones need to know that.' The Channel Nine TV crew was planning to film Faulkner's attempt to retrieve her children Noah, three, and Lahela, five, from her ex-husband Ali Elamine, who she claims kept them in Lebanon without her permission. Prosecutors had earlier claimed they had a signed statement from a member of the recovery team saying Nine had paid $115,000 for the operation. CCTV footage supplied by Lebanese authorities appeared to show the bungled kidnapping earlier this week Ms Faulkner and the Channel Nine TV crew members appeared handcuffed in a Lebanese court on Wednesday, where they were remanded in custody to face court again on Monday. Lebanese Investigative Judge Rami Abdullah said there was 'no way' the charges against the crew will be dropped. The offences carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail. Nine Network spokeswoman Victoria Buchan said: 'I hope you understand that we never comment on money but also we are not making any comments in this matter as it is currently a matter before the Lebanese judicial system which we respect. It is not appropriate at this time.' A conviction could mean the male 60 Minutes crew risk ending up in Beirut's infamous Roumieh prison, one of the largest jails in the Middle East with 5,500 inmates. LEBANON KIDNAP CASE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR THE MUM, THE TV CREW AND THE KIDNAPPING CASE Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner and a Nine Network TV crew made up of reporter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment, are facing kidnapping and assault charges in Lebanon following a bungled abduction of Ms Faulkner's two children in Beirut. WHAT HAPPENED? The Australians have spent a week behind bars in Beirut after being arrested for the alleged abduction on April 7. The TV crew was filming Faulkner's attempt to retrieve her children Noah, four, and Lahela, six, from her ex-husband Ali Elamine, who she claims kept them in Lebanon without her permission. A professional agency, Child Abduction Recovery International, is believed to have been hired to snatch the children. Two of its members, named in media reports as Britons Adam Whittington and Craig Michael, have also been detained and charged. THE ABDUCTION Security camera footage shows masked men jumping out of a car and snatching the kids from their grandmother and another woman on a Beirut street. The grandmother claims she was attacked and hit on the head with a pistol. The TV crew and recovery agency members were arrested shortly afterwards, while Faulkner hid with her two children in a safe house. Authorities later found the family, arrested Faulkner and returned the children to their father. THE CHARGES Faulkner is facing kidnapping charges. The 60 minutes crew is accused of: - hiding information - forming an association with two or more people to commit a crime against a person - kidnapping or holding a minor even with their approval - physical assault. The offences carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail. LEGAL CASE SO FAR Judge Rami Abdullah told the Australians during a second round of interviews on Wednesday that there was no chance their charges would be dropped. However, he indicated that if Mr Elamine was willing to drop legal action and come to an agreement with his estranged wife, that would help the case against all of the accused. The accused will remain in detention until facing the Baabda Palace of Justice again on Monday. Nine has refused to comment on speculation it organised and funded the recovery operation. Advertisement A man arrested for the deaths of his 87-year-old grandfather and a homeless man in California confessed to the crimes, saying he felt 'euphoric' after the stabbings. Richard Robinson, 25, is accused of beating and stabbing his grandfather Kirby Robinson on Thursday, before driving a truck to a Denny's in Sacramento and stabbing another homeless man in the parking lot, police said. Robinson said he committed the crimes simply because he 'wanted to' in a disturbing interview with FOX40. Richard Robinson, 25, (pictured) is accused of beating and stabbing his grandfather Kirby Robinson, before driving a truck to a Denny's in Sacramento and stabbing another homeless man in the parking lot, police said Kirby Robinson (left and right) was found in the front yard of his home on Thursday morning and died from blunt force trauma and stab wounds. His truck was missing from the house and found at a Denny's in Sacramento Robinson said he went to his 87-year-old grandfather's house in Stockton, where the two lived together for several years, with the intent of stealing from him, FOX40 reported. In a disturbing interview from behind bars, the 25-year-old admitted he 'beat' and 'stabbed' his grandfather and said: 'The day before I had thought about stabbing someone.' Kirby Robinson was found in the front yard of his home on Thursday morning and died from blunt force trauma and stab wounds, police said. His truck was also reported missing. Around 9am on Thursday, authorities found a 44-year-old homeless man in the parking lot of a Denny's in Sacramento, 50 miles north of Kirby's home. Richard Robinson was suspected of both killings after the Sacramento police ran record checks on the vehicle and notified officials in Stockton The man, whose name has not been released as police are still trying to notify his kin, died on the scene from multiple stab wounds, police said. Kirby's truck was in the parking lot, and Richard Robinson was suspected of both killings after the Sacramento police ran record checks on the vehicle and notified officials in Stockton. Robinson was arrested nearby after authorities found him in blood-stained clothes, FOX40 reported. When a reporter asked Robinson how he felt after he stabbed his grandfather and the 44-year-old man, he looked sheepish and smiled as he said: 'Euphoric'. Robinson is also suspected of stabbing a 44-year-old to death in the parking lot of Denny's in Sacramento (pictured). He told a FOX40 reported he felt 'euphoric' after both killings He said he 'kinda got the idea to stab [the 44-year-old]', and explained that he committed both crimes, 'Just cause I wanted to, I guess.' He also told the news station he had a history of mental illness and a 'troubled upbringing'. He admitted to using methampetamine and cannabis, but was not high at the time of the murders. The 25-year-old was arrested and jailed in Sacramento County Jail and faces murder charges in the 44-year-old's death. Charges regarding Kirby Robinson's death in Stockton are still pending. Former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields has given her first TV interview about her claim that Donald Trump's campaign manager assaulted her. Fields became headline news last month filing a police report against Corey Lewandowski, who she says left bruises on her arm as he 'yanked' her away from Trump in a Florida hotel. On Sunday, Fields appeared on CNN, branding Trump a liar and slamming Lewandowski for 'defaming' her. 'Corey said that he hadn't met me, he never touched me, we know that that's a lie,' she said. She said Trump first told the media that the Secret Service told him that nothing had happened, then weeks later mocked Fields for 'grabbing at him'. Scroll down for video Michelle Fields spoke on CNN on Sunday, calling Trump a liar and slamming Lewandowski for 'defaming' her Ex-Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields sat down with CNN's Brian Stelter to talk about the March 8 grabbing incident, which Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski won't be prosecuted for 'I didn't grab him. The reason why he's lifting his arm is that he's getting a pen out of his jacket,' she said. The Trump campaign has tentatively suggested Lewandowski is going to apologize to Fields but she said she doesn't believe he will or that she would ever be welcome at a Trump White House. Her words came the same morning as Lewandowski's sit-down with Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace. Wallace asked the top Trump aide if he planned to apologize to Fields for touching her and calling her 'delusional.' Lewandowski said that was a 'little unrealistic' as he and Fields have 'never spoken.' Talking to the network's Brian Stelter, Fields suggested that the story shouldn't have been blown up the way it had. 'The reason why it was such a huge story is because Corey lied, Donald Trump lied, they defamed me and they went on this huge smear campaign against me and I think it shed light on the character of the campaign and I think a lot of people were surprised by their blatant lies about me,' Fields explained. 'That's why it became such a huge story,' she continued. 'It's the defamation not so much the grabbing of the arm,' she noted of the March 8 incident. During the interview, Fields backed up her account, which some in the media including Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski hinted was over-dramatized. 'I walked up to him with a cell phone, a pen and a notebook in my hand and was going up to him and I felt someone pull me back,' she said of her encounter with Trump and then with Lewandowski. 'I'm in high heels, I'm not expecting anyone to yank me, that is how I felt.' One eyewitness, a local tech executive who talked to police, said he thought her response was 'disproportionate.' 'At first I thought she was drunk,' said Michael Spellman, the president of a glass technology company based in Jupiter, Florida, where the incident occurred. Fields slammed Lewandowski's claim that he had reached out to her directly after hearing about the incident. On Fox News Sunday Lewandowski said he had tried to call Fields that night after seeing on Twitter posts from her boyfriend, the Daily Caller's Jamie Weinstein. 'Trump always surrounds himself [with] thugs,' Weinstein had written. 'Tonight thug Corew Lewandowski tried to pull my [girlfriend] to ground when she asked tough [question.]' Lewandowski noted that he turned his phone records over to the Palm Beach district attorney's office, which 'clearly shows I called her phone number that evening when I got back and read about this on the Twitter feed.' 'I did not hear from him no,' Fields said on CNN. 'I did not get a call from my knowledge. There was no voicemail. There was no text. There was no email following up. Of course, that's why I stayed quiet in the beginning, because I was told from my editor that I was going to receive an apology,' she said. She added that she was forced to move out of her apartment during the saga after Fox News mistakenly published her address on air. And she insisted the only reason she took the case to the police was to defend herself against Trump's spokeswoman Katrina Pierson who challenged Fields to contact authorities if 'it really happened,' Fields explained, noting that Trump was also 'questioning my bruises.' 'I felt they forced me to. I had no choice. I had to go get my bruises documented,' Fields said. '[Lewandowski] grabbed me, he denied it, he defamed me. I don't think I'm getting an apology, but it would be nice,' she said. Fields quit her job at Breitbart days after the incident claiming her employer didn't do enough to support her. Prosecutors in Palm Beach County, Florida, announced on Thursday that a potential criminal battery case against Lewandowski was dead in the water because there likely wasn't enough evidence to convict. 'I just don't agree with, obviously, their decision,' Fields said. Donald Trump's campaign manager Corew Lewandowski went on Fox News Sunday this morning and said he wouldn't be apologizing to journalist Michelle Fields just yet Fields noted that State Attorney for Palm Beach County David Aronberg's wife Lynn has a public relations company that advertises her relationship with Trump. She also accused Aronberg, who's a Hillary Clinton supporter, of spending a lot of time at Trump's private Mar-a-lago resort. 'I can't speak for anybody else, but if I was a prosecutor and my wife was trying to monetize her relationship with Donald Trump and it's right there on her website and I'm partying all the time at Mar-a-lago, I would recuse myself from the situation and the case,' Fields said. Over on Fox, Lewandowski suggested that Fields wouldn't be getting an apology quite yet . 'I'd be happy to have a conversation with her, but to apologize to someone I've never spoken to and candidly don't ever remember having any interaction with, I think is something that is a little unrealistic right now,' the Trump aide said. 'I tried contacting Ms. Fields after reading on her boyfriend's Twitter feed that something took place that evening, but to this day I've never heard from Mrs. Fields, or Ms. Fields,' he said, slightly screwing up her name, 'So I am happy that the Palm Beach County district attorney has decided not to move forward with any charges,' the campaign manager added. He called the altercation 'the sum total' of his relationship with the journalist, noting the 'whole incident lasted less than three seconds.' 'It was me moving from one location into another location,' he said. 'And I would have remembered if I had tried to violently throw someone to the ground,' he added. 'Or if there was an incident which would have been more memorable.' Friends and family spoke about Duke's tireless advocacy for mental health awareness after her own diagnosis with bipolar disorder in 1982 Hundreds attended the service in Idaho, where Duke lived with her fourth husband Michael Pearce on March 29 at the age of 69 Beloved actress Patty Duke was remembered in a public memorial service in Idaho on Saturday. Duke, whose real name was Anna Pearce, died March 29 from sepsis from a ruptured intestine at age 69. Saturday's service was held at Lake City Church in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she lived with her fourth husband Michael Pearce. Scroll down for video Patty Duke (pictured) was remembered in a public memorial service held Saturday in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Hundreds attended the service to celebrate the life of the Oscar-winning actress and mental health advocate Mackenzie Astin (pictured), Duke's middle child, spoke about how his mother was a gifted communicator and said she 'put a beautiful face' to bipolar disorder, which Duke was diagnosed with in 1982 The event fittingly featured a sign-language interpreter, which was a nod to Duke's Oscar-winning role as Helen Keller in the Miracle Worker. Hundreds came out to the service, where her friends and family spoke and celebrated the actress' life. Mackenzie Astin, Duke's middle child, encouraged those at the service to greet each other and say, 'Anna be with you', in honor of his mother, King 5 News reported. Astin spoke about his mother's advocacy for mental health awareness since her own diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 1982. Duke's close friend Melissa Gilbert told the crowd she was sad to be at Duke's memorial service but happy she was able to celebrate the life of a 'mighty' woman Local channels in Idaho broadcast and streamed the service live. It was held in Coeur d'Alene, where Duke lived with her fourth husband 'She put a beautiful face to the illness,' he said at the service, according to KREM. Actress Melissa Gilbert talked about working in films like the Miracle Worker with Duke, who she considered one of her best friends. 'I hate that I'm here, and yet I love that I'm here to celebrate my dear teacher friend, Anna, 'Anna loved to laugh. How could God make something so small, but so mighty? 'She had courage like no one I've ever known,' she said. The ceremony was streamed on local news stations in Idaho, according to USA Today. Duke won an Academy Award at the age of 16 for her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. A year after her Oscar win Duke took the role for which she would become best known, as wildly different cousins Patty and Cathy Lane on The Patty Duke Show. Duke, who was married four times, had three sons - actors Sean and Mackenzie Aston and Kevin Pearce. Duke, whose real name was Anna Pearce, died on March 29 from sepsis from a ruptured intestine at age 69 Front-running Filipino presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte has made a joke about the rape and murder of an Australian woman in the country in 1989. Dutere, 71, made a joke in reference to the brutal gang rape and murder of missionary Jacqueline Hamill at a Davao City jail according to a translation by Rappler. 'When the bodies were brought out, they were wrapped. I looked at her face, son of a b***h, she looks like a beautiful American actress. Son of a b***h, what a waste,' Duterte said. Front-running Filipino presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte has made a joke about the rape and murder of an Australian woman in the country in 1989 The joke was filmed and later released online where it gained both support and criticism 'What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that's one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first.' 'All the women were raped so during the first assault.' The speech was caught on video and has copped widespread criticism and support in the country and around the world. The crowd can be heard laughing at the joke made in reference to the rape and murder of the Australian woman in 1989 The politician, who was mayor at the time of the attack in the city, claims to have stopped the siege. His whole political campaign has been based around his call to end violence in the country. The politician's rivals have said the joke shows Duterte's 'lack of fitness for the presidency' and his 'utter lack of respect for women' the ABC reports. Vice President Jejomar Binay said Duterte is a crazy maniac who doesn't respect women and doesn't deserve to be president. His whole political campaign has been based around his call to end violence in the country A female missionary who worked alongside Ms Hamill in the Philippines has spoken out against the joke on social media. Jacqueline's death affected me deeply personally, as I had been visiting just about every jail in Manila with the ACTION/CGM teams from 1986-89, Robin Haines Merrill said in her post. 'I couldn't yet speak the language but I could play the flute and just show love to people in horrible situations. The joke caused Robin Haines Merril, a missionary who was working in the country at the time of the rape and murder to take to Facebook 'LOVE TRUMPS HATE. DON'T STOP LOVING. DON'T VOTE FOR PEOPLE who speak vile things against WOMEN!!' Duterte's words did have supporters. 'We won't apologise for he has done nothing wrong, it was a clear joke for God's sake,' one Filipina supporter said on social media. A police sniper asked for permission to take a 'kill shot' at Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis seven hours before the two hostages were killed, according to reports. NSW Police is fighting to keep this and other revelations about police involvement and tactics under wraps during the inquest in an attempt to protect their 'methodology'. The force is expected to make an application to the State Coroner on Tuesday for all evidence from senior officers and those who stormed the Lindt cafe to be heard in secret. The Daily Telegraph has revealed that one of the three snipers believed he could fatally shoot Monis at 7.30pm on 15 December 2014 and asked if he could take the shot. A police sniper asked for permission to take a 'kill shot' at Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis seven hours before the two hostages were killed Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage during the during the terrifying 16-hour standoff in 2014 Jieun Bae was pictured running towards waiting police as she fled the scene of the Sydney cafe siege But senior officers refused the request and instead decided to continue with a policy to negotiate with the extremist who held 18 hostages during the terrifying 16-hour standoff. Police only initiated the Emergency Action Plan and stormed the cafe after Tori Johnson was shot dead in the back of the head at 2.13am on December 16. Barrister Katrina Dawson, 38, was then fatally struck by six fragments of police bullets when the siege reached its bloody end. It has previously emerged during the inquest that the snipers had taken up vantage points in the Channel 7 building, the Westpac building and the Reserve Bank. Terrified hostages were seen sprinting from the cafe at the end of the terrifying siege in 2014 The force is expected to make an application to the State Coroner on Tuesday for all evidence from senior officers and those who stormed the Lindt cafe to be heard in secret Police only initiated the Emergency Action Plan and stormed the cafe after Tori Johnson (left) was shot dead in the back of the head at 2.13am on December 16. Barrister Katrina Dawson (right) was hit by a police bullet But evidence detailing why police refused the sniper's request for the 'kill shot' may never be heard in full by the public if the application is granted. A recreation of the snipers view into the cafe, the type of glass in place at the time and whether or not such a shot would have been successful may also be kept behind closed doors. Police are planning to release 'censored, redacted transcripts' of the evidence if the application is granted, Seven News reported. In a recent hearing, Marcia Mikhael voiced her frustration that police negotiators failed to get the Prime Minister on the phone and an Islamic State flag requested by the gunman. Speaking at the inquest on Tuesday, Ms Mikhael believed police negotiators had 'done nothing' and 'left us here to die' after failing to meet the demands of Monis. In a recent hearing, Marcia Mikhael (pictured) voiced her frustration that police negotiators failed to get the Prime Minister on the phone and an Islamic State flag requested by the gunman Monis took control of the Lindt Cafe shortly before 10am on December 15, prompting a siege that lasted more than 16 hours During the deadly siege, Ms Mikhael spoke to police negotiators and was asked by Monis to get the Prime Minister on the phone. 'I didn't understand why it was so difficult for the prime minister to get on the phone,' she said. She described her anger and concern when she was told that Tony Abbott was too busy to speak. 'You don't tell someone who had a gun pointed at their head that,' she said. She criticised the police response, saying there was no negotiations with Monis. 'It was just me on the phone,' she said. 'Monis wasn't on the phone with (the police negotiator). There was no negotiation.' NSW Police has been approached for a comment. Sydney siege survivor Marcia Mikhael (pictured) departs the Lindt Cafe siege inquest in Sydney Hillary Clinton was not too impressed with Donald Trump's new nickname for her 'crooked Hillary' 'He can say whatever he wants to say about me, I really could care less,' the former secretary of state told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week when he asked for her reaction. The Republican frontrunner dinged the Democratic frontrunner with the new nickname during a campaign rally in Watertown, New York on Saturday his latest concoction that's along the lines of 'lyin' Ted' Cruz, 'little Marco' Rubio and 'low energy' Jeb Bush. Scroll down for video Hillary Clinton answered 'I really could care less,' when George Stephanopoulos informed her that Donald Trump had nicknamed her 'crooked Hillary' Trump implied that Clinton was 'crooked' because she took money from donors. 'So I'm self funding. All of this is mine. When I fly in, it's on my dime, right? It's on mine. And what does that mean?' Trump told his crowd. 'that means I'm not controlled by the special interests, by the lobbyists.' 'They can control crooked Hillary and they can control lyin' Ted Cruz right?' Trump said. When Clinton was asked about it, she wouldn't completely bite. 'I don't respond to Donald Trump and his string of insults about me,' she said. 'I can take care of myself.' 'I look forward to running against him if he turns out to be the Republican nominee if I am the Democratic nominee,' Clinton continued. Clinton said she disapproved of 'how he goes after everybody else.' 'He goes after women. He goes after Muslims. He goes after immigrants. He goes after people with disabilities,' she noted. 'He is hurting our unity at home. Uh, he is undermining the values that we stand for in New York and across America. And he's hurting us around the world,' she said. Both Clinton and Trump are fighting for votes in New York in advance of the state's Tuesday primary. At last polling, Clinton was still 10 points ahead in the new CBS/YouGov poll that came out today in the state she was twice elected by to serve in the U.S. Senate. Clinton is at 53 percent to Sen. Bernie Sanders' 43 percent. Trump, a creature of the Manhattan real estate world, was up 33 points in the same poll against rivals Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Trump receives 54 percent support from Republicans, versus 21 percent for Cruz and 19 percent for Kasich. During her interview with Stephanopoulos, Clinton again said she would only release her Wall Street speech transcripts only if other candidates did too. Sanders has repeatedly hit his rival on delivering these speeches and for taking money from Wall Street suggesting that she's beholden to these interests. In turn, she's called his assumption an 'artful smear.' Sanders is barred from delivering paid speeches as a member of the U.S. Senate. Stephanopoulos asked Clinton if releasing the speeches would reveal her praising Wall Street. 'No, I don't have any concerns like that,' she replied. I'm just concerned about a constantly changing set of standards for everybody else but me,' she said. 'You know, we have certain expectations when you run for president, one of which is release all of your tax returns, ever since you've been in public life,' she said. Clinton acknowledged that 33 years of her taxes are in the public domain. Sanders just released his first year's worth of tax returns this weekend. 'Now, all of a sudden, there is a new standard,' Clinton said of the calls to release the speeches. 'And I've said when it applies to everybody, you bet I will meet that standard as well.' Stephanopoulos reminded Clinton that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Clinton supporter, had said she would release the speeches 'at the appropriate time.' 'Well, in accordance with the standard that I've set, I absolutely will do,' Clinton said, meaning that all the candidates, from both parties, would have to release the transcripts of any paid speeches they've given. 'I absolutely will do, i will do that,' she said. 'I've said that repeatedly.' Clinton was also asked about a piece of legislation that would pit her either against President Obama or New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who will become the Democratic leader in the Senate next year after Sen. Harry Reid retires. The bill would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue foreign sponsors of terror in federal court. Schumer supports it, while Obama opposes it. Clinton pleaded ignorance. 'I don't really know about that, George, I'd have to look into it,' Clinton answered. 'Obviously, we've got to make anyone who participates in or supports terrorism pay a price, and we also have to be aware of any consequences that might affect Americans, either military or civilian or our nation.' Stephanopoulos seemed surprised by her answer. 'You don't know about this issue? It's been around for several years,' he said. 'Well I know there's been an issue about it for quite some time, I don't know about the specific legislation that you're referring to. But obviously, I'll look into it,' she replied. When Stephanopoulos again followed up, asking the former secretary of state if she supported or opposed the legislation, she said she didn't know. 'I can't, I haven't studied it,' she said. A gun-toting Donald Trump supporter is planning an armed rally outside the Georgia Capitol building in Atlanta on Monday to bring together people 'against Islamic Immigration'. Far-right activist Jim Stachowiak hopes to 'raise public awareness to what we perceive as a threat to our nation from Islamic immigration and refugees', as well as 'the dangerous agenda of the current administration'. He plans to publicly shred the Quran and pictures of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and the Prophet Muhammad. Stachowiak believes that Trump should be the United States' next president. Far-right activist Jim Stachowiak is hosting an anti-Muslim rally in Atlanta, Georgia. He hopes to 'raise public awareness to what we perceive as a threat to our nation from Islamic immigration and refugees', as well as 'the dangerous agenda of the current administration' While at the rally he plans to publicly shred the Quran and photos of Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and the Prophet Muhammad 'I support Donald Trump because I like his agenda on dealing with the threats to this country - his ban on Islamic immigration,' Stachowiak told Huffington Post on Tuesday. He added that Muslim immigrants and refugees to the United States are 'no more than an invading horde or army'. Stachowiak told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he expects 200 people to attend his rally, but later told Huffington Post that 'few' people will probably show up. State Capitol police issued an advisory to state employees following Stachowiak's announcement of the rally. 'The Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Building Authority anticipate a non-permitted, anti-Islamic protest on the sidewalks of the Georgia State Capitol,' Capitol Police Director Lewis G. Young said in a statement. 'You are hereby notified that protest organizers have encouraged their participants to carry loaded long guns. 'DPS is currently monitoring the threat risk and, together with GBA, is taking precautions to make Capitol Hill a safe environment.' Stachowiak announced his anti-Muslim rally in a video while wearing a 'DEATH TO ISIS' sweatshirt and holding a rifle. In the clip, he claims that the Quran is 'nothing more than toilet paper writings spurted from hell and it should be treated with the respect that you give a piece of dirty toilet paper'. State Capitol police issued an advisory to state employees following Stachowiak's announcement of the rally, which he said would happen rain or shine Stachowiak posts many anti-Muslim memes on his Facebook page and can been seen wearing a Trump T-shirt and carrying a large gun (pictured) Stachowiak has several anti-Muslim signs, including one that says 'Stop the Islamic immigration refugee invasion now!' In an interview with Huffington Post, Stachowiak boasted of being affiliated with Terry Jones, a Florida pastor who has notoriously burned copies of the Quran and provoked deadly riots in Afghanistan. Stachowiak posts many anti-Muslim memes on his Facebook page and can been seen wearing a Trump T-shirt and carrying a large gun. In one video he is seen burning a Mexican flag in what appears to be his backyard. 'It's important to know everyone coming [to Monday's rally] we're all Trump supporters,' Stachowiak said. 'We totally stand behind Trump.' The Georgia Capitol Police told The Daily Beast that they are ready for disruptions brought on by Stachowiak's rally on Monday. 'We do not have any expectations of the crowd [size], however, DPS is always prepared to protect the Capitol and all citizens on the grounds, both civilian and protestors,' Captain Mark Perry wrote in an email to the Daily Beast. Perry added that 'no one at the Capitol has directly expressed any concerns' about the rally. Stachowiak said that he will be at the Capitol building rain or shine, permit or no permit, and he will stay even if he's the only person in attendance. In several videos on his Facebook, Stachowiak discusses the upcoming rally and the upcoming election In one video, Stachowiak is seen burning a Mexican flag in what appears to be his backyard in Georgia 'This will be an open carry event with the use of long arms as Georgia law allow,' he told the Journal-Constitution. He said that those attending the rally will march from the Capitol building to the front of the CNN Center. He said there they would 'speak again against the threat of Islamic immigration and refugees and the dangerous agenda of the Obama administration'. A Quran will be desecrated on the sidewalks on the public right of away (sic) at the front entrance of CNN,' he added. Muslim-American activists have said that they would sit down with Stachowiak if he was willing. 'Hatred of Muslims and Islam stems from ignorance,' Edward Ahmed Mitchell, executive director of Georgia's chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said in a statement. 'We encourage these protesters to put down their guns, cancel their unsanctioned rally, and meet with representatives of our state's Muslim community for an open and frank discussion of their concerns.' 'The Holy Quran instructs Muslims to respond to evil with something better, so that friendship can arise between us and those who hate us,' he added. 'I call on all Georgia mosques, Islamic organizations and residents to redouble outreach efforts as a positive response to this hate rally' Meanwhile, Trump has earned endorsements from other hate groups, like white nationalist Jared Taylor and former KKK grand wizard David Duke. Additionally, there was a rise in anti-Muslim hate groups and anti-government militias in the United States in 2015, according to a SPLC report. Stachowiak, pictured above burning the Mexican flag, said that the rally on Monday will go on even if he's the only one in attendance Advertisement Libyan authorities have arrested 203 African migrants and in an alleged people smuggler after busting a illegally migrant safehouse in Tripoli just hours before the group were preparing to make a perilous sea crossing to Europe. An early morning raid by forces battling clandestine migration targeted a house in eastern Tripoli's Al-Hashan district and netted several dozen people, an AFP journalist said. Armed and masked members of the authorities in bullet-proof vests rounded up the migrants and put them on vehicles to be driven to a detention centre. Libyan authorities have arrested 203 African migrants and in an alleged people smuggler after busting a illegally migrant safehouse in Tripoli just hours before the group were preparing to make a perilous sea crossing to Europe Armed and masked members of the authorities in bullet-proof vests rounded up the migrants and put them on vehicles to be driven to a detention centre Dozens more were detained in another raid on a house in the same neighbourhood. However no force was used in either operation and there was no resistance from any of the frightened migrants. 'After a tip-off about a people smuggler preparing a crossing to Europe by clandestine migrants the raids were carried out in a Tripoli suburb,' a security official said. 'We arrested 203 illegal migrants from different nationalities. They were with there with their smuggler,' he said. Libya has long been a stepping stone for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, with Italy some 300 kilometres (185 miles) away across the Mediterranean. Smugglers have stepped up their lucrative business in the chaos that has followed the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Libya has long been a stepping stone for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, with Italy some 185 miles away across the Mediterranean Dozens more migrants were detained in another raid on a house in the same neighbourhood. However no force was used in either operation and there was no resistance from any of the frightened migrants A Libyan soldier keeps watch during a police operation against would-be migrants in the Libyan city of Tripoli The interior ministry in Rome put migrant arrivals in Italy at 23,739 since the start of the year as of Thursday morning, compared with 19,589 by April 14 last year. On Friday, the International Organization of Migration said nearly 6,000 migrants had reached Italy by sea in the space of four days. Migrant children clamour to grab toys handed out by volunteers and enjoy a civilised haircut as refugees attempt some semblance of normality amid squalor of Idomeni This is the heartwarming moment a group of young children crowd around a car at the makeshift camp, begging for help at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni. The children appeared delighted when they were given soft toys and other items from one friendly local in their car near the busy migrant camp. More than 152,000 people have arrived in Greece by sea from Turkey since January 1, nearly three-quarters of whom were Syrians, according to statistics released by the International Organization of Migrants (IOM). This is the heart-rending moment a group of young children crowd around a car at the makeshift camp, begging for help at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni A man gives an hair cut to child at the makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border The news comes as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused neighbouring Macedonia of 'shaming' Europe last week by firing tear gas and rubber bullets at migrants desperately trying to break through a border fence. Tensions are still running high after an outburst of violence, which saw 250 refugees and migrants hurt at the flashpoint Idomeni crossing as they tried to force their way into Macedonia. Greek authorities, worried about the spread of diseases in makeshift refugee camps, are also urging migrants to relocate to organized camps with better living conditions. A flyer is circulating at the Idomeni migrant camp on Greece's border with Macedonia, saying that gastroenteritis, lice and scabies are spreading among the almost 10,400 people there. Written in four languages, including Arab and Farsi, it urges the migrants to relocate to one of several organized camps across Greece. But the migrants and refugees who have been stranded at Idomeni ever since Austria and several Balkan countries shut down their borders to them in mid-March are reluctant to leave. On Saturday, departing migrants filled just one bus. In addition to Idomeni, another 10,000 migrants are staying in makeshift camps in mainland Greece. An Afghan boy lies on a beach near the old international airport which is used as a temporary camp in Athens, Greece The news comes as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused neighbouring Macedonia of 'shaming' Europe last week by firing tear gas and rubber bullets at migrants desperately trying to break through a border fence Greek authorities, worried about the spread of diseases in makeshift refugee camps, are urging migrants to relocate to organized camps with better living conditions Migrant boy washes dishes while others enjoy a swing chair at the makeshift camp at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece A passenger jet was hit by a drone above London yesterday, sparking major concerns over air safety. The front of a British Airways jet, carrying 132 passengers and five crew, was struck in what is believed to be the first time a drone has hit a commercial plane in British airspace. The Airbus A320 from Geneva was minutes away from landing at Heathrow when it was hit. The aircraft landed safely. Metropolitan Police detectives are investigating the strike, which follows a string of near misses in recent months. Pilots warn that drones which are too small to appear on air traffic control radar screens could destroy an airliner's engine or smash a cockpit windscreen. Engineers also say a drone's lithium battery could catch fire if it hit the nose or other softer parts of an aircraft and became embedded. Scroll down for video An investigation has been launched after an object hit the front of British Airways' G-EUYP, pictured, as it approached Heathrow's Terminal 5 A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the pilot of the flight reported to police that he believed a drone, pictured, had struck the aircraft (stock image) An image shows the route taken by the flight over London this afternoon, during which time it was struck by an object shortly before landing An anti-terror expert, who served in Afghanistan, said the incident illustrated the danger drones pose, as terrorist groups have been planning to use them to carry out attacks. Richard Kemp said: 'Whether this turns out to be related to terrorism or not it is just one more Illustration of the enormous challenges facing out anti terror agencies daily,' reports The Sun. He added: 'We know terrorists have for a long time sought to use drones to visit violence on innocent people and it a very real threat.' Tens of thousands of drones, which cost as little as 25, have been bought in Britain in the past few years and can be operated without a licence or registration with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as long as they are not used for commercial purposes. The British Airline Pilots Association has called for the Department for Transport and the CAA to back research into the potential risks of collisions with a passenger jet. THEY CAN FLY 50MPH AT 6,000FT High-end drones can fly up to and beyond 6,000ft, travel up to 50mph and stay in the air for 25 minutes. They cost between 25 and 20,000, with electrical store Maplin alone reporting sales of more than 15,000 drones in the UK last year. Last year Domino's Pizza posted a video of a drone delivering a pizza, and online store Amazon has looked into using the technology to speed up deliveries. They are also used by broadcasters such as the BBC for filming. The US Air Force collected so much data from drones during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it employed 65,000 people just to process the information, while police in Texas use drones than can carry small weapons, including tasers. Advertisement Association flight safety specialist Steve Landells, a former RAF and BA pilot, said: 'Frankly it was only a matter of time before we had a drone strike given the huge numbers being flown around by amateurs who don't understand the risks and the rules. Much more education of drone users and enforcement of the rules is needed to ensure our skies remain safe from this threat.' The BA jet was between five and ten minutes away from landing at Heathrow's Terminal 5 when it was struck at 12.50pm. A CAA spokesman said: 'It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment. 'Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft, including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft. Anyone operating a drone must do so responsibly and observe all relevant rules and regulations.' The strike is the latest in a string of incidents involving drones in British airspace. A report last month by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) found there were 23 near misses between drones and aircraft between April and October last year. They included one on September 22, when a Boeing 777 that had just taken off reported that a drone narrowly passed down its righthand side. THE 'DRONECODE': RULES SET OUT BY AVIATION AUTHORITY ON DRONES The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sets the rules on the flying of drones under what is called an 'air navigation order'. The authority states a drone should never be flown near an airport or close to an aircraft, adding that it is a criminal offence 'to endanger the safety of an aircraft in flight'. Flying a drone near an airport could lead to a five-year prison sentence under current laws. The rules set out by the CAA's air navigation order state: An unmanned aircraft must never be flown beyond the normal unaided 'line of sight' of the person operating it - this is generally measured as 1,640ft horizontally or 400ft vertically An unmanned aircraft fitted with a camera must always be flown at least 164ft distance away from a person, vehicle, building or structure An unmanned aircraft fitted with a camera must not be flown within 492ft of a congested area or large group of people, such as a sporting event or concert For commercial purposes, operators must have permission to fly a drone from the CAA Advertisement Investigators concluded that the drone was at the same height and within 80ft of the jet. A report was made to police but the drone operator was not traced. Days later, a drone was flown within yards of an Airbus A319 landing at Heathrow. The jet was flying at 500ft and was on its final approach when the drone was spotted. WHERE YOU ON THE PLANE? Were you on the plane? Contact James Dunn on 0203 615 1524 or email james.r.dunn@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Commercial airline pilot Mike Wood said drones were becoming a growing problem. 'A drone could cause an engine failure if flown into it,' he said. 'That's obviously a concern, though airlines are able to fly on one engine. There is a real danger if one hit a light aircraft which could cause a crash.' Philippa Oldham, from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, told the BBC last month that the risk would depend on several factors, such as the size and speed of the drone and the location of the collision. 'The impact potentially could be anything from nothing to a destruction of an engine,' she said. The route of the flight, which took off from Geneva at 10.50am and landed in London at 12.31pm, is shown British Airways said the aircraft was examined by engineers and cleared for its next flight following the incident (stock image) Tony Tyler, of the International Air Transport Association, said: 'We cannot allow [drones] to be a hindrance or safety threat to commercial aviation. There is no denying that there is a real and growing threat to the safety of civilian aircraft.' A Heathrow spokesman said last night: 'BA flight 727 from Geneva reported being struck by an unknown object as it entered its final approach towards Heathrow. The aircraft landed safely at Terminal 5. 'The safety and security of our operation is our absolute priority and we are working with British Airways and the Met police who are carrying out a full investigation.' A BA spokesman added: 'Our aircraft landed safely, was fully examined by our engineers and it was cleared to operate its next flight. 'Safety and security are always our first priority and we will give the police every assistance with their investigation.' EYES IN THE SKY: HOW DRONES HAVE CAUSED A SERIES OF NEAR MISSES The UK Airprox Board has recorded several cases of drones almost causing mid-air crashes with aircraft in the past year. Many passenger jets have avoided collisions by a matter of feet either by chance or by the pilot spotting the unmanned crafts and taking evasive action. Here are some of the most notable incidents: August 12, 2015 - An Airbus 310 approaching landing at Heathrow reported seeing a drone below his aircraft. October 4, 2015 - The pilot of Boeing 777 reported seeing an unidentified object, likely to be a drone, pass very close to the left-hand side of the aircraft while landing at Heathrow. The object was only visible for a matter of seconds and no risk assessment was made. October 13, 2015 - The crew of an Airbus 380 reported a 2m-large drone taking evasive action after it was seen around 70m away while climbing to 2000ft upon departure from Heathrow. November 28, 2015 - An Airbus 319 flying above Richmond Park while coming in to land at Heathrow noticed a drone flying 'rapidly' from west to east between 400 and 900ft below the plane. It was decided the drone's flight path was of 'no risk' and the landing continued. The same day a drone was mistaken for a bird by the crew of an Airbus 321 landing at Gatwick, with the pilot noticing it at 100ft from touchdown but only realising what it was at 30ft from the ground. There was no collision but the pilot reported there would not have been time to take evasive action. December 6, 2015 - A drone passed overhead of an Embraer ERJ170 passenger plane by around 100ft while on final approach at London City Airport. Another aircraft following the same landing pattern changed its approach when the incident was flagged up. Advertisement An 18-year-old waitress just over a month away from high school graduation received a $1,000 tip from a customer who wanted to help her with college expenses. Alesha Palmer of Kemp, Texas, was working at Vetoni's Italian restaurant in Gun Barrel City on April 9 when she received the generous tip. The Kemp High School senior, who works at the restaurant approximately 30 hours a week, is trying to save up to attend Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas to study business. She then wants to work toward a culinary arts degree and open a pastry shop. Alesha Palmer of Kemp, Texas, was working at Vetoni's Italian restaurant in Gun Barrel City on April 9 when she received the generous tip. The high school senior said she was telling a table of regulars about her college plans and an anonymous guest overheard and tipped her the $1,000 Palmer, who has worked at the restaurant for a little over a month, was serving two tables when she received the tip - a table of restaurant regulars and the soon-to-be generous tipper. While speaking to the regulars, she told them about her college plans. 'They were asking about my college plans and told them my parents were helping,' Palmer told KLTV. The other man was sitting alone and chatted with the restaurant owner for a while when he went to pay his bill. Worrying she had done something wrong, when the man left she asked the owner if she had done something wrong. 'He turned over the receipt and I kind of just stood there wide eyed and I just started crying and I'm in the middle of the restaurant,' Palmer told KLTV. Palmer has worked at the restaurant for just over a month. The high school senior is just weeks away from graduation Palmer is saving up to attend Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas to study business. She then wants to get a culinary arts degree and open a pastry shop Days after she received the huge tip, Palmer said she was still in shock. 'I mean, this can't be happening, this has to be a dream, not in little Cedar Creek area,' Palmer said. 'I would like to thank him deeply and utterly. It's not every day that you come across someone that's as sweet and generous.' Vetoni's manager Jennifer Brown said it's the largest tip a waitress has ever received at the restaurant. The closest to Palmer's tip is $100. 'It restores your faith; there is just so much bad going on and you always hear of all the bad. You don't hear the good,' Brown told KLTV. Palmer said she plans on keeping the receipt as a reminder for when she's stressed or having a bad day. 'It's definitely going to help me when I have a hard day and I'm stressed out I'm just going to think that in the back of my mind,' Palmer said. All mums and dads worry about their children banging their heads in case it causes a serious injury. But such an accident can also harm the bond between parent and child, scientists warn. Around one in 50 under-fives a year suffer concussion, but there has been little research into its effects. Now a study has found it can damage the youngsters social interactions including with their parents. Head trauma in children can alter their relationships with parents, a new study has found (file picture) As good parent-child relationships are linked to better social skills later in life, the scientists warn this could have a lasting impact on the child. The Canadian team therefore warn parents to watch closely for behavioural changes in their child if they suffer a minor brain injury. Researcher Miriam Beauchamp, a psychiatrist at Montreal University, said: The young brain is particularly vulnerable to injury because the skull is still thin and malleable. In the months following the injury one of the first visible signs of social difficulties in young children is a decline in their relationship with their parents. The study said the rate of concussion is particularly high in under-fives around 2 per cent of them a year. It is thought that concussion at this age could slow the development of new abilities, such as communication skills. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychology, looked at 130 children aged 18 months to five years some who had concussion, others with an orthopaedic injury such as a fracture and a control group of healthy youngsters. The scientists assessed parent-child interactions for six months by filming families doing typical activities such as playing and snack time. They also asked parents to evaluate their relationship with their child in questionnaires. They found the quality of these interactions for youngsters who had had concussion were significantly reduced compared to the other children. The studys lead author Gabrielle Lalonde, a doctoral student, said: Given parent-child interactions are influenced by behavioural dispositions of both the parent and the child, more research is required to identify the factors underlying this decline. It may be due to specific neurological mechanisms, to changes in parenting or to stress caused by the injury. Identifying these factors will allow them to develop more targeted ways to help families, she added. A lifetime of strenuous outdoor exercise may be the secret to preventing hip injuries later in life. Research conducted on Swedish farmers found that those who worked the land had a 40 per cent lower risk of suffering from a broken hip as they got older. Scientists believe this may be due to their lifestyle of manual labour. A lifetime of strenuous outdoor exercise may be the secret to preventing hip injuries later in life (file image) And the impact of bailing hay and carrying feed could also have implications for public health. Due to the ever aging population, up to 75,000 hip fractures happen in the UK each year - creating an annual cost of around 2 billion. The injury is also more common in women as they have a higher incidence of osteoporosis. Hip fractures from falls are one of the most common reasons for elderly people to end up in hospital, and they can lead to serious complications, as well as compromising victims' independence. Dr Helena Johansson, of the University of Sheffield, said: 'We need to be concerned about hip fractures as they are the most serious and disabling osteoporosis related fractures. 'Given the many, complex factors that affect fracture risk, it is not possible to pinpoint a single variable that is associated with lower hip fracture risk. 'However, these findings are interesting in they suggest a lifetime of outdoor, physical activity may be a positive factor when it comes to hip fracture risk.' Hip fractures from falls are one of the most common reasons for elderly people to end up in hospital (file image) Her study of male Swedish farmers published in Osteoporosis International found they have a much lower risk of hip fracture, possibly due to their high levels of physical activity. Sweden is one of the few countries which tracks hip fractures through a national registry so it is possible to see how rates vary according to occupation, economic status, level of education and where patients live, such as in an urban or rural area. Concentrating on farming, an occupation which is characterised by regular, long term outdoor physical activity, Dr Johansson and colleagues analysed all cases of men and women aged 40 years or between 1987 2002. They found there were 100,083 individuals, 4,175 of whom were farmers. For both men and women, the hip fracture risk rose with age, low income, low education, higher latitude and urban location. Research conducted on Swedish farmers found that those who worked the land had a 40 per cent lower risk of suffering from a broken hip as they got older (file image) The study of male Swedish farmers published in Osteoporosis International found they have a much lower risk of hip fracture, possibly due to their high levels of physical activity (file image) The further north people live is linked with weaker bones because of a lack of Vitamin D from sunshine. For male farmers the risk of a hip fracture was 14 per cent lower compared to other occupations, adjusted for age. When also adjusted for rural status of residence, the risk reduction was still 15 per cent lower. But when income, education and latitude were all taken into account the effect was even more marked, with a 39 percent lower risk. For women, being a farmer was not associated with a significant difference in the risk of a broken hip. Sweden is one of the few countries which tracks hip fractures through a national registry so it is possible to see how rates vary according to different factors such as occupation and level of education Killer's lawyer said youngest member of the Manson family, who is 66, is no longer a threat to the public The grandson of a married couple murdered by the Manson family has spoken out to describe his horror after hearing that one of the gang is being tipped for parole. Leslie Van Houten held a pillow over Rosemary La Bianca's face as the Manson murderers stabbed her and her husband, Leno, to death before carving the word 'WAR' in his stomach. The woman, who was 19 at the time of the killings, admitted stabbing Mrs La Bianca after she died and was sentenced to death for murder. On Thursday Van Houten, now 66, was recommended for parole due to her 'good behaviour' inside. Relatives of the victims are hitting out at the verdict, including Tony LaMontagne, grandson of Tony LaBianca. 'It's kind of surreal, to be honest with you, the whole thing,' LaMontagne, 42, told CBS2 on Friday. Scroll down for video Relatives of the victims are hitting out at the verdict, including Tony LaMontagne, grandson of Tony LaBianca Manson family member Leslie Van Houten, 66 (pictured Thursday), has been approved for parole in California, but the daughter of her victims has pleaded for her to be kept in prison Van Houten in her most recent mugshot taken on March 3, 2015 by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 'I get off of the phone from the parole hearing, and the first thing I do is lay down on my couch and start bawling. It's just a flood of emotions.' 'My grandfather was 44 years old. His wife was 38. I'm 44. So, I grew up with these stories about how my grandfather was an old man. He had lived a long life. That would be like if I were to die right now,' he said. He added: 'What type of decision has the parole board actually made? They're making a decision to allow a murderer to come back into your neighborhood, my neighborhood. Last time they were in my neighborhood, they killed my family.' His words come as his mother, Cory La Bianca, plans to meet with California Governor Jerry Brown to appeal for his hand in keeping Van Houten behind bars. Last week Cory spoke to the Los Angeles Times, issuing an appeal to the authorities to keep the killer in jail. 'I very much disagree with the ruling,' Ms La Bianca said. 'We all need to be held responsible for our behavior. The least we can do, for someone who commits a crime against another human being, is to keep them in jail.' She said her 41-year-old son burst into tears while listening to the parole hearing at the California Institution for Women in Chino, which deemed Van Houten 'suitable for parole' after years in prison. Van Houten, the youngest member of the Manson cult, has taken 'self-help programs, classes and counselling' and provided an 'insight why she committed the crimes', a spokesman for the Department of Corrections said. The killer denounced Manson and his teachings soon after she was first convicted of murder. Van Houten, who was denied parole in 2013, was not due to be heard by the parole board again until 2018. Van Houten admitted holding a pillow over the head of Rosemary La Bianca (left) while other cult members stabbed her and husband Leno (right) to death as part of a race war Manson believed was about to start However, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, Van Houten addressed many of the failings reported by the parole board in 2013 and was granted an early hearing. The case will now be reviewed, which can take up to four months, while the final decision on Van Houten's release will be down to Governor Jerry Brown. A spokesman for the governor said Thursday that it would be premature for his office to comment. 'Maybe Leslie Van Houten has been a model prisoner,' Cory La Bianca said. 'But you know what, we still suffer our loss.' Van Houten in her freshman year of high school in 1964 Speaking about her father, she said: 'He didn't get to live his, and I'll live it for him.' She added that her grandson had recently asked her about her father, leaving her speechless. 'How do you answer that to a six-year-old?' Ms La Bianca said. 'It doesn't end. This doesn't end.' She now intends to appeal to Gov. Brown to demand he intervene and keep Van Houten in jail. Richard Pfeiffer, attorney for Van Houten, told Daily Mail Online: 'The governor deserves a lot of credit for taking a broken parole system and making it work. 'The court system was impossible, so he appointed a board who know what they're doing and only I hope he follows through all the way in this case.' He also said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times: 'A lot of people who oppose parole don't know anything about Leslie's conduct. 'Her role was bad. Everyone's was. But they don't know what she's done since then and all of the good she's done.' Van Houten, who launched her first parole attempt in 1979 and has applied for parole 20 times in total, recounted her part in the killing of La Bianca and his wife during her hearing. The former homecoming princess, who described herself as a hippy at the time of the murders, told of how she looked off into the distance until another Manson follower told her to do something before she joined in the stabbing. She described herself as a young woman who was angry at her parents' divorce. During her five-hour testimony, Van Houten described Manson as a 'Christ-like man that had all the answers'. She then went into graphic detail how she held down Rosemary La Bianca and secured a pillow with a lamp cord while another member of the Manson family stabbed her repeatedly. Van Houten (right) has applied for parole a total of 20 times, the first in January 1979. Attorney Richard Pfeiffer (left) said he hoped governor Brown 'follows through all the way in this case' She said: 'I don't let myself off the hook. I don't find parts in any of this that makes me feel the slightest bit good about myself.' Van Houten has so far spent more than four decades in prison for participating in the killings of wealthy grocer Leno La Bianca and his wife. Parole Commissioner Ali Zarrinnam told Van Houten at the end of the hearing: 'Your behavior in prison speaks for itself. Forty-six years and not a single serious rule violation.' The La Biancas were stabbed numerous times and the word 'WAR' was carved on the stomach of Leno La Bianca. Charles Manson appears in Los Angeles, California court on March 29, 1971 Van Houten was the youngest Manson follower to take part in one of the nation's most notorious killings after she descended into a life of drugs and joined Manson's cult in the 1960s. Behind bars, 66-year-old Van Houten has completed college degrees and demonstrated exemplary behavior. The La Biancas were killed a day after other so-called 'Manson family' members murdered actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others. Tate's sister, Debra, has started an online petition opposing parole for Van Houten, saying she failed to show remorse for years after the crimes and can't be trusted. The killings were the start of what Manson believed was a coming race war. He dubbed it 'Helter Skelter' after a Beatles song. Lawyer Mr Pfeiffer said in an earlier interview that she presents no danger to the public and should be freed. 'The only violent thing she has ever done in her entire life was this crime and that was under the control of Charles Manson,' he said. 'She is just not a public safety risk, and when you are not a public safety risk, the law says you shall be released.' At her last hearing in 2013, a parole commissioner told Van Houten she had failed to explain how someone as intelligent and well-bred as she could have committed such cruel and atrocious crimes. Van Houten told the panel she had been traumatized by her parents' divorce when she was 14, her pregnancy soon after and her mother's insistence she have an abortion. During the hearing, she apologized to everyone she had harmed. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings but went along the next night when the La Biancas were slain. She was 19 at the time. Her defense lawyers portrayed her as a young woman from a good family who had been a homecoming princess and showed promise until she got involved with drugs and was recruited into Manson's cult. Van Houten (pictured right along with fellow Charles Manson cult members Susan Atkins, left, and Patricia Krenwinkel, center) arrives in court in August 1970 for assisting in the murders of Leno La Bianca and his wife Rosemary Van Houten (pictured left along with fellow Charles Manson cult members Atkins, center, and Krenwinkel, right) arrives in court in November 1970 to tell the judge they want to testify despite the advice of their lawyers Van Houten (pictured right along with fellow Charles Manson cult members Susan Atkins, center, and Patricia Krenwinkel, right) leaves court after being convicted of first degree murder Van Houten (pictured right along with fellow Charles Manson cult members Atkins, left, and Krenwinkel, center) laughs after being sentenced to death for her role in the murders Van Houten (pictured left along with fellow Charles Manson cult members Atkins, right and Krenwinkel, center) arrives in court to hear the formal pronouncement of her death sentence During the penalty phase of her trial, she confessed to joining in stabbing Rosemary La Bianca after she was dead. Van Houten's conviction was overturned on appeal after her lawyer was found dead during the trial. Members of the Manson family took credit for the killing, but it is believed he died in a flash flood. She was retried twice and ultimately convicted in 1978 of two counts of murder and conspiracy. Her first retrial ended in a hung jury, and prior to her conviction in 1978 she was out on $200,000 bond - and even attended the Oscars with a friend. In an interview with filmmaker John Waters, Van Houten was asked what she said to people that night when they asked her if she had seen any of the films. 'If someone brought up one of the nominees, I'd just say, "No, I missed that one" or "I was away when that was playing",' Van Houten said. Manson, 81, and other followers involved in the killings are still jailed. Patricia Krenwinkel and Charles 'Tex' Watson have each been denied parole multiple times, while fellow defendant Susan Atkins died in prison in 2009. Former Manson follower Bruce Davis was approved for parole but Gov. Brown blocked his release in 2014, citing the gravity of his offenses and his refusal to fully accept responsibility for his role in the murders of a stunt man and a musician. It comes as officials draw up plans to send troops to help fight ISIS His visit is designed to shore up Libya's new national unity government British troops may be deployed to war-torn Libya without parliamentary approval, Philip Hammond said yesterday. The Foreign Secretary said 1,000 troops could be sent to Libya as part of an Italian led 6,000 strong deployment. There was no need for a vote by MPs as the troops would be in a non-combat role, he insisted during an unannounced visit to capital Tripoli. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (left) meets Fayez-al-Sarraj (right), the new prime minister of the new national unity government of Libya The news comes after Philip Hammond made an unannounced visit to Libya yesterday as officials drew up plans to send up to 1,000 troops to help fight ISIS in the war-ravaged country. His visit - designed to shore up support for Libya's new UN-backed national unity government - paves the way for fresh British military intervention just five years after UK air strikes helped oust Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi. The north African country has been reigned by chaos since the 'Arab Spring' in 2011, opening up a vacuum for militias to exploit, with ISIS seizing a long stretch of coastline along the Mediterranean. As UK defence chiefs step up plans to support Libya's under-threat unity government, Air Vice Marshal Edward Stringer will fly to Rome to tell commanders the UK could deploy up to 1,000 troops to support a 6,000 strong, Italian-led force in the country. They could be deployed on the ground to protect key buildings, such as hospitals, banks and even the port, although officials insisted they would not be in a combat role. THE PRIME MINISTER WILL KEEP THE RIGHT TO SEND TROOPS TO WAR WITHOUT A COMMONS VOTE The Government will reserve the right to send troops or planes into battle without a Commons vote, Michael Fallon announced today. Ministers studied whether to formalise a 'convention' that MPs should be given a veto on military action in most circumstances. Most MPs accept already that in an emergency, the Prime Minister should keep the right to launch military action and tell MPs later. But many wanted a new law to formalise the current arrangement, which has become standard practice since the 2003 Iraq War but is not underpinned by any official rules. The current debate over Libya and ISIS has thrown focus on the right of the PM to use military force. Mr Fallon said today: 'After careful consideration, the Government has decided that it will not be codifying the Convention in law or by resolution of the House in order to retain the ability of this and future Governments and the Armed Forces to protect the security and interests of the UK in circumstances that we cannot predict, and to avoid such decisions becoming subject to legal action.' Advertisement A defence source said: 'It is not clear yet whether this would be behind the wire or not'. This means they could be deployed to hostile areas. He said they had 'not ruled out' the option of putting troops in the cities in a security-protection role. Today Mr Hammond met Fayez al Sarraj, the prime minister of the new nine-strong Government of National Accord (GNA) administration that is seeking to unite Libya after years of civil war. Mr Hammond's visit was not made public until he arrived for security reasons. He met Mr al Sarraj in the heavily protected naval base in Tripoli, Libya's capital. His visit follows similar visits by Italian, French and German foreign ministers, while the British ambassador returned to the city for the first time since most foreign embassies pulled out in 2014 as it was considered too dangerous to remain. Mr Hammond today committed 10million in further assistance to the struggling GNA, which was only established last month. The additional money includes 1.8million for counter-terrorism and 1.5million for combating the people traffickers smuggling migrants across the Mediterranean into Europe via Libya. Speaking during his visit this morning, Mr Hammond said: 'Britain and its allies fully support Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and his government as they restore peace and stability to the whole of Libya. We stand ready to provide further assistance to Libya and its people,' he said. 'Britain is at the forefront of the international community's efforts to stabilise Libya and is committing an extra 10 million to help the government of national accord strengthen political institutions, the economy, security, and justice. 'This fund builds on our existing support to Libya of 12 million last year for development and humanitarian assistance. 'I welcome the continued efforts of Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and members of the presidency council to make progress on security, rebuilding the economy and restoring public services for the benefit of all Libyans.' Philip Hammond (pictured) today committed 10million in further assistance to the struggling GNA, which was only established last month Air Vice Marshal Edward Stringer will fly to Rome to tell commanders the UK could deploy up to 1,000 troops to the war-ravaged country to help defeat Islamic State (IS) Around 100 British special forces troops are already in Libya helping to protect its current leadership and advising local forces on fighting the increasing IS presence in the country. But there have been growing signs in recent weeks that Nato is gearing up for a much larger intervention in Libya. British and American intelligence offivers are reportedly giving tribal leaders 'suitcases of cash' to stop them opposing an international ground force. The upcoming meeting in Rome comes as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Mr Hammond travel to Luxembourg today today to discuss 'beefing up' Europe's military response to the migrant crisis. Speaking ahead of tonight's meeting, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said this afternoon that it was 'too early' to say what form the military assistance would take. The meeting of foreign and defence ministers will include a video conference with Mr Sarraj. But there have been growing signs in recent weeks that Nato is gearing up for a much larger intervention in Libya. British and American intelligence offivers are reportedly giving tribal leaders 'suitcases of cash' to stop them opposing an international ground force. The upcoming meeting in Rome comes as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond travel to Luxembourg today today to discuss 'beefing up' Europe's military response to the migrant crisis. They will discuss increasing Europe's naval presence off the Libyan coast as part of Operation Sophia - against people smugglers - and are also expected to discuss sending security units to Tripoli. Rescuers help people in the sea after a boat carrying some dozens migrants crashed into rocks as they tried to enter the Italian port of Pantelleria Other missions in the works include bombing Islamic State fighters, training Libyan troops, combating people smugglers and disarming militias - all of which could include British forces. Last night Crispin Blunt, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said the deployment of UK troops without any clear plan would 'almost certainly make things worse'. He said: 'The idea that you could put a training force of that size in the country and it would not be seen as Western intervention is the view of someone living on cloud cuckoo land. 'We would find ourselves a target for those who wish the West ill. 'Unless there is a clear policy objective explaining how troops would deliver the desired outcome, it will almost certainly make things worse.' Under current plans, they would be part of an Italian-led force of 6,000 soldiers that would help to restore peace in Libya, which has descended into chaos since the European-led overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi. A UN-brokered ceasefire has allowed the formation of a 'unity' government intended to replace the two warring administrations - one in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk - that have arisen in the last few years. Fresh intervention would be highly controversial given the criticism that has been made of European leaders, including David Cameron, for failing to plan for post-war reconstruction in Libya after 2011. Around 100 British special forces troops are already in Libya helping to protect its current leadership and advising local forces on fighting the increasing IS presence in the country Air Vice Marshal Stringer was due to meet with his Italian and French counterparts this coming Thursday at a so-called 'force sensing conference' where they will cover topics such as Libya and ISIS President Barack Obama described the European action as a 's*** show', and said his own failure to get more involved has been the biggest regret of his term in office. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there are no immediate plans underway to send UK forces to the country, but MP Crispin Blunt said this is 'nonsense'. He added that the government is being 'less than candid' about its plans. Air Vice Marshal Stringer was due to meet with his Italian and French counterparts this coming Thursday at a so-called 'force sensing conference' where they will cover topics such as Libya. Last night the meeting had to be cancelled due to a diary clash, but will be rescheduled. The official offer of assistance - likely to be around 1,000 British troops - will not be made until a later meeting. EU countries are waiting for Libya's unity government to make a request for help before any western troops are sent to help stem the flow of migrants and bolster security in the region. Currently Britain has one ship, HMS Richmond, in the Mediterranean Sea trying to stop the smuggling gangs profiting from the migrant crisis in Libya. But EU countries are under pressure to do more to stop the flow of migrants to Europe amid warnings another 800,000 people are waiting to catch a boat to Italy. Currently Britain has one ship, HMS Richmond, in the Mediterranean Sea trying to stop the smuggling gangs profiting from the migrant crisis in Libya EU countries are under pressure to do more to stop the flow of migrants to Europe amid warnings another 800,000 people are waiting to catch a boat to Italy An MOD spokesperson said: 'The UK continues to work with international partners on how best to support the new Libyan government. 'All planning has been focussed on training Libyan Security Forces to provide their own security to the Government and Libyan people. 'No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces.' They could be deployed on the ground to protect key buildings, such as hospitals, banks and even the port, although officials insisted they would not be in a combat role. A defence source said: 'It is not clear yet whether this would be behind the wire or not'. This means they could be deployed to hostile areas. He said they had 'not ruled out' the option of putting troops in the cities in a security-protection role. He said: 'I am not at all happy about what I believe were the real reasons I was the one asked to leave' The president of North Carolina's NAACP chapter was removed from an American Airlines flight after he responded to a passenger who made remarks referring to him as 'those people'. Reverend William Barber said he was removed from a flight from Reagan National Airport in Washington DC headed to Raleigh-Durham on Friday. The passenger criticized Barber's need for two airline seats, even though the minister purchased the two to accommodate his physical disability, the Bradenton Herald reported. No charges were filed according to a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Scroll down for video Reverend William Barber said he was removed from a flight from Reagan National Airport in Washington DC headed to Raleigh-Durham on Friday after another passenger made disparaging remarks about him The passenger referred to him as 'those people' and criticized Barber's need for two airline seats, even though the minister purchased the two to accommodate his physical disability In a statement, Barber claimed the other passenger said 'he had problems with "those people"' and criticized his need for two seats. The minister, who leads Moral Mondays, a series of civil disobedience protests, said: 'I became more and more uncomfortable, especially since he was behind me. 'The attitude with which he spoke, and my experiences with others who have directed similar harsh, sometimes threatening words, emails, and calls at me, came to my mind.' Barber suffers from a bone-fusion arthritis, and could not turn around to address the other passenger. He stood up to speak 'as one human being to another', but was later told he had to leave the plane after a crew member called the police. 'The American Airlines team at the desk was very gracious,' Barber said. 'Many said they were concerned and some said they did not agree with the decision.' American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said Sunday that a passenger who didn't follow crew instructions was removed from a flight. Barber said he had traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak at a national interfaith event that launched the 2016 Ecumenical Advocacy Days. He said: 'I am not at all happy about what I believe were the real reasons I was the one asked to leave. Barber stood up to speak 'as one human being to another', but was later told he had to leave the plane. He said: 'I am not at all happy about what I believe were the real reasons I was the one asked to leave' 'My training and experiences with non-violent civil disobedience, and my deep faith, however, made my decision to peacefully comply with the order to get off the plane an easy one.' Barber said he turned the matter over to attorneys. The flight arrived at RDU shortly before midnight, about 40 minutes late, Miller said. According to the Hearld, the North Carolina Republican Party jumped on the opportunity to criticize Barber. Vice Chair Michele Nix said: 'I guess Rev. Barber thinks it's moral to inconvenience other passengers wanting to get home to see their families. After being critical of George Clooney for hosting a pair of fundraisers for Hillary Clinton, today Bernie Sanders struck a more Sen. Bernie Sanders appreciated remarks actor George Clooney made on Meet the Press saying that the level of money in politics is 'obscene.' 'Well, I have a lot of respect for George Clooney's honesty and integrity on this issue,' Sanders told CNN's Dana Bash. Bash pointed out the obvious, that Clooney was raising dollars for Sanders' rival Hillary Clinton, and asked the Vermont senator if he thought the Hollywood actor was backing the wrong horse. 'Well, I think he is,' the senator responded. Scroll down for video Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont complimented actor George Clooney - who hosted a pair of fundraisers for Hillary Clinton's rival Hillary Clinton - for calling the amount of money in politics 'obscene' CNN's Dana Bash asked Sen. Bernie Sanders if he thought actor George Clooney was supporting the wrong Democrat. 'Well, I think he is,' Sanders responded Clooney and his wife Amal hosted a duo of high-dollar fundraisers for Clinton this weekend in California. On Friday night, they dined with the candidate at the San Francisco home of Shervin Pishevar, a Silicon Valley 'super angel' investor. Couples had to fork over and raise $353,400 to sit at the head table, with the minimum ticket going for $33,400. On Saturday, the ticket price was again $33,400 to attend a Clinton fundraiser at the Clooneys Studio City, Los Angeles home. Co-hosts for this event included director Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, longtime Clinton super donor Haim Saban and actress Kate Capshaw, who is married to Spielberg. Sanders was critical of the fundraisers as soon as they were announced, but had nothing but nice things to say about Clooney today. Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared on several Sunday shows, having returned to the states from the Vatican, and spoke at the First Corinthians Baptist Church in Harlem, New York On a warm April day, Sen. Bernie Sanders and his son Levi Sanders (left) traipsed through Brooklyn Bridge Park meeting potential supporters Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped in on picnicking New Yorkers as he walked through Brooklyn Bridge Park. Later he would hold a rally at Prospect Park Sen Bernie Sanders returned to New York City today to campaign in advance of the state's primary, which will be held on Tuesday 'He is right,' Sanders said. 'One of the great tragedies of American life today is the degree to which big money is buying elections, in which elected officials become responsive to the needs of Wall Street and wealthy campaign contributors, rather than the need of ordinary people.' Noting that perhaps Clooney should be backing him instead of the Democratic fronrunner, Sanders complimented the actor for being 'honest enough to say that there is something wrong when few people, in this case wealthy individuals, but in other instances for the secretary, it is Wall Street and powerful special interests, who are able to contribute unbelievably large sums of money.' 'That's not what democracy is about,' Sanders continued. 'That is a movement toward oligarchy.' Sanders used his oft-repeated line, that his campaign contributions average $27, before smacking Clinton once again. 'And you're not going to have a government that represents all of us so long as you have candidates like Secretary Clinton being dependent on big money interests,' Sanders noted. Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke to supporters Sunday afternoon in his home borough of Brooklyn in Prospect Park Beyond complimenting Clooney, Sanders went on a number of the Sunday shows today and then campaigned in New York City with the state's pivotal primary just two days away. He was just returning from a trip to the Vatican, where he briefly met Pope Francis. Sanders needs to win the Empire State, where he grew up before moving to Vermont, by a handful of points to eat away Clinton's current pledged delegate lead. That could be a difficult feat as new numbers out today, coming from a CBS/Yougov poll, show Sanders 10 points behind, with 43 percent of New York Democrats supporting the Vermont senator and another 53 percent supporting the former of secretary of state. Today, Sanders attended a church service in Harlem before traipsing through Brooklyn Bridge Park on an unseasonably warm April day. The candidate ended up at a large rally in Prospect Park in his home borough of Brooklyn. At the rally Sanders reminded his supporters like he does at every rally that he decided against having a super PAC. Severe weather is threatening more than 16million people across the Plains and Colorado as heavy rainfall and snow continues to hit. A snowstorm parked over central Colorado that brought heavy snow to parts of the state and Wyoming and rain to Oklahoma and Texas is dumping more snow in the Rocky Mountains. The wet snow, paired with heavy winds, could cause power outages and downed trees across the area. Forecasters say the ongoing storm will linger on Sunday as the center moves slowly toward the Colorado-Wyoming border. Scroll down for video Maintenance workers guide tractors to clear snow off the pitch before the Colorado Rapids host the New York Red Bulls in an MLS soccer match on Saturday as severe weather continues to hit Colorado and the Plains David Bartholdi clears his driveway after a overnight spring storm in Woodland Park, Colorado, on Saturday Maintenance man Joseph Dominguez uses a shovel to clear snow between the main terminal of Denver International Airport and the adjoining hotel as a severe spring storm hits Colorado on Saturday Higher elevations in Colorado accumulated up to three feet of snow by Sunday morning, and Denver faced between eight inches and a foot, Michael Palmer, a lead meteorologist with the Weather Channel, told NBC News. More than 800 flights out of Denver International Airport were canceled on Sunday due to bad weather, the National Weather Service reported. More than 3million people were still under storm warning in the area on Sunday. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is warning of possible danger from avalanches as new snow continues to pile up. Just earlier this week, Colorado was seeing balmy temperatures of 70 degrees. The National Weather Service said four feet of snow has fallen between Denver and the Continental Divide, and a winter storm warning remains in effect for southeastern Wyoming, where up to 20 inches of snow was expected along the southern Laramie Range. The National Weather Service said that a 'copious' amount of rain is expected to fall in the Plains, with up to eight inches falling in Texas and western Nebraska. The weather should let up by Sunday afternoon On Monday the temperatures appear to be milder than this weekend, though Montana and South Dakota are still facing snow Freezing temperatures return to Colorado and the Plains on Monday night as Denver sees a low of 29 degrees The storm system has already dropped more than seven inches of rain in Frederick in far southwestern Oklahoma. Palmer said a 'copious' amount of rain is expected to fall in the Plains, with up to eight inches falling in Texas and western Nebraska. About 12million people in the Plains are under flash flood warnings and watches or other severe weather warnings tied to storms. Regions in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska have picked up double the amount of rainfall expected to fall in all of April in just two days. More rain in the area could bring flash flooding, and Texas and Oklahoma could also face tornadoes and large hail, according to Weather. com. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that the Texas State Operations Center was on high alert. By Saturday morning, Accuweather reported nearly a foot had already settled over the mountains of Colorado. Another two feet are on the way, although forecasters have raised the possibility for rain and thunderstorms Corey Christiansen posted this photo to Facebook, writing: 'This was like shoveling a thousand slurpees off my driveway #springsnow #wherestheadvil' 'It is crucial that Texans stay clear of rising waters and heed warnings from state and local officials, who stand ready to assist and support communities impacted as this weather system passes through Texas,' he said. Conditions will taper off by Sunday afternoon, although snow can continue into Tuesday in the mountains of Colorado. Temperatures will remain in the mid-30s on Sunday, gradually increasing each day until Wednesday, which will see a high of 60F in Denver. The 4/20 Denver rally to celebrate the legalization of marijuana in Colorado this weekend was postponed in part due to the weather, KDVR reported. Rappers Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa were scheduled to perform at the event, and one attendee left an angry Facebook message on the event page, writing: 'Thanks for the notice 20min late.. The weather isn't even bad. 'Spent $300 on tickets and $30 on Uber and now I'm standing here with my d--k in my hand because you gave no notice.' Maintenance workers use tractors to plow the pitch before the Colorado Rapids host the New York Red Bulls in an MLS soccer match on Saturday Advertisement More than 7,000 people marched through Brussels in a peaceful protest 'against terror and hatred' almost a month after coordinated suicide attacks in the Belgian capital killed 32 and wounded hundreds more. The march, organised by civil society groups, was aimed at displaying a show of unity after the bloodshed. The 6,000 people who set off from the Gare du Nord railway station were joined in the city centre by 1,000 others who started in Molenbeek, a rundown district that has gained an unwelcome reputation as a jihadi haven. Many of the thousands to march through the streets were clutching Belgian flags, flowers and emblems and banners of peace. More than 7,000 people marched through Brussels in a peaceful protest 'against terror and hatred' The peaceful march took place almost a month after coordinated suicide attacks in the Belgian capital killed 32 and wounded hundreds more A woman lays flowers on a memorial to victims of the Brussels attacks - in which 32 were killed - during a march against hate in the Belgian capital 'When our fellow citizens, defenceless civilians, are cut down in a cowardly attack, all citizens should stand up to express their disgust and solidarity,' said Hassan Bousetta, a local councillor from the city of Liege, who helped organise the march. 'It is a moment of reflection, a message of compassion for the victims and a moment when citizens come together,' he said. Carrying a banner in French and Flemish reading '#alltogether against hatred and terror', the main group of marchers was led by families of the victims, followed by representatives from various religious communities. A dozen members of an association for inter-religious dialogue carried a banner with drawings of doves emblazoned with the words, 'Together in peace', while a Muslim group carried a placard reading: 'Love is my religion and my faith.' In the group that set off from Molenbeek, children chanted: 'Daesh [ISIS], off you go, Brussels isn't for you!' Thirty two people were killed in the March 22 bomb attacks which targeted Zaventem airport and a subway train at Maalbeek station, near the European Union (EU) institutions in central Brussels. At the ceremony, the names of the dead were read out before relatives of the dead and witnesses took turns to speak. The 6,000 people who set off from the Gare du Nord railway station were joined in the city centre by 1,000 others who started in Molenbeek The main group of marchers was led by families of the 32 victims killed in coordinated terror attacks in Brussels a month ago, as well as representatives of religious organisations Almost a month before today's march, 32 people were killed in the March 22 bomb attacks which targeted Zaventem airport and a subway train at Maalbeek station Many of the thousands to march through the streets were clutching Belgian flags, flowers and emblems and banners of peace In the group of marchers that set off from Molenbeek, children chanted: 'Daesh [ISIS], off you go, Brussels isn't for you!' Marchers gather at a memorial to victims of the Brussels attacks in the centre of the Belgian capital today 'Our Islam is based on the love of God and love for each other, regardless of one's culture, origin, religion,' said a message from the widower of Loubna Lafquiri, a Belgian-Moroccan mother of three who was killed in the metro blast. Our Islam is based on the love of God and love for each other, regardless of one's culture, origin, religion Loubna Lafquiri, widow of Brussels attack victim In a poignant address to his wife, he wrote: 'My princess, my treasure, my eternal love, I say to you that we will meet again soon.' The bloodshed tore at Belgium's social fabric and stirred anguished debate about the emergence of jihadists among the country's Muslim underclass. On Saturday, Interior Minister Jan Jambon - a Flemish nationalist who has been criticised for his handling of security - said a 'significant section of the Muslim population danced' when the attacks took place. He also accused Muslim residents of Molenbeek of throwing stones and bottles at police during an operation last month to arrest a suspect in connection with November's attacks in Paris. 'This is the real problem. Terrorists we can pick up, remove from society. But they are just a boil. Underneath is a cancer that is much more difficult to treat. We can do it, but it won't be overnight,' he said. His comments drew fire on Sunday. A woman prepares to lay a flower at a memorial to the victims of the Brussels attacks at the Bourse in Brussels Those in the main group carried a banner in French and Flemish reading '#alltogether against hatred and terror' The names of those killed in the Brussels attacks were read out in Brussels before their relatives and witnesses took turns to speak 'It is abysmal to exploit events in order to sow division,' said Pieter Bouchery, a union official with telephone operator Mobistar. 'To say that Molenbeek is a jihadists' paradise is stupid and not right for the people who live there.' Several Socialist MPs have called on Prime Minister Charles Michel to condemn Jambon's remarks, media reports said. Advertisement Not many people can say theyve seen a terrifying zombie, the Mad Hatter and Albert Einstein all in the same room but pudding lovers from across the country did just that when they attended the Worlds Largest Cake Decorating Show. The event was held at Alexandra Palace in north London and attracted swathes of international cake makers, with hotly contested competitions and a wide range of taster sessions for enthusiasts of all things sponge to enjoy. People could also feast their eyes on over 100 exhibitions and browse stands with ornately crafted treats on display. However, why for many the event was a chance to peruse the stalls and no doubt, sample some of the many tasty treats on offer for others it was a time to test their baking and decorating prowess. Entrants competed for a long list of coveted awards from professional judges, led by Cake Internationals Chairman of Judges, Brian Taylor. A number of themes were represented, including literature, with nods to Romeo and Juliet and Alice in Wonderland, religion, culture, cult figures and fantasy. One of the most eye-catching cakes was a treat resembling the head of a White Walker the terrifying zombie-like creatures that cause death and destruction in the novels and TV series, Game of Thrones. While all bakers and decorators deserved plaudits for their incredible attention to detail, commitment, and creativity the winner of the illustrious Best in Show award was Dawn Butler for her excellent Albert Einstein cake. This cake resembling a White Walker from the fantasy series Game of Thrones was one of the most eye-catching efforts at the show Genius: The winner of the Best in Show award was Dawn Butler for this excellent cake showing Albert Einstein pulling his iconic pose Varied: There were a number of cultural themes represented at the exhibition and with this cake, an Asian market scene is depicted Traditional: While it is not clear who this detailed cake is supposed to depict, clearly a lot of effort has been put in to recreating the Elizabethan ruff the man is wearing On the run: The baker of this creative effort has clearly been touched by the cult-crime story of 1930s bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde As well as carefully creating two decorative figurines of the outlaw lovers, the baker has even mocked up a victim lying at the cake's base Gruesome: While this cake is no doubt tasty, it looks less than appetising - perhaps the teeth showing through flesh could put people off Whoever decorated this cake clearly has an eye for detail, with the ornate nature of the beautiful butterfly wings and matching skirt Youth: As well as fantasy and nature, children was another popular theme at the expo and this cake shows a little girl in her bedroom Souvenir: Some cake fans couldn't resist a quick snap at the mammoth exhibition and captured shots of an incredible dwarf creation Childhood memories were represented with this fantastic effort as Beatrix Potter favourite, Jemima Puddle-Duck stands pride of place Under the sea: Judges spent hours pouring over the entries including this interesting nautically themed cake, resembling a mermaid Novels: Other classics from the world of children's literature made appearances including Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Crazy creations: The eccentric Mad Hatter from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was beautifully recreated with this extravagant cake Star-crossed: Homage to the works of William Shakespeare also featured among the plethora of tasty treats, including a tribute to his tragedy Romeo and Juliet Popular: The Worlds Largest Cake Decorating Show attracts swathes of visitors every year, who enjoy perusing the stalls and tucking into the taster sessions While there were plenty of unconventional creations on offer, there was also a selection of traditional cakes for people to enjoy As well as entering competitions and trying out tasty treats, visitors could also enjoy a number of decorating workshops at the event Fiery: A terrifying dragon protects its haul of golden goblets and coins on this colourful fantasy-themed cake A man who allegedly robbed a Genoa Township bank while dressed as a woman has been arrested and charged with armed robbery, Michigan State Police announced Friday. Brian Dewayne Ali Jr is alleged to have entered the PNC Bank on April 4 wearing a wig, a red jacket and a dowdy scarf before brandishing a handgun and what appeared to be a bomb and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money. But if police are right, the cunning disguise proved useless when they arrested him Thursday, Detroit Free Press reported Suspect: Brian Dewayne Ali Jr (left) is suspected of being the man (right) who robbed a bank in Genoa Township, Michigan, while dressed in a woman's clothing and wig on April 4 Bombshell: The robber is alleged to have used a handgun and something that appeared to be a bomb when he took an undisclosed sum of money from the bank Police told the paper that Ali was tracked down over the course of two weeks as police conducted search warrants at multiple occasions to gather evidence, including cash believed to have been taken during the robbery. Additional details could not be released as the investigation is ongoing. The robbery occurred at about 9:20am on April 4, after which the robber drove off in a blue Ford Mustang. Following the incident, the bank had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Ali was arrested without incident Thursday and arraigned Friday on five counts of armed robbery and four counts each of bank robbery and unlawful imprisonment. He is currently being held on a $1.5 million bond. Hillary Clinton's senate campaign finance director Gabrielle Fialkoff was named in the papers, too Seng was involved in a fundraising scandal during the Clinton administration and Giustra has donated millions to the Clinton Foundation Billionaires Ng Lap Seng and Frank Giustra were both named on the list The Clintons have been linked to numerous people named in the Bill and Hillary Clinton have been linked to numerous people named in the Panama Papers, it has been revealed. The former president and the Democratic presidential front-runner denounced thousands of off-shore bank accounts as 'outrageous tax havens' for the ultra-wealthy when the data first came to light. However, it is now clear the Clintons are connected to many of the people named from finance directors of campaigns to friends. 'Now some of this behavior is clearly against the law, and everyone who violates the law anywhere should be held accountable. Bill and Hillary Clinton have been linked to numerous people named in the Panama Papers, even though the couple denounced the off-shore 'tax havens' 'But its also scandalous how much is actually legal,' Hillary said about the scandal. Gabrielle Fialkoff, who served as Clintons finance director during her first campaign for the Senate in New York, is one of the people who is believed to have used law firm Mossack Fonseca to set up an off-shore account. Fialkoff also has connections to New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and is director of New York City's Office of Strategic Partnership. The Chagoury Group, an international developer based in West Africa pledged $1 billion in projects to the Clinton Foundation, the New York Post reported. The group appeared to named, too. Also named was Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng, Canadian billionaire Frank Giustra and Marc Rich. Seng was involved with a fundraising scandal during the Clinton administration, Giustra donated $100 million to the Clinton Foundation and Rich was pardoned by Clinton when he was president. While the Clintons themselves are not named in the Panama Papers, donors to the Clinton Foundation, former campaign advisers and a man who was pardoned when Bill Clinton was president Nearly 40 years' worth of archives from Mossack Fonseca have been pored over by hundreds of journalists around the world since being given to a German reporter a year ago. They have resulted in the so-called Panama Papers: a series of reports exposing politicians, celebrities and some criminals who used Mossack Fonseca's services to stash assets in offshore companies. Mossack Fonseca's founders, lawyers Ramon Fonseca and Juergen Mossack, insist they did nothing illegal. They stress that offshore companies in themselves are not illicit - and they were not responsible for any activities their clients did with the entities. Tens of thousands of California voters, including Demi Moore and Emma Stone, mistakenly registered as members of a conservative minor political party that opposes gay marriage and abortion. A survey conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that nearly 73 percent of those enrolled in the American Independent Party, which has 472,000 members, may have chosen it by mistake. Of the 500 members who were surveyed, fewer than 4 percent could correctly identify their own registration with the conservative party, believing they had merely registered as an independent. Those included the likes of Moore and Stone, as well as Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco, Sugar Ray Leonard and Arnold Schwarzenegger's son Patrick. Demi Moore and Patrick Schwarzenegger are just two of a number of celebrities who mistakenly registered with the conservative minor political party The American Independent Party A survey conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that nearly 73 percent of those enrolled in the American Independent Party, which has 472,000 members, may have chosen it by mistake during voter registration Moore was among Hollywood celebrities with known Democratic leanings listed as members. She has contributed money to and campaigned for President Barack Obama. Her registration as an AIP member is wrong, a representative said. 'Demi Moore is not, nor has ever been, a member of the American Independent Party,' the representative told the Times. Patrick Schwarzenegger selected the American Independent Party when he registered to vote in 2013. A family spokesman said the 22-year-old plans to change his registration. Cuoco said she was taking immediate steps to remove her name as a member of the party. The American Independent Party was founded in 1967 by segregationist George Wallace. It is against gay marriage and abortion 'The views of this party do not accurately reflect my personal beliefs and I am not affiliated with any political party,' she said. Stone and Leonard plan to re-register before the June election, representatives told the paper. Six political parties are listed in alphabetical order on Californias voter registration card. The American Independent Party is at the top, followed by Democrat, Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom, Republican and Other. There is also the option not to 'disclose' a political party preference and register with one of the six parties. It is only this option that allows a voter to be considered an independent. The American Independent Party's roots date to 1967 when segregationist George Wallace launched his second run for the White House. Wallace famously tried to stop the University of Alabama from being racially integrated on the orders of President John F Kennedy when he was governor of the state in 1963. During his inaugural speech after being sworn into office, Wallace said: 'I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.' Wallace, who had run as a Democrat in 1964, helped create the party and ran on its ticket. Today, that party exists only in California. The American Independent Party said it is no longer segregationist. 'What we are now is a conservative, constitutionalist party,' said Markham Robinson, the party's executive committee chairman. Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco and Emma Stone are also among the celebrities with mistakenly enrolled in the party, along with tens of thousands of other Californians Along with supporting a 'pro-life Constitution' and believing that marriage between a man and woman is a 'God-ordained contract', the party also supports building a fence along the entire US border. More than 50 percent of those surveyed in the Times poll said they wanted to leave the party after they heard excerpts of it's platform. But the mistaken registration could prevent people from casting votes in the state's June 7 presidential primary, considered to be California's most competitive in recent years. Republicans have a closed primary this year, but Democrats will allow voters who registered with 'no party preference' - true independents - to cast a ballot. But if a voter is registered with the American Independent Party, they will only be allowed to vote for candidates on that party's ballot. On a hot day in Agra, when the temperature hit 106f and the sun beat down mercilessly from a cloudless Indian sky, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did the unthinkable. They chose to pose at the Taj Mahal on what has become known as Dianas bench the spot where Williams mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, famously and purposely set out to show the world that she felt abandoned and alone in a loveless marriage. What were they thinking? For nearly 25 years that image has been seared in the public consciousness as a symbol of Dianas deep unhappiness, caused according to her own narrative by her husband Prince Charless enduring infidelity with Camilla Parker Bowles. This carefully arranged photo-opportunity in 1992 was her tacit signal to the world that her heart was broken by forces beyond her control. Scroll down for video Pictured: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge recreate his mother's famous pose at the Taj Mahal And although she did not know it herself, it was also the beginning of the end. A few months later the royal couple separated, four years later they were divorced, the following summer Diana was dead. If there is one photograph that reflects the sadness which went before and the heartache that was to follow, it is this celebrated image, so freighted with meaning: Diana the queen of hearts alone and smiling bravely amid the marbled grandeur of the worlds most famous monument to love. It seems to have been a very deliberate decision by Prince William to open these terrible old wounds and pose with his wife in exactly the same spot. As the Mails Richard Kay revealed on Saturday, the idea was to lay to rest the ghosts of his mothers unhappiness. Yet what purpose could it serve, except to remind everyone what a miserable time Diana had when she was a wife of Windsor? Furthermore, it would and did encourage further comparisons between the Duchess of Cambridge and the woman whose shadow falls across every facet of her life. In the end, the couple went ahead with the bench shot because they wanted, said the Duke, to create some memories of our own. One can see that he meant well, that his instincts were admirable. He hoped the newer, happier photographs of the loved-up Cambridges would secure their own place in history. However, that is not what happened. Not at all. For the second Kates shapely bottom hit the Taj Mahal bench, she was once more in the unenviable position of being judged and assessed in terms of her late mother-in-law. A hellish enough prospect for any woman, but a nightmare if your mother-in-law just happens to be Princess Diana, one of the most adored royals of all time. Contrasted to the brilliance of Dianas sheer star power, Kate will always come off second best. That is not necessarily a criticism of Kate for what woman would not? Thats why I think it is unfair for courtiers to concoct such contrived royal scenarios, which whip up interest and invite the comparison. See more of the latest news updates from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's India tour Princess Diana was pictured on a bench in front of the Indian landmark in 1992 as her marriage to Prince Charles unravelled Far from setting a happier new agenda, the photo-opportunity gave newspapers and TV stations across the globe a perfectly valid reason to run the old and new Taj Mahal photographs together. Like the flick of a monsters tail in a swamp, it dredged up a lot of old hurts, each of them bubbling to the surface in a most unhelpful way. For a start, it seems hard to imagine that Prince Charles or indeed Camilla was entirely thrilled that the world was reminded yet again of his infidelity all those years ago. Everyone was also reminded how Charles had promised to take his bride to the great Indian monument to love then miserably abandoned her while he went to address businessmen in Delhi. Yet while Prince Charles may have cause to feel aggrieved, it was all so much worse for Kate. Some might think it would be more obliging to the Duchess of Cambridge if William and his team of courtiers and advisers thought twice before throwing the poor girl into the abyss of always, always, always being compared to Diana. Particularly in this gilded world of royal protocols and traditions, there is no escape. There are times when it must be suffocating in the extreme. When in London, the Cambridges live in Kensington Palace, to which Diana is so inextricably linked, not least because of the sea of flowers laid outside its gates after her death. The Duchess is ferried to and from formal events in carriages and limousines that once transported Diana, and is encouraged to wear tiaras in which Diana once dazzled. Most overwhelmingly of all, on her ring finger she wears the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that once belonged to her mother-in-law, given to her by William when she accepted his proposal. Kate will do well to escape the shadow of her late mother-in-law, writes JAN MOIR This was my way of keeping her close to it all, he once explained. One wonders what his wife really thinks about there being three of them in this marriage, too. The rigours and constraints of royal life are bad enough, but under the weight of such history, the Duchess of Cambridge is never allowed to forge her own identity. S he is instead sentenced to forever being a shadow of someone who went before, someone whose allure and magnetism she can never match. Diana is the ghost in Kates royal life who is never quite laid to rest. Perhaps that is exactly what William wants but is it entirely fair on his young wife? In the past, Ive criticised the Cambridges for being boring. In my opinion, they trundle around the world as bland as a pair of country mice, terrified of doing or saying anything interesting. Even at the Taj Mahal, William could only mumble: Its a beautiful place, stunning designs in there. He didnt even put his arm around Kate for the photograph. Meanwhile, Kate opined it was the perfect way to celebrate their forthcoming wedding anniversary. Honestly. Youd think they had just toured a bingo hall in Cheam instead of one of the wonders of the world. Yet while no one could match Dianas ability to capture the moment, Kate does have a charm of her own. This tour to India and Bhutan has garnered widespread positive coverage, and in many ways proved she is a terrific duchess. She never looks shy, grumpy or fed up in the way her husband often does. And while the Royal Family was scared of Dianas capriciousness and influence, Kate is entirely different. She is steady and serene and has the rare gift in royal circles of looking genuinely thrilled to meet everyone who crosses her path. Thats why stunts such as the one at the Taj Mahal ultimately do her no favours; a duchess sent to do the job of a princess, an unwilling lamb to the slaughter. They had washed the bench, put a white cloth on top, made it all as regal as possible. Kate sat there, her knees touching her husbands, her pose an echo of one a quarter of a century earlier, the sun glinting off the sapphire on her hand. Collingwood AFL chief executive Gary Pert has defended Grant Hackett's behaviour after the Olympic gold medallist was accused of assaulting another passenger before he was pictured slumped in a wheelchair when he was escorted off the plane. Gary Pert, CEO of the AFL club, said he was sitting next to the swimming legend on Sunday when Hackett was accused of tweaking a passenger's nipple 'quite forcefully' on a Virgin Australia flight from Adelaide to Melbourne. He said the accusation Hackett, 35, assaulted a fellow plane passenger when the man reclined his chair had been 'completely blown out of proportion', Pert told Triple M's Hot Breakfast radio on Monday morning. Scroll down for video Gary Pert, CEO of Collingwood AFL club, has defended Grant Hackett after the swimmer allegedly tweaked a passenger's nipple 'quite forcefully' before he was allegedly escorted from the plane slumped in a wheelchair Hackett, 35, was detained and questioned by Federal Police over the incident on the Virgin Australia flight from Adelaide to Melbourne on Sunday morning 'Clearly Grant was having some issues on the flight. I'm sure he might have had a drink before he got on the flight.' 'He wasn't aggressive. In fact, the majority of the flight he was pretty well passed out.' Pert confirmed a passenger had put his seat back, but said although Hackett 'wasn't happy' about it, he had merely 'appeared to reach forward and touch him on the back'. 'I can't talk on behalf of how the other passenger felt about that, but certainly there was no assault or major altercation. 'To be quite honest, Grant was quite incapacitated at the time to do much more than be able to tap him.' Collingwood CEO Gary Pert (pictured) confirmed a passenger had put his seat back, but said although Hackett 'wasn't happy' about it, he had merely 'appeared to reach forward and touch him on the back' Pert said he had helped Hackett off the plane when it became apparent he was in 'quite a bit of trouble', apparently due to alcohol. A photo broadcast by Seven News is believed to show the three-time Olympic gold medallist slumped over a wheelchair after he was escorted out of the plane at Melbourne Airport. Hackett has been questioned by Federal Police over the incident. The business class passenger, who was sitting in front of Hackett, has spoken about how he felt 'violated' when the swimmer 'groped his chest' during the row. 'There was no altercation I was sexually assaulted by that man,' the passenger told the Herald Sun. 'As I reclined my chair he grabbed it and yanked it back. Then he put his hand through and groped my chest and tweaked my nipple quite forcefully.' The young executive from Sydney, who was travelling on the flight with his partner, said that they both turned around and asked the swimmer what he was doing. 'Mr Hackett then stroked my arm and said: "It's OK, it's all right".' Hackett, who recently missed out on qualification for the Rio Games, allegedly yelled abuse at the passenger and grabbed the man by the chest Hackett, who recently missed out on qualification for the Rio Games, was then allegedly restrained by flight crew and escorted off the flight at Melbourne Airport. Witnesses on board said the former Olympic champion 'smelt of alcohol' on the flight. Australian Federal Police told Daily Mail Australia that officers were requested to attend an arrival gate at Melbourne Airport on Sunday morning, and that a 35-year-old man had been detained. No charges have been laid, but an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Virgin Australia confirmed an incident took place, however the statement added it would not comment further to 'respect the privacy of passengers and cabin crew'. The alleged assault comes days after the father-of-two fell short in a comeback attempt when he failed to qualify for the Australian Olympic team. Hackett was one of the guest speakers at the Crows' Chairman's Function on Saturday night, which was hosted by TV presenter Troy Gray. The swimmer has been approached for a comment by Daily Mail Australia. GRANT HACKETT'S POST-SWIMMING WOES PENTHOUSE TRASHING: A drunken domestic meltdown after Derby Day celebrations in 2011 was the first example of a dark side. His wife Candice Alley called police after Hackett reportedly went on a rampage through their apartment, smashing furniture and photo frames and upending a grand piano. Westpac dumped him as a brand ambassador after the incident, while a children's charity also cut ties. BITTER DIVORCE: Hackett was kicked out of the marital home in 2012 following a drunken night out after the Logies. His high-profile marriage to pop star Alley ended in flames with both sides battling over prenuptial agreements and custody of their twins, Charlize and Jagger. LOST IN THE CASINO: Disoriented and drugged up on sleeping pills, Hackett was photographed in 2014 wandering the foyer of Crown Casino barefoot and barely dressed, while searching for his four-year-old son who had gone missing. REHAB: Hackett checked into rehab-for-the-stars facility, The Meadows in Arizona, for five weeks in 2014 to kick his addiction to the powerful Stilnox medication, a hangover from his competition days. Upon his return to Australia, Hackett told media he was ready to get back on track with his life. INFLIGHT INCIDENT: Anger issues erupted again in April 2016 on an interstate flight, where the swimmer reportedly groped and tweaked the nipple of another passenger and yelled abuse. Police met Hackett at the terminal where he was questioned. The incident throws into jeopardy Hackett's role as mentor to the Rio Olympics swimming team. Advertisement Hackett has reportedly been detained at Melbourne Airport by Australian Federal Police officials Hackett is one of the most successful swimmers in Australian history, and has held world records in the 200m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle Hackett was spotted wandering round Melbourne's Crown casino half-naked in February 2014 after taking the sleeping pill Stilnox Hackett said the 2012 breakdown of his marriage to Candice Alley (pictured together) took a 'physical, mental and emotional' toll on him Hackett (pictured) has also been in negotiations to join Channel 7's Olympics broadcast team Hackett, 35, was flying in first-class with Virgin Australia when he allegedly got into an altercation with a passenger Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard was handed a one-month good behaviour bond and fined $1,000 after she pleaded guilty to falsifying border protection documents. Two other charges of illegal importation brought against Heard, 29, were dropped in a Gold Coast court on Monday due to lack of evidence after she failed to declare the couple's two dogs on her arrival into Australia last year. A conviction was not recorded against Heard after her lawyers argued it would impact on her work as an actress and the bond included a $1,000 recognisance. Before Heard was sentenced, Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan was told that the actress failing to declare Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo had been 'a tired, terrible mistake'. And it seems jet lag got the better of the couple again when Heard had to elbow her snoozing husband Depp, 52, during her defence team's statements on Monday afternoon. Scroll down for video Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard leaving court on the Gold Coast where she pleaded guilty to falsifying border protection documents. She was given a one-month good behaviour bond and fined $1,000 Heard was given a one-month good behaviour bond and fined $1,000 (pictured with Depp arriving at court) Depp and his wife who pleaded guilty after she brought her pet dogs on their private jet into Australia last year A large media contingent swarmed as the couple arrived at Southport Magistrates Court at 8.50am on Monday. Two charges of illegal importation against Heard were dropped Previously a spokeswoman for Sydney law firm Ashurst, which is representing Heard, refused to confirm on Sunday whether the celebrity couple would actually appear 'Heard's defence still on his feet... Johnny Depp keeps closing his eyes.. Amber has elbowed him,' 7News journalist Bianca Stone tweeted from the Gold Coast courthouse. 'Pretty certain Amber Heard just had to elbow husband Johnny Depp to wake him up during lawyer's submissions,' AAP journalist Ed Jackson said. The court reopened at 11am after the case was adjourned following Heard's guilty plea so Ms Callaghan could look over the evidence. A video made by Heard expressing her remorse for her actions and her respect for Australia's strict quarantine laws was shown to the court. The 40-second video also featured Depp and appeared to have been shot in their Gold Coast hotel room. 'If you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firmly,' Depp said in the video in apparent reference to Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce. Heard, 29, was accused of sneaking Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo into the country last May while Depp was on the Gold Coast filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie The incident sparked global headlines when Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the dogs had better 'bugger off' back to the US or he'd arrange to have them put down Heard and Depp had their security team at hand to keep media at bay Heard was facing charged for allegedly breaching Australia's quarantine laws Heard's lawyer Jeremy Kirk told Southport Magistrates Court the Hollywood actress was jet lagged and anxious about her husband's injured hand when she flew into Australia in April last year. AMBER HEARD AND JOHNNY DEPP'S APOLOGY VIDEO Amber Heard: Australia is a wonderful island with a treasure trove of unique plants, animals and people. Johnny Depp: It has to be protected. Amber Heard: Australia is free of many pests that are commonplace around the world. That is why Australia has to have such strong biosecurity laws. Johnny Depp: Australians are just as unique - both warm and direct. When you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firmly. Amber Heard: I am truly sorry Pistol and Boo were not declared. Protecting Australia is important. Johnny Depp: Declare everything when you come to Australia. Thanks. Advertisement The lawyer also said his client usually left travel arrangements and documents to the couple's staff. He said she believed everything had been taken care of in regards to the dogs when she arrived in the country and she honestly didn't need to declare the animals. 'My client never had any intention to conceal the fact the dogs were in Australia,' Mr Kirk said. 'She has made a tired, terrible mistake,' commonwealth prosecutor Peter Callaghan SC earlier told the court. Mr Callaghan said regardless of Heard's state of mind, or arrangements, she was ultimately responsible for what was put on her arrival card. 'The laws apply to everyone... no one is entitled to put their legal entitlements to one side,' he said. The court also heard the actress had offered to plead guilty to one charge of falsifying border protection documents five months ago but this was rejected by prosecutors,The Courier Mail reported. By pleading guilty to falsifying border protection documents, Heard faced a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $10,200 fine, according to The Guardian. But a Gulfstream V private jet, which had been used by the couple, touched down on the Gold Coast on Sunday The pair pictured leaving the Gold Coast Courthouse on Monday afternoon following Heard's sentencing Police line up outside the court in anticipation of Heard and Depp's arrive at Southport Magistrates Court Jennie Sherman brought her dog, Tia, to Southport Magistrates Court in a show of support for Depp and Heard Ms Sherman speaking with media outside the court with her pup in tow Earlier, the Hollywood pair arrived at court where the actress was scheduled to face court at 9am. A large media contingent swarmed as the glamorous couple arrived Southport Magistrates Court at 8.50am. Depp's only comment was 'Fine, thank you' when questioned by reporters as he made his way into the courthouse. It seems his wife's impending appearance before Australian court did not phase him as he signed autographs for fans who were waiting among the media. Meanwhile Heard flashed a few smiles as she made her way through the crowd towards the doors of the courthouse. Heard was accused of sneaking Pistol and Boo into the country last May while Depp was on the Gold Coast filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. On Sunday, while avoiding awaiting cameras and fans outside his hotel, Depp cut a casual look while he hid behind his bodyguards Depp dressed in a white collared shirt and a pair of dark denim jeans as he took a moment to enjoy the sunshine outside of his luxury location He covered his hair locks with a black beanie which dropped at the back of his head The court appearance did not deter Depp from signing autographs. A fan looks pleased with the actor's signature The incident sparked global headlines when Agriculture Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the dogs had better 'bugger off' back to the US or he'd arrange to have them put down. It was alleged the pooches were not declared to customs officials on arrival. The presence of the A-list canines was only discovered when their visit to a Gold Coast dog grooming salon was made public. In May last year, Amber was charged with taking their pet Yorkshire terriers Boo and Pistol into Australia via a private jet Here Depp is pictured with one of his dogs that are at the centre of the incident Heard last year said she would never return to Australia after the incident but said she will be attending the hearing in a statement. 'My decision to defend [these] charges, as will become apparent in the appropriate forum of the Court, is not intended to in any way diminish the importance of Australia's laws,' she said in December. 'I look forward to attending the hearing of these matters. However, as the matters are to be determined by the court, I will not be making any further statements.' The dogs were quickly whisked out of the country before a 72-hour deadline lapsed when the canines would have to be seized Heard last year said she would never return to Australia after the incident Last year, Agriculture Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce said the dogs might be put down unless they 'buggered off back to the United States' The dogs were quickly whisked out of the country before a 72-hour deadline lapsed when the canines would have to be seized. Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the United States must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine. Penalties for contravening the Quarantine Act range from fines to a maximum of 10 years in prison for the worst cases. In September last year, Depp laughed off the smuggling accusations and spoke about the saga on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He joked authorities missed the illegal items he had really smuggled in and called Mr Joyce a 'weird, sweaty-pated gut man'. Depp spoke about the threats made of Heard possibly going to jail because of the incident. Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the United States must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine Depp and Heard are seen here in Australia last year having arrived in Brisbane on their private jet 'If they did that I'd just fly to Australia and assault that man,' Depp said. 'So that I could go to jail. 'We were under the impression that we had all the paperwork done for the dogs. We were there with the dogs in front of everybody,' he insisted. He joked: 'There might have been other things smuggled. But they seemed to miss that bit. But couple have now been married for six years and have two daughters A few months before my wedding, I went travelling around Argentina for three weeks with my brother Phillip. This would probably be the last trip for a while, as I was hoping to have a baby soon, and I had no desire to take a small screaming thing on a 17 hour flight. My fiance Hugo, who Id been with for three years, drove us to the airport and waved us off. From itchy feet to cold feet: Sarah Fletcher and her brother Phillip took a three-week adventure around Argentina. Pictured in Perito Moreno glacier, Patagonia Sarah and Phillip went white water rafting (right), walking in Chile and climbing mountains in Mendoza during their journey Phillip and I had an adrenaline-infused time glacier trekking in Patagonia, walking in Chile and climbing ridiculously high mountains in Mendoza. To balance this out, we spent three days in a hotel in Buenos Aires, watching American TV and gorging on yoghurt. During our adventure we met lots of people, in bars, on treks and in 4x4s travelling over bumpy roads at terrifying speeds. Many were women, travelling alone or with others they had met along the way. A surprising number had recently broken up with their partners and decided to get on a plane and have fun by themselves. They seemed to be having a great time this was ultimate freedom from their jobs and from any responsibility to anyone else. I thought about my fiance. I really missed him, but was I missing out? In our final week in Argentina, we met a woman called Carmen at a winery in Mendoza, in the northern-central part of the country. She had recently divorced her husband a few months after their wedding because he had sat reading a newspaper at a childrens birthday party instead of engaging with the kids. Carmen had watched him ignoring the children nearby and realised that this is what he would be like as a father. She divorced him because she wanted a partner who would be more hands-on with their children. I thought about my fiance, sitting at home in London. This is what hell be like, I thought. Hell opt for read a newspaper over playing with the kids. It may have all ended there, had we not been on a wine tasting tour at the time. I was very good at wine tasting. I tasted a lot. By about 4pm it seemed like a wise decision to call off the wedding. Sarah left her fiance Hugo (pictured) who she had been with for three years behind and listened to the advice of other travellers on the road When I finally stumbled back to my room at 10pm, I emailed Hugo and told him the news. There was no reply so I sent him a few more emails, just to make sure. Still no reply, which was strange. I was too drunk to work out the time difference, but I figured he would eventually read my revelation and get back to me with some sad-faced emoticons. The next day, I woke up feeling queasy and uneasy. Had I made the right decision? I mean, I really loved him, but maybe Carmen was right. Maybe he would read newspapers instead of playing with the kids. Without a bottle of wine in my hand, reading a newspaper didnt seem so bad. Certainly not wedding-cancelling bad. There was also the fact that we didnt even have any children yet, so he hadnt technically done anything wrong. I had dumped him based on the possibility he might read a newspaper instead of playing with our kids at some point in the future. If you wonder how I was so easily swayed, I guess I was already set for panic: my parents divorced when I was a child and I couldnt help but think all marriages end in divorce or misery. Although I loved him passionately and deeply, I had had doubts before and he had always calmed me down and reassured me that it wouldn't happen to us. But when I was away from him, my mind ran wild without anyone to stave off the crazy! Cold feet: After a day spent tasting wine in Mendoza, Sarah decided to call off her wedding to Hugo I felt unsettled for the next few days and on the flight home. Hugo still hadnt replied to those drunken emails, and I was beginning to wonder if all of those women I had met were really having such a great time. Hugo came to meet me at the airport, which was very nice considering I had dumped him. As soon as I saw him, I knew I had made a horrible mistake. I apologised profusely and the wedding was back on. My husband had thought I was being melodramatic and it would be fine when I got home. He also thought it was weird to have such a massive conversation by email. On returning home, Sarah realised she had made a mistake and the couple married We have now been married for almost six years and we have two daughters, Alice, who is almost four, and Charlotte who is one. I blame my wedding jitters on two things: alcohol and illusions. Dont make major life decisions when youre on a wine tasting tour. The trouble is when youre travelling, you can get a false idea of other peoples lives and how much fun they are having. Maybe those women were having a great time, maybe they were lonely. Its impossible to say because I only saw a snapshot of their lives. I saw what they wanted to show me. I saw the highlights. Most people are having a good time when theyre in the sunshine drinking wine. But its difficult to keep this up unless you plan on being a sunburned alcoholic. Eventually, most of us return home, where its usually raining. Its not as much fun lying in a deckchair drinking cocktails in the rain. If I go travelling again without my husband, Ill try not to divorce him based on what a complete stranger tells me when Im drunk. As a keen diver, Winram feels that conservation has helped the fish population in the area grow The 50-year-old took these amazing pictures in natural light, all while holding his breath under water Advertisement Life underwater is a fascinating world as this set of stunning images from ocean explorer William Winram shows. The keen diver was navigating the waters of the Cabo Pulmo Marine Protected area in Baja California, Mexico, when a school of fish formed a vortex in the waters around him. Winram, 50, had been in the region tagging tiger and bull sharks as part of a conservation project. But due to a band of warm water known as 'El Nino', the sharks were staying in the deeper water. He managed to capture these amazing images while waiting for the sharks to emerge - all while holding his breath. The Canadian conservationist said: 'We saw some extraordinary sights and had some amazing encounters while diving on a breath-hold. The images, all taken with natural light, show just what can happen when you create a protected area and manage it effectively.' Winram explained that he witnessed an increased in biomass, size and numbers of marine creatures since he last visited 25 years ago but conceded that some of the bigger specimens had been fished out of the waters. He added: 'All in all, it was impressive to see the changes in the area for the better and to also see that it is the local population that is managing, protecting and enforcing within the marine protected area. William Winrame captured the incredible moment a school of fish swarmed around him and other divers and formed a vortex (above) The divers had been holding their breath while kneeling on the sand (left and right) under the water while waiting for the fish to pass them All of the images in this set were taken during a single breath-hold and the fish were happy to hang around for the photo opportunity The Canadian conservationist said: 'We saw some extraordinary sights and had some amazing encounters while diving on a breath-hold. The images, all taken with natural light, show just what can happen when you create a protected area and manage it effectively' Winram explained that he witnessed an increased in biomass, size and numbers of marine creatures since he last visited 25 years ago but conceded that some of the bigger specimens had been fished out of the waters They've been spending some quality time together in the Bahamas after their marriage was rocked by another sexting scandal. And their make-or-break Caribbean getaway appeared to be helping Vernon Kay and Tess Daly reconnect as they enjoyed a day by the pool on Saturday. Whilst previous snaps had seen the pair looking distant, the couple - who have been married for 13 years - seemed to be working through the recent revelations that Vernon was allegedly sending lewd texts to Page 3 model Rhian Sugden, as they chatted by the poolside. Scroll down for video Reconnecting: Vernon Kay and Tess Daly's make-or-break Caribbean getaway appeared to be helping the couple reconnect as they enjoyed a day by the pool in the Bahamas on Saturday Donning a pair of blue swimming shorts, Vernon, 41, showed off his fuller figure as he frolicked in the water, concealing his eyes beneath a pair of black wayfarer sunglasses. Meanwhile, Tess, 46, opted for a white halter bikini that she covered up with a semi-sheer beach dress. Sweeping her golden tresses back into a bun, she finished off the laid-back look with a white trilby hat and oversized sunglasses. Tan-tastic: Donning a pair of blue swimming shorts, Vernon, 41, showed off his fuller figure as he frolicked in the water following the revelations he allegedly sending lewd texts to Page 3 model Rhian Sugden Beach babe: Tess, 46, opted for a white halter bikini that she covered up with a semi-sheer beach dress. Sweeping her golden tresses back into a bun, she finished off the laid-back look with a white trilby hat Beaming broadly, the Strictly Come Dancing host seemed in good spirits despite the solemn nature of their holiday, which had been dubbed a 'make-or-break' getaway in a bid to save their marriage. A source close to the couple told The Sun: 'The last few weeks have been a nightmare for Tess and Vern and they just want to get away from it all. 'They're hoping a break with the girls thousands of miles away from Britain will give them time to work through their problems.' Crunch time: Whilst the pair - who have have two children - seemed in better spirits, Tess' expression turned more serious as she huddled up to Vernon and they chatted briefly by the pool edge And whilst the pair - who have have two children - seemed in better spirits, Tess' expression turned more serious as she huddled up to Vernon and they chatted briefly by the pool edge. The couple headed for the sunny climes of the Bahamas after it was revealed Vernon was still in contact with glamour model Rhian Sugden, who he sent a string of lewd texts to in 2010. He was forced to make a public apology to his wife on Radio 1 and promised he would no longer contact Rhian or four other women he had been caught messaging at the time. Sexting scandal: The couple headed for the sunny climes of the Bahamas after it was revealed Vernon was still in contact with glamour model Rhian Sugden (pictured) who he sent a string of lewd texts to in 2010 But the busty blonde, 29, recently revealed she was still speaking with the star, and claimed he had asked her to meet up. Vernon claimed at the time of the allegations that the Whatsapp messages he sent to Rhian asking to meet had been taken out of context, that he had done 'nothing wrong' and that his wife was completely aware of all contact. Speaking about their relationship, Rhian claimed the pair had got back in touch in December, after a break of six years, which felt like an 'old friendship coming back'. She said the messages were not like the explicit texts they had exchanged in 2010, until it emerged that Vernon had 'stalked' her Instagram and labelled one of her photographs a '10/10'. The BBC has been accused of gross insensitivity for putting child abuser Jimmy Savile in a photo alongside fictional characters in its hit drama Line Of Duty. The episode of the BBC2 series will also feature references to real-life police investigations into child abuse fuelling condemnation of the Corporation for exploiting the scandal. The third series of the drama, which stars Keeley Hawes as Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton, centres on a cover-up of historic child abuse, and in Thursdays penultimate episode, two characters are shown in a photograph greeting Savile. 'Insensitive': Jimmy Savile in the mocked-up photograph used in the BBC2 drama The BBC last night confirmed that a real photograph of Savile had been used. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: This smacks of gross insensitivity. It is offensive for the BBC to be exploiting Saviles crimes for dramatic effect when they failed to stop him carrying out abuse on BBC premises. 'The BBC is blurring fact and fiction but that doesnt change the fact that it let down Saviles victims. In the episode, a retired police officer called Patrick Fairbank is suspected of covering up allegations of abuse and is quizzed by investigating officers about his links to a paedophile councillor called Dale Roach. He is reluctant to co-operate until officers produce a photograph which shows him and Roach greeting Savile. Fairbank is asked if he recognises the man in the picture, which police tell him was taken on August 7, 1995. He replies: I think we all do. A reference to Operation Midland in the same episode will also be controversial because the real-life Metropolitan Police operation resulted in one of the countrys most decorated war heroes, Lord Bramall, 92, being falsely accused of historic child abuse claims. Drama: Line of Duty star Keeley Hawes. The third series of the drama, which stars Keeley Hawes as Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton, centres on a cover-up of historic child abuse, and in Thursdays penultimate episode, two characters are shown in a photograph greeting Savile Liz Dux, from legal firm Slater and Gordon which is representing 168 Savile victims, said: My clients have had enough of Saviles image invading their lives. It shows a total lack of sensitivity. One victim, Dee Coles, said: No one can understand how distressing it is to see images of him time and time again. A BBC spokesman said last night: Line Of Duty is an established fictional drama series set in a recognisable and authentic world. 'One brief picture has been included to highlight the real-life context of the fictional story. Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are well known in Hollywood but despite their A-list status the pair have reportedly been left to wait like other parents for childcare. According to The Daily Telegraph, the couple have applied and are on a waiting list to place their children India Rose, three, and two-year-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha, at a centre in Australia's Northern NSW. The publication reports the pair have no problem waiting for their children's place and have not offered any money-incentive to help their children jump the queue. Scroll down for video Patient! Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky have reportedly applied for their children to go to childcare in Northern NSW and are on a waiting list. They also have refused to offer money to push their place up the list A spokesperson for the unnamed Catholic day care told the newspaper the pair are indeed on the waiting list and have applied. The spokesperson said Chris and Elsa didn't offer the dosh - like most rich families do - in a bid to fast track children, despite the centre being adamant that they don't take money bribes. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Chris' manager for comment. Proud parents Chris, 32, and Elsa, 39, are now based in Byron Bay in Northern NSW, having relocated back to Chris's native Australia from the US. Family: The couple are proud parents to children India Rose, three, (L) and two-year-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha (seen here in December last year) On Saturday, Chris and Elsa and India Rose were spotted touching down at Brisbane Airport, having returned from a short trip to Los Angeles. While there, the Thor star and India Rose enjoyed a visit to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Chris and Elsa - who have been married for over five years - also attended the Los Angeles premiere of his new film, The Huntsman: Winter's War. Sweet: Chris is seen here hugging his two boys on their birthdays Chris recently revealed that his children came to visit him on set while filming The Huntsman: Winter's War, and that his children and co-star Charlize Theron's children got along swimmingly. There was a whole difference of energy on this because we all had our kids there on set a lot of the time, he explained, reports US Weekly. That was just thrown out the window when the kids came. They were chasing each other around with the weapons and yelling, Get him! Kill her! Do that! Were raising them really well, added Charlize. Charlize is mother to four-year-old son Jackson and daughter August - who she adopted last summer. She's been a familiar face on some of Australia's favourite dramas including Packed To The Rafters and Love Child. And now Jessica Marais is set to hit television screens once again, joining an all-star Australian cast in the Network Ten small-screen adaption of The Wrong Girl. Based on Zoe Foster Blake's book by the same title, the 31-year-old is set to play lead character Lily, a TV producer whose love life turns complicated when her heart is torn between two men. Scroll down for video New role: Jessica Marais is set to join an all-Australian cast in the Channel Ten adaption of Zoe Foster Blake's novel The Wrong Girl Jessica will be joined on-screen with Zoe's radio star husband Hamish Blake, as well as Craig McLachlan, Kerry Armstrong Ian Meadows, Rob Collins and Madeleine West. Speaking to the Herald Sun, the blonde beauty, who will also co-produced the series, said she's excited to showcase the talent the show has to offer. 'Given the talent involved on both sides of the camera we're going to create something incredibly special that I truly hope audiences embrace,' she told the publication. The Wrong Girl will begin filming in Melbourne later this month. All-Australian cast: Zoe (centre) released the book in 2014. She is pictured with Jessica (second left), stage star Rob Collins (far left), Hayley Magnus (second right) and Underbelly actor Ian Meadows (far right) Stage star Rob and Underbelly actor Ian will play the two love interests. Ian will star as Lily's best friend Pete, with the pair engaging in a regrettable one night stand, while Rob will play a charming TV chef. The love triangle turns tricky when Rob's character starts dating Lily's flatmate Simone despite the women making a pact to swear off men. Love triangle: The series will follow the blonde beauty's character Lily, whose love life turns complicated when she is torn between two men, played by Ian and Rob meanwhile Hayley will portray Lily's flatmate Simone Hayley Magnus, who recently appeared in The Dressmaker alongside Kate Winslet, will portray Simone and said she's looking forward to sharing the screen with her co-stars. 'I couldn't believe I was the right girl for The Wrong Girl,' she told News Corp, before adding: 'I'm so excited to be working on what will no doubt be a terrific show. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cringe.' Adding to the already stellar line-up are comedians Steve Vizar and Ryan Shelton, as well as Seachange actor Kevin Harrington, Christie Whelan Brown, Doris Younane, Leah Vandenberg and Hugo Johnstone-Burt. The drama will air on Channel 10 later this year. Roman Polanskis movie of Shakespeares Macbeth was almost given an X rating by film censors, who feared its bloody scenes reflected the brutal killing of the directors wife Sharon Tate. Newly discovered files show that Britains official censors were shocked by the violence and nudity in the 1971 film, which they thought echoed the notorious murder by followers of the American cult leader Charles Manson two years earlier. One member of the British Board of Film Cens ors (BBFC), as the body was then known, went so far as to say the film, which starred Jon Finch and Francesca Annis, reeked of Tates death. Classic horror: Francesca Annis played Lady Macbeth in the 1971 film directed by Roman Polanski A British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) examiner criticised the decision to show Lady Macbeth naked during the sleep-walking scene The unidentified examiner criticised scenes featuring a disgustingly savage and horrid murder, an attempted rape and infants murdered and ground into blood, and was particularly scornful of the decision to show Lady Macbeth naked during the sleep-walking scene. The examiner wrote: This is classic horror comic stuff and reeks of the Sharon Tate shambles. Polanski married Tate, a successful actress and model, in 1968 and they became one of Hollywoods most celebrated couples. But their happiness was short-lived Mansons gang of serial killers burst into their Hollywood home in August 1969 and stabbed to death the heavily pregnant Tate and four of her friends. Macbeth was Polanskis first film after the deaths. Polanski married Sharon Tate in 1968 and they became one of Hollywoods most celebrated couples, but she was stabbed to death by Mansons gang of serial killers in August 1969 alongside four of her friends The files in the BBFC archive show that staff were so worried about the possible impact of the murders on the film that they raised the issue directly with the director himself. One memo, believed to have been written by John Trevelyan, the BBFCs then secretary, stated: To Roman Polanski I made the point that there would probably be people who would say he was recreating the terrible Hollywood murder case and would criticise him for this. Inky the octopus managed to pull off a daring escape from a New Zealand aquarium by squeezing through a gap at the top of his tank and slithering eight feet across the floor to a drain pipe that led to the ocean. Gangsta! New Mexican's Steve Terrell tells us how the state's Republicans are embracing the idea of legal pot. I have to go knock wood real quick and throw a salt shaker over my shoulder with my fingers and toes crossed. Excuse me. NASA has publicly stated that so-called Planet 9 is not affecting the orbit of the Cassini space probe. Nevertheless, everyone in the tin-foil hat community already knows it's the long-awaited return of Niburu, the rogue planet. And aliens. Holly Holm threw out the first pitch at yesterday's Isotopes game as part of a fund-raising event for the Boys and Girls club. No one is blaming the loss of the team's winning streak on her outside pitch. No one. Check out these Canadian cops meditating. That's right. Peel Regional Police are trying out some new training methods. Somebody needs to pass this on to APD. A dark matter dwarf galaxy was discovered hiding inside a space time distortion. If you understood that sentence, you might be a character from a bad sci-fi novel. Still reeling from two violent earthquakes, some Japanese residents were surprised to find their streets filling up with a mysterious foam. Check out these two assholes claiming to be APD and kicking in a person's door before robbing them. Both men were armed and brazen as hell. There's some pretty good shots of the creeps, so take a look and see if you know them. It is one of Shakespeares best-loved plays a bawdy and hilarious look at the battle of the sexes set in 16th Century Italy. But a controversial new production of The Taming Of The Shrew will highlight a conflict of a very different kind the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. Emma Rice, the newly appointed director of Shakespeares Globe theatre on Londons South Bank, believes the insurrection against British rule, which ended in almost 500 deaths, is the perfect backdrop for the comedy about the battling lovers Petruchio and Katherina. Bloody: British soldiers search for bodies under piles of rubble in Dublin during the Easter Rising Top job: Director Shakespeares Globe theatre Emma Rice (pictured) hopes the production will commemorate the 100th anniversary Rice hopes the controversial, sexy and very Irish production will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the revolt and remember the role of women in the fight for independence. But critics have hit out at Rices new staging of The Shrew and cast doubt on her role at the Globe. Sir Jonathan Bate, professor of English Literature at Oxford and an internationally recognised expert on Shakespeare, said: Emma Rice is going to have to work very hard to make this [staging of The Shrew] seem convincing. Nothing is impossible in good theatre, but it does seem quite a stretch. A lot of us in the Shakespeare world have some apprehension about the direction in which Rice will take the Globe because it has been at its best when exploring original staging practices, getting a full understanding of how Shakespeare was staged. He added: Women did play a very powerful role in the Easter Rising but The Taming Of The Shrew is a play about women submitting to male power. Rice, who had only directed one Shakespeare production before she landed the top job at the Globe, sparked uproar in January by saying she would not think twice about editing the plays to remove language she no longer considered relevant to modern audiences. She also said she had tried to read the plays, but admitted: I get very sleepy and then suddenly I want to listen to The Archers. In recent weeks, there has been a bid to hold the Logies in Dubbo, on NSW's Central West. And the idea has gained momentum with some stars including Stephen Peacocke, rockers Thirsty Merc, Melissa Doyle and Samantha Jade getting behind it. According to 2DayFM Hit 104.1's Rove and Sam, Home and Away's Stephen, 34, supports the idea, saying: The old Dubbo RSL is a classy place...I'd put my considerable weight behind that.' Scroll down for video He's a fan: Home and Away's Stephen Peacocke has backed the idea of the 2017 Logies being held in Dubbo, country NSW from where he hails Stephen - who is known for his role as bad boy Darryl 'Brax' Braxton on the soap - is originally from the country town. In a Tweet recently shared by Rove and Sam recently, they said the star and Logie winner supports the idea. Thirsty Merc - whose band members are from Dubbo - also back the move according to The Daily Telegraph. The local radio station in Dubbo, 93.5 Star FM, continued the movement for the Logies to be held in the area after a hashtag #BringTheLogiesToDubbo took off on Twitter. Stephen appeared on the radio show saying 'It's a cracker of an idea and I'd totally be behind that.' He'll be there! In a Tweet recently shared by Rove and Sam recently, they said the star and Logie winner supports the idea 'I think Dubbo is a perfect venue,' he said. Meanwhile, TV personality Melissa Doyle has also commented on the campaign, telling the radio station: 'Oh my gosh, yes, great idea, I love Dubbo,' before later adding: 'I'd be there!' She also turned down the opportunity to host the Logies in Dubbo, saying: 'I'm not funny enough.' The Block's Scott Cam also told the station that he supports the idea and would attend the ceremony if held there. Full support: Stephen appeared on radio saying 'It's a cracker of an idea and I'd totally be behind that' She's in! Meanwhile, TV personality Melissa Doyle has also commented on the campaign, telling the radio station: 'Oh my gosh, yes, great idea, I love Dubbo,' before later adding: 'I'd be there!' 'Of course I would. I love Dubbo...I'm only an hour away,' he told the station, referring to a property he has nearby. He said he likes to visit the Taronga Western Plains Zoo while there and Wellington Caves. The Channel Nine star joked the radio station should throw in for Logie winners a 'visit to the Dubbo jail.' Meanwhile, this year's Logies ambassador Samantha Jade also told the radio: 'I would love to come to Dubbo. As a Logies ambassador I have to come and feel the space,' she said with a laugh. She's keen! Meanwhile this year's Logies ambassador Samantha Jade also told the radio: 'I would love to come to Dubbo. As a Logies ambassador I have to come and feel the space,' she said with a laugh TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe even agreed to host the ceremony. 'We're so over that Crown Palladium. What do they have that Dubbo doesn't have?' he said. 'I would be absolutely honoured and I think it would be a perfect opportunity to wear the leopard print tuxedo, given you are the home of the...zoo. Either the leopard print or Zebra print.' Earlier this month, Deputy Premier of New South Wales Troy Grant wrote to the organisers of the event, TV Week, to urge them to have the event in Dubbo. Up for it: TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe even agreed to host the ceremony In the letter, he said he wrote to them 'as the local Member of Parliament for the Dubbo electorate.' 'I know that the Dubbo RSL has put its hand up to host the event and I am very familiar with their outstanding facilities and exceptional service,' he wrote in part of the letter. He also said the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre is another ideal location. 'Dubbo is home to many stars of the small screen and the sporting arena,' he said, before naming stars including Stephen, Thirsty Merc and Glenn McGrath. Come on: Earlier this month, Deputy Premier of New South Wales Troy Grant wrote to the organisers of the event, TV Week, to urge them to have the event in Dubbo Rock on! Seen here is the band, Thirsty Merc Mr Grant also said he offers Samantha Jade to go and visit Dubbo. He added: 'I encourage you to seriously consider this proposal. It would be of great benefit for Dubbo, the Central West and in turn be certainly something new and different for the TV Week Logies.' The Logies are typically held at the 58th annual ceremony at Melbourne's Crown Entertainment Complex but next year reportedly will be in a new location. It was recently reported she has been rejecting offers to get back to work in a bid to spend as much time as possible with her boyfriend. And making for the perfect Saturday night, Stephanie Davis looked over the moon as beau Jeremy McConnell literally swept her off her feet. Posting the sweet moment on her Instagram account, the 23-year-old looked like the cat that got the cream as she wrapped her arm around the Irish hunk. Scroll Down For Video 'With my baby': Stephanie Davis was literally swept off her feet by beau Jeremy McConnell on Saturday night The loved up actress captioned one of the stills: 'With my baby @jeremymcconnellcooke #bestfriend #love #happy'. In another frame, Stephanie clutches Jeremy's hand as they both smile for the camera. Keeping it casual for their outing, the former Hollyoaks actress rocked a leather jacket paired with a plunging bodysuit alongside distressed jeans and pointed heels. McConnell donned a white T-shirt, grey skinnies and lace-up boots. Keeping close: The 23-year-old clutched Jeremy's hand in another loved-up shot uploaded to Instagram Work-shy: Stephanie has reportedly been inundated with offers since leaving the Celebrity Big Brother house, yet has been turning them down to spend time with her CBB beau Meanwhile some may remember that Davis was famously told she would 'never work again' in a furious argument with Daniella Westbrook. But it seems Stephanie has been inundated with offers since leaving the Celebrity Big Brother house, yet has been turning them down. The former Hollyoaks star has reportedly been rejecting lucrative deals in order to be with her boyfriend Jeremy McConnell, with a source telling The Mirror she is 'so besotted that she won't let him out of her sight.' Loved-up: Stephanie has been giving fans a glimpse into her relationship with the tattooed Irish star by sharing snaps of them cosied up together on a daily basis United front: The couple have faced several controversies during their tumultuous relationship, breaking up then making up four times during their short term-romance but have defied the odds by staying together The insider claimed Stephanie's friends are concerned she could lose her own identity and only be known as one half of the showbiz couple if she continues following the star like a 'lapdog.' They added: 'Concerned mates say she has rubbished her post CBB opportunities, all for a cheating scumbag who makes her look stupid.' A representative for Stephanie declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Controversial: Their latest break-up came last month when the Irish model was accused on cheating with Stephanie with five women, but the pair later insisted the claims were false The couple have faced several controversies during their tumultuous relationship, breaking up then making up four times in their short term-romance. Their latest break-up came last month when the Irish model was accused on cheating with Stephanie with five women. But the blonde beauty later took to Twitter to clear up the confusion as she said 'I can confirm the messages supposedly sent from Jeremy aren't true.' The actress was then believed to be still in contact with her ex-boyfriend Sam Reece, with the Sun reporting she still had 'lingering feelings' for the star. Pregnant Megan Fox cheered on estranged husband Brian Austin Green at Long Beach's 40th and final Toyota Grand Prix/Celebrity Race on Saturday. The expecting actress - who turns 30 next month - covered her bump in a black top beneath double-denim and gladiator platforms. 'She seemed to be in a great mood, happy and laughing at commentary during the race,' a source told Us Weekly. Scroll down for video United front: Pregnant Megan Fox cheered on estranged husband Brian Austin Green at Long Beach's 40th and final Toyota Grand Prix/Celebrity Race on Saturday 'She was very into the race. She seemed like any wife watching, interested with a touch of concern.' The New Girl starlet and her 42-year-old on/off beau - who also broke up in 2009 - technically filed for divorce from each other last August. 'At my age, to be having three babies, is crazy,' Green admitted to People at the event. 'You know, nothing is planned. None of them are ever planned. You kind of just go with it.' 'She was very into the race. She seemed like any wife watching': The expecting actress - who turns 30 next month - covered her bump in a black top beneath double-denim and gladiator platforms 'At my age, to be having three babies, is crazy!' The New Girl starlet and her 42-year-old on/off beau - who also broke up in 2009 - technically filed for divorce from each other last August Making their marriage work: The acting couple - who met on the 2004 set of Hope & Faith - are reportedly renting a house together in Bel Air While Megan was in the VIP green room, the Anger Management funnyman posed with a model before hopping in his racecar. Brian - wearing a white jumpsuit - also made sure to greet his fans waiting just beyond a chain-link fence. The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum - who won the race in 2010 - placed 16th among the celebs, including Ricky Schroder, Frankie Muniz, Adam Carolla, and Alfonso Ribeiro. In the end, it was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum who placed first, having also won in 1994-1995 and 2015. 'None of them are ever planned. You kind of just go with it': While Megan was in the VIP green room, the Anger Management funnyman posed with a model before hopping in his racecar Autographs and handshakes: Brian - wearing a white jumpsuit - also made sure to greet his fans waiting just beyond a chain-link fence Not so fast: The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum - who won the race in 2010 - placed 16th among the celebs, including Ricky Schroder, Frankie Muniz, Adam Carolla, and Alfonso Ribeiro Beaten by Carlton! In the end, it was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum who placed first, having also won in 1994-1995 and 2015 Hours later, Fox was spotted treating their sons Noah, 3, and Bodhi, 2, to the Yogurt Shoppe in Brentwood. Both boys sported cute curly locks and Crocs, and little Noah attempted cosplay in his green Peter Pan shirt. 'Family is great!' the Tennessee-born brunette told Us on Saturday. Brian also has a 14-year-old son Kassius with former Beverly Hills, 90210 castmate Vanessa Marcil. Fro-yo time! Hours later, Fox was spotted treating their sons Noah, 3, and Bodhi, 2, to the Yogurt Shoppe in Brentwood 'Family is great!' Both boys sported cute curly locks and Crocs, and little Noah attempted cosplay in his green Peter Pan shirt Soon-to-be father-of-four: Brian also has a 14-year-old son Kassius with former Beverly Hills, 90210 castmate Vanessa Marcil The acting couple - who met on the 2004 set of Hope & Faith - are reportedly renting a house together in Bel Air. Megan next reprises her role as April O'Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which finally hits US theaters June 3. And last Tuesday, the Fox network announced that the This Is 40 stunner will be returning as Reagan for the sixth season of New Girl. Meanwhile, Green will next reprise his role as Callan in the action comedy Cross 2 - hitting US theaters August 5 - alongside Danny Trejo and Tom Sizemore. Already in UK theaters! Megan next reprises her role as April O'Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which finally hits US theaters June 3 Back for more! And last Tuesday, the Fox network announced that the This Is 40 stunner will be returning as Reagan for the sixth season of New Girl Hollywood heavyweight Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard have reportedly jetted into Australia ahead of the actress facing court over illegally smuggling their dogs into the country last year. According to The Courier Mail, the couple arrived Down Under on Sunday in a private plane, ahead of the four-day trial that begins on Monday. It's reported Johnny will be a witness in the case held at Southport Magistrates Court, with the saga making international headlines. Scroll down for video Courtroom action: Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard have reportedly jetted into Australia ahead of the actress facing court over illegally smuggling their dogs into the country last year In May last year, Amber was charged with taking their pet Yorkshire terriers Boo and Pistol into Australia via a private jet, when she came to visit the actor who was filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on the Gold Coast. She was charged with breaching Australia's quarantine laws and will face two counts of knowingly importing a prohibited product into the country. The AAP reports that a private jet with the same model that the couple used last year was seen on the Gold Coast at the weekend, having touched down from Hawaii. The pair's Australian-based lawyers Ashurst are not commenting on whether they will appear in court. Her pooch: In May last year, Amber was charged with taking their pet Yorkshire terriers Boo and Pistol into Australia via a private jet Details: Amber was charged with breaching Australia's quarantine laws and will face two counts of knowingly importing a prohibited product into the country There has been mounting speculation that Amber would not attend court in person, with The Courier Mail reporting there were provisions for the blonde to be excused if her team made the appropriate applications. Amber last year said she would never return to Australia after the incident but said she will be attending the hearing in a statement. 'My decision to defend [these] charges, as will become apparent in the appropriate forum of the Court, is not intended to in any way diminish the importance of Australia's laws,' she said in December. Drama: It's reported Johnny will be a witness in the case held at Southport Magistrates Court, with the saga making international headlines Coming to Oz? Amber last year said she would never return to Australia after the incident but said she will be attending the hearing in a statement 'I look forward to attending the hearing of these matters. However, as the matters are to be determined by the Court, I will not be making any further statements.' A court official previously told AFP she was required to be at the hearing. Meanwhile, there are a total of twelve witnesses at the case. Last year, then Agriculture Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the dogs might be put down unless they 'buggered off back to the United States'. They were quickly whisked out of the country before a 72-hour deadline lapsed and the dogs were seized. He wasn't happy! Last year, then Agriculture Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the dogs might be put down unless they 'buggered off back to the United States' Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the United States must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine. Penalties for contravening the Quarantine Act range from fines to a maximum of 10 years in prison for the worst cases. In September last year, Johnny laughed off the smuggling accusations and spoke about the saga on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He joked authorities missed the illegal items he had really smuggled in and called Barnaby a 'weird, sweaty-pated gut man'. Johnny spoke about the threats made of Amber possibly going to jail because of the incident. Regulations: Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the United States must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine Opening up: In September last year, Johnny laughed off the smuggling accusations and spoke about the saga on Jimmy Kimmel Live! 'If they did that I'd just fly to Australia and assault that man,' Johnny said. 'So that I could go to jail. 'We were under the impression that we had all the paperwork done for the dogs. We were there with the dogs in front of everybody,' he insisted. He joked: 'There might have been other things smuggled. But they seemed to miss that bit. 'Might have been. Could have been,' he added. Ashurst have been contacted for comment by Daily Mail Australia. Amber and Johnny's publicists have also been contacted for comment in relation to this story. Liam Hemsworth recently claimed he and Miley Cyrus weren't engaged again before being spotted leaving the singer's Los Angeles home last week. And adding fuel to the fire that he and Miley are indeed back on is Liam's sister-in-law, Elsa Pataky. The 39-year-old wife of Chris Hemsworth took to Instagram on Sunday to share a picture of herself with a group of pals including Miley, as she gushed about the meaning of true friendship. Scroll down for video True friends: Elsa Pataky (L) took to Instagram on Sunday to share a picture of herself with a group of pals including Miley Cyrus (R), as she gushed about the meaning of true friendship 'True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart,' actress Elsa captioned the post, before adding hashtags 'girls lunch,' 'LA,' 'best moments,' 'love you girls' and 'miss you.' In the snap, Elsa wears a pair of light-washed jeans with a floral shirt and brown belt. She has her blonde hair out and over her shoulders neatly straightened. Miley meanwhile stands on the end of the group sticking out her tongue and wears a striped crop top and high-waisted jeans with Mickey Mouse embroidery and white sneakers. The singer has her blonde locks out and poses with her tongue out, in her signature pose. Fuel to the fire: Elsa's post comes after Liam Hemsworth recently claimed he and Miley Cyrus weren't engaged, before being spotted leaving the singer's Los Angeles home last week (seen here in 2013) Family: Elsa is married to Chris Hemsworth and the pair are parents to three children Earlier this year, Miley enjoyed time in Australia and caught up with Elsa, posing for a snap with her and female pals at the annual Falls Festival. The girls, meanwhile, also posed for a snap outside local boutique Spell and The Gypsy Collective in Byron Bay. At the time, Miley and Liam were rumoured to be back on after she spent New Years in the actor's native Australia with his brother's Luke and Chris and their wives. Last week, Liam and Miley stepped out for the first time together after rumours they had re-sparked their relationship. Indeed Liam was seen leaving Miley's home in LA after he claimed to TV Week that despite the rumours and her wearing her engagement ring, they weren't engaged. Hanging out: Earlier this year, Miley enjoyed time in Australia and caught up with Elsa, posing for a snap with her and female pals at the annual Falls Festival Shopping: The girls meanwhile also posed for a snap outside local boutique Spell and The Gypsy Collective in Byron Bay 'I am not engaged, no,' he told the magazine. The comments from Liam came after he and Miley were seen arm-in-arm during a night out in California after attending the premiere for The Huntsman: Winter's War in secret. Following the function the Last Song stars were spotted in Brentwood where they dinned at the Baltaire Restaurant with Liam's older brother Luke and his wife Sam as well as some other friends. A source told Hollywood Life: 'They were whispering all through the movie. Liam was rubbing Mileys leg and they were holding hands the whole time. Its no question these two are still head over heels for each other.' He is due to front the Australian court system on Monday after his wife, Amber Heard, allegedly smuggled their dogs into the country illegally last year. And on Sunday Johnny Depp stayed out of sight following his flight to the Gold Coast in Queensland. Heard, 29, is facing two counts of breaching Australia's quarantine laws after allegedly bringing the couple's dogs Pistol and Boo into the country on a private jet in May last year. Scroll down for video Out of sight: While avoiding awaiting cameras and fans outside his hotel, Johnny Depp cut a casual look while he hid behind his bodyguards Heard is the one facing the four-day trial, which starts on Monday, and Depp is expected to be one of 12 witness called by Commonwealth prosecutors to give evidence. A spokeswoman for Sydney law firm Ashurst, which is representing Heard, refused to confirm on Sunday whether the celebrity couple would actually appear. But a Gulfstream V private jet, which has previously been used by the couple, touched down on the Gold Coast on Sunday morning. With Heard's court date looming, Johnny, 52, avoided awaiting cameras outside his hotel, cutting a casual figure while he hid behind his bodyguards. He was dressed in a white collared shirt and a pair of dark denim jeans as he took a moment to enjoy the sunshine outside of his luxury location. The actor covered his hair locks with a black beanie which dropped at the back of his head. Taking a moment: Johnny dressed in a white collared shirt and a pair of dark denim jeans as he took a moment to enjoy the sunshine outside of his luxury location Seasonal: He covered his hair locks with a black beanie which dropped at the back of his head Her pooch: In May last year, Amber was charged with taking their pet Yorkshire terriers Boo and Pistol into Australia via a private jet During his short trip outside of the hotel's four walls, his wife Amber Heard was nowhere to be seen. The pair touched down at the holidaying destination moments earlier as they prepare for their upcoming court case. It's reported Johnny will be a witness in the case held at Southport Magistrates Court, with the saga making international headlines. In May last year, Amber was charged with taking their pet Yorkshire terriers Boo and Pistol into Australia via a private jet, when she came to visit the actor who was filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on the Gold Coast. She was charged with breaching Australia's quarantine laws and will face two counts of knowingly importing a prohibited product into the country. Details: Amber was charged with breaching Australia's quarantine laws and will face two counts of knowingly importing a prohibited product into the country There has been mounting speculation that Amber would not attend court in person, with The Courier Mail reporting there were provisions for the blonde to be excused if her team made the appropriate applications. Amber last year said she would never return to Australia after the incident but said she will be attending the hearing in a statement. 'My decision to defend [these] charges, as will become apparent in the appropriate forum of the Court, is not intended to in any way diminish the importance of Australia's laws,' she said in December. Drama: It's reported Johnny will be a witness in the case held at Southport Magistrates Court, with the saga making international headlines Coming to Oz? Amber last year said she would never return to Australia after the incident but said she will be attending the hearing in a statement 'I look forward to attending the hearing of these matters. However, as the matters are to be determined by the Court, I will not be making any further statements.' A court official previously told the AFP she was required to be at the hearing. Meanwhile, there are a total of twelve witnesses at the case. Last year, then-Agriculture Minister and now-Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce said the dogs might be put down unless they 'buggered off back to the United States'. They were quickly whisked out of the country before a 72-hour deadline lapsed and the dogs were seized. He wasn't happy! Last year, then Agriculture Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce said the dogs might be put down unless they 'buggered off back to the United States' Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the United States must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine. Penalties for contravening the Quarantine Act range from fines to a maximum of 10 years in prison for the worst cases. In September last year, Johnny laughed off the smuggling accusations and spoke about the saga on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He joked authorities missed the illegal items he had really smuggled in and called Barnaby a 'weird, sweaty-pated gut man'. Johnny spoke about the threats made of Amber possibly going to jail because of the incident. Regulations: Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the United States must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine Opening up: In September last year, Johnny laughed off the smuggling accusations and spoke about the saga on Jimmy Kimmel Live! 'If they did that I'd just fly to Australia and assault that man,' Johnny said. 'So that I could go to jail. 'We were under the impression that we had all the paperwork done for the dogs. We were there with the dogs in front of everybody,' he insisted. He joked: 'There might have been other things smuggled. But they seemed to miss that bit. 'Might have been. Could have been,' he added. Ashurst have been contacted for comment by Daily Mail Australia. Amber and Johnny's publicists have also been contacted for comment in relation to this story. She became a mother for the first time late last year after giving birth to a beautiful baby boy. And Michelle Bridges partner, Steve 'Commando' Willis opened up about her journey into motherhood with their son Axel in a television interview with Australian Story that will air on Monday. In a clip from the program uploaded to Facebook, the 39-year-old personal trainer gushed: 'Axel coming into this world has definitely brought out another side of Michelle.' A new side: Michelle Bridges partner, Steve 'Commando' Willis opened up about her journey into motherhood with their son Axel in a television interview with Australian Story that will air on Sunday The Biggest Loser star went on to add: 'I don't know if at this point she's changing her priorities, but she's definitely asking more questions of herself.' Michelle then went on to explain that her thriving career is the result of a passion to succeed in what she has always wanted to do. 'I love what I do it's been what I've dreamed of doing since I was a child so why wouldn't I be driven?' she explained. Driven: Michelle went on to explain that her thriving career is the result of a passion to succeed in what she has always wanted to do Peaceful: She was greeted by her partner Steve, and the couple's angelic son Axel was blissfully asleep which appeared to please her as she tip-toed out of the room The interview follows Michelle as she does rounds of media interviews prior to the release of her latest book Make It Happen. At one point during the video an exhausted Michelle said that she had started the day at 4:45am and had just arrived home after getting through 'about 12 or 13 interviews'. She was greeted by her partner Steve, and the couple's angelic son was blissfully asleep which appeared to please her as she tip-toed out of the room. The interview is set to explore how Michelle has adjusted to life as a mother at 45, juggling her thriving career and ambitions to take on the junk food industry. Busy: At one point during the video an exhausted Michelle said that she had started the day at 4:45am and had just arrived home after getting through 'about 12 or 13 interviews' Taking it all on: The interview is set to explore how Michelle has adjusted to life as a mother at 45, juggling her thriving career and ambitions to take on the junk food industry Michelle and Steve appear to be completely besotted with their their baby boy who was born in December and the spitting image of his handsome father. Upon his arrival the new-parents took to social media to announce the news, writing: 'We are thrilled to welcome out little boy into the world, Axel Bridges Willis, born 19/12/15. Healthy and happy'. This is the fourth child for Commando as he shares Ella, seven and Jack, four with ex-partner Froso and Brianna, 18, with another former partner. He and Michelle have been dating for three years after meeting on the set of Network 10's Biggest Loser Australia. Australian Story airs on Monday night at 8pm on ABC 1. There is no doubt he is a handsome Hollywood star. But Gerard Butler wasn't trading on his looks when he attended a red carpet event in Los Angeles on Saturday evening. The 46 year-old pulled some funny faces as he attended a Gala to honor Avi Lerner and Millennium Films in Beverly Hills, California. Scroll down for video Funnyman: Gerard Butler was pulling funny faces when he attended a red carpet event in LA on Saturday The 46 year-old hunk cut a dapper figure in a three-piece grey suit which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and a matching tie. Posing up a storm at The Beverly Hills Hotel, he was clearly enjoying himself as he split his time by looking suave and jokey. At one point the Scottish-born was deliberately gurning as he made onlookers laugh. Looking good: The 46 year-old hunk cut a dapper figure in a three-piece grey suit which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and a matching tie Joining film-maker Avi Lerner, the two men laughed and joked as they recreated silly poses for the cameras Joining the veteran film-maker on stage, the two men laughed and joked as they recreated silly poses for the cameras. This included pointing directly into the lens and performing their best Zoolander 'blue steel' impression. Amazingly, despite all this, he still managed to look impossibly sexy and dapper. Handsome: Posing up a storm at The Beverly Hills Hotel, he was clearly enjoying himself as he split his time by looking suave and jokey Hit and miss: While Gerard has certainly enjoyed his own successes, his latest outing comes just weeks after his fantasy flick Gods Of Egypt flopped with a flaccid $14 million opening weekend Lerner is one of Hollywood's most prolific film-makers, having been at the helm of Olympus Has Fallen and The Expendables. And, while Gerard has certainly enjoyed his own successes, his latest outing comes just weeks after his fantasy flick Gods Of Egypt flopped with a flaccid $14 million opening weekend. According to Variety, studio Lionsgate had hoped to replace its departing mega hit Divergent and Hunger Games franchises, with a number of sequels in mind. But after barely making one-tenth of its $140million budget back, that now looks unlikely. Despite being in its third week, Deadpool still managed to make more than twice as much as Gods Of Egypt, raking in $31.5million in the opening weekend alone. Always hot stuff! Amazingly, despite all the larking, he still managed to look impossibly sexy and dapper Men about town: Lerner is one of Hollywood's most prolific film-makers, having been at the helm of Olympus Has Fallen and The Expendables Channel Nine journalist Peter Stefanovic has sent his well wishes and thoughts to his fellow employee Ben Williamson who remains in a Lebanese prison after a botched 'child abduction'. The 32-year-old posted a photo of himself and the cameraman to social media on Sunday and described the detainee as a 'bloody decent bloke'. 'Thinking of my good mate Ben Williamson @bwillo and his family,' the television personality began to publish. Scroll down for video Sending his love: Channel Nine journalist Peter Stefanovic (L) has sent his well wishes and thoughts to his fellow employee Ben Williamson (R) who remains in a Lebanese prison after botched 'child abduction' 'Have known him for ten years and have worked with him all over the world. 'A devoted and loving family man and bloody decent bloke. Love to you pal,' Stefanovic concluded. Williamson, 37, was arrested along with other members of a 60 Minutes team - Tara Brown, 48, David Ballment, 55 and Stephen Rice - following an attempted kidnap of Sally Faulkner's children from their father, Ali Elamine, in Beirut earlier this month. Stefanovic's comments in regards to the matter came just hours after his older brother and Today Show host Karl Stefanovic released a formal statement about the arrest. Emotional: The 32-year-old posted a photo of himself and the cameraman to social media on Sunday and described the detainee as a 'bloody decent bloke' Trouble: Williamson (pictured) was arrested along with other members of a 60 Minutes team following an attempted kidnap of Sally Faulkner's children from their father, Ali Elamine, in Beirut earlier in the month In the statement, published by the Sydney Morning Herald, he said he believes Brown was trying to get to the bottom of the truth of a complex story and that asking the right questions is what makes a journalist. 'Tara is a friend. She is a colleague. She is a mother. She is a brilliant journalist. She has asked those questions over and over again. She has consistently broken stories, and forensically exposed wrong doing in society all around the world. She has religiously and without favour fought for the truth,' he said in the statement. 'Journalism - by definition is the work of collecting writing and publishing news stories and articles. Who, what, when, where, why are the cornerstones of journalism,' he continued. 'It's brilliant in its simplicity and it's so easy to remember. Armed with those tools we go out into the wide world and ask away. At its most basic, we inform. At its best, it's powerful. We can expose the wrongs. We can make a difference. It all though starts with a question.' In the mix: Reporter Tara Brown, 48, (pictured), David Ballment, 55 and Stephen Rice have also been detained in the foreign country Speaking out: Stefanovic's comments in regards to the matter came just hours after his older brother and Today Show host Karl released a formal statement about the arrest claiming Brown and her team were trying to get to the bottom of a complex story The 60 Minutes crew was in Beirut to film Ms Faulkner's attempt to kidnap her children from her former partner Ali Elamine. Mr Elamine proposed last week that he would drop the kidnapping charge against his wife if she agreed to give up sole custody of the children - Lahela, six, and Noah, four. The requirements also included a full religious divorce and agreement that Ms Faulker would never take their children to Australia, as Mr Elamine fears she may never bring them back. On Sunday it was reported talks between Ms Faulker, 29, and her estranged husband had broken down. Ms Faulkner's lawyer, Ghassan Moughabghab, and Mr Elamine's attorney have reportedly failed to reach an agreement regarding the custody of their two children despite being urged by Lebanese officials, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. It has also since been claimed that a member of the recovery team has said Channel Nine paid $115,000 for the operation. Hot water: Prosecutors have claimed a member of the recovery team said Channel Nine paid $115,000 for the operation to 'rescue' Ms Faulkner's children (pictured) He is known for being a serious sportsman. But Gary Lineker displayed his comedic skills when he was spotted in London on Sunday morning, where he filmed a TV advert for BBC Sport. The former England star, who now hosts Match of the Day, donned period costume alongside Alan Shearer, Gabby Logan and Rio Ferdinand - despite having a cold. Scroll down for video Lights, camera, action! Gary Lineker displayed his comedic skills when he was spotted in London on Sunday morning, where he filmed a TV advert for BBC Sport The 55 year-old hunk sniffled his way through the on-location shoot in Greenwich, which saw him wear a black Elizabethan costume. This consisted of a doublet and a pair of breeches, which he teamed with a pair of black shoes and a gold sceptre. Although he was dressed for fun, he still managed to look handsome in the get-up. The former England star, who now hosts Match of the Day, donned period costume alongside Alan Shearer, Gabby Logan and Rio Ferdinand - despite having a cold The 55 year-old hunk sniffled his way through the on-location shoot in Greenwich, which saw him wear a black Elizabethan costume Sadly, he needed to take regular filming breaks to blow his nose while on the external shoot. At one point he even seemed to be holding his neck, suggesting he was also suffering from a sore throat as well as congested sinuses. Fortunately, he managed to laugh it all off - and found himself in good company thanks to his co-stars. Poorly? At one point he even seemed to be holding his neck, suggesting he was also suffering from a sore throat as well as congested sinuses Don't be nosey! Sadly, he needed to take regular filming breaks to blow his nose while on the external shoot Fortunately, he managed to laugh it all off - and found himself in good company thanks to his co-stars Gaby Logan was also dressed in typical period dress from the same era, which saw her wear a puff-sleeve gown with a black velvet top and cream skirt panel. She accessorised with pearls and hair netting for a regal look which certainly offered an interesting aesthetic. Not least because she was also sporting a rather dramatic curly wig. Gaby Logan was also dressed in typical period dress from the same era, which saw her wear a puff-sleeve gown with a black velvet top and cream skirt panel She accessorised with pearls and hair netting for a regal look which certainly offered an interesting aesthetic Old-school dapper: Gary wore a doublet, a pair of breeches and carried a gold sceptre for the shoot Meanwhile, Rio and Alan also stepped out in variations of Gary's old-school look. Clearly left feeling empathetic for the plight faced by professional actors, he later shared a blog post by ex-wife Danielle Bux, who recently detailed the struggles of the industry. 'The toughest thing about being an actor is dealing with failure, she wrote for the Huffington Post blog. 'Audition after audition where you lay yourself bare in front of a couple of strangers and a camera, only to walk out the door without ever hearing a thing. It's difficult to dispel the nagging self doubt that comes with rejection.' The BBC Sport presenters were surrounded by crew-members as they headed back to their trailers Who's that girl? Gaby was almost unrecognisable thanks to the fact she was sporting a dramatic curly wig Miley Cyrus, 23, and Liam Hemsworth, 26, shocked the world when they rekindled their romance. Despite the Wrecking Ball singer sporting a huge engagement ring, Liam has claimed to Australia media that the couple aren't engaged. However, his revelation didn't seem to affect Miley as she was seen driving through Malibu with a mystery male friend. Scroll down for video Sushi time: Miley and her friend were spotted leaving the famous Nobu restaurant in Malibu The duo were spotted leaving Nobu restaurant together in Malibu. Miley looked laid back and casual as she tied her newly platinum locks away from her face whilst her friend drove them around Malibu. The pop star was probably in need of a relaxing lunch given all the media attention and engagement speculation in recent weeks. See more of the latest on Miley Cyrus as Liam Hemsworth says they are 'not engaged' Intense discussion: Miley looked like she was in a serious need for a talk as her friend listened in Where's Liam? Despite their on again status, her new beau Liam Hemsworth was no-where to be seen The pair finally reunited after they were seen in a cozy embrace at the premiere of Chris Hemsworth's movie, The Huntsman: Winter's War. They were apart for two years but it seems as if true love conquers all as the pair have been putting on an amorous display since reuniting. The couple were rumoured to be back together after she spent a cozy New Years in the actor's native Australia. They first began dating in early 2010 after meeting on the set of the Last Song and continued to date on again off again for the next three years before announcing their engagement in June 2012. Road trip: Miley and the mystery man were seen riding around in her car for a while BFFs: Elsa captioned the photo 'True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart!' However, it was a very brief affair as they called off the wedding in September 2013. However, this time around Miley has been welcomed into the family fold with open arms as Liam's sister-in-law, Elsa Paskey, gushes about true friends in a snap with Miley Cyrus. The Spanish model and actress posted a picture of her, Miley and a group of friends to Instagram. She captioned the sweet snap: 'True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart!' Stand up with PP: Miley has joined forces with Marilyn Minter to sell artwork and T-shirts to raise money for the non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood Meanwhile, Miley has been deeply involved in a project which she shared on Instagram yesterday. The We Can't Stop hit-maker has teamed up with artist Marilyn Minter to sell artwork and T-shirts to raise money for the non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood. The platinum blonde was clearly over the moon about her new venture as she shared a screenshot of an article with the caption: 'Thank u @elleusa #mileyxmarilynsupportPP #standwithPP @marilynminter @marcjacobs' Oil producers mull output freeze in Doha, Iran stays home Major oil producers began talks in Qatar on Sunday to try to reach a deal on capping production to boost prices, despite Iran's absence. Talks were delayed by several hours after some countries demanded changes to a draft agreement that calls for freezing production until October, a delegate told AFP. The delegate said a "small team of experts" was assigned to make the changes before the ministers went into the official meeting in the afternoon. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak (C) arrives for the organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting, in the Qatari capital Doha, on April 17, 2016 Karim Jaafar (AFP) Top energy officials from some 15 countries, including the world's top crude producers Saudi Arabia and Russia, were at the Doha talks. Nations inside and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are anxious to stem a market nosedive that has cost exporters billions in lost revenue. From above $100 in mid-2014, oil prices dropped to 13-year lows of around $27 in February due to a supply glut, though they have since rebounded to about $40. Ecuadoran Hydrocarbons Minister Carlos Pareja told reporters that his country would support a plan to freeze output until at least October. He said proposals under discussion also call for "setting up a committee to monitor the freeze," but provided no further details. Pareja warned that if no action were taken "there will be huge damage to the oil industry". Russia's RIA Novosti news agency quoted Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev as saying the draft included the output freeze at January levels until October. The meeting in Doha is a follow-up to talks in February between OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela plus Russia in which they first mooted the output freeze. - Iran won't 'give up' production - Saudi Arabia has insisted that all major producers must be on board for the freeze to work, including fellow OPEC member and regional rival Iran. But Tehran, which has boosted production following the lifting of sanctions under its nuclear deal with world powers, has rejected any talk of a freeze. Iran had initially said its OPEC representative would participate in the talks but on Sunday Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh announced Tehran would send no delegation at all. "The Doha meeting is for people who want to participate in the production freeze plan... but since Iran isn't expected to sign up to the plan the presence of an Iranian representative isn't necessary," Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the Shana news agency. "Iran will in no way give up its historic production quota," Zanganeh said. Influential Saudi deputy crown prince Mohamed bin Salman reiterated in an interview with Bloomberg published on Saturday that the kingdom would not accept a freeze without Tehran's cooperation. But Kuwaiti oil expert Kamel al-Harami said a freeze agreement was still possible even without Iran. "Iran is unable to add more than 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) to its production by the end of the year," Harami told AFP in Doha. "I believe this will not greatly impact the meeting," he said. - 'Atmosphere of optimism' - OPEC said on Wednesday that Iranian oil production in March was 3.3 million bpd, up from 2.9 million in January, but still short of its pre-embargo level of around 4.0 million. OPEC said its members pumped 32.25 million bpd in March -- with Saudi Arabia accounting for nearly a third -- up from an average of 31.85 million bpd in 2015. Saudi Arabia has refused to cut production despite the price fall, as it seeks to drive less-competitive players, especially US shale producers, out of the market. But pressure has been building as falling oil revenues hit state coffers, with Riyadh posting a record budget deficit last year. Host country Qatar said "an atmosphere of optimism" spread on the eve of the meeting. Kuwait's acting oil minister Anas al-Saleh told reporters on arrival in Doha that "he was optimistic" about the success of the conference, which took place as thousands of oil workers in his country began an open-ended strike Sunday to protest against a government proposal to cut their wages. Oil prices had tumbled on Friday as traders bet that the meeting in Doha will yield no effective measures to curb the global oversupply. On Thursday the International Energy Agency had warned against expecting too much from the Doha talks, saying that the meeting would have only a "limited" impact on supplies. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said a key oil summit in Doha was for those who supported a production freeze, but as Tehran wasn't expected "to sign up to the plan the presence of an Iranian representative isn't necessary" Atta Kenare (AFP/File) Double murder suspect extradited from Hong Kong to US: police A Chinese national arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly murdering his two teenage nephews in the United States has been extradited back to the US, city police said on Sunday. Shi Deyun, 44, was detained at Hong Kong's international airport in January after arriving on a flight from Los Angeles. He is accused of murdering his nephews, aged 15 and 16. Shi Deyun, accused of murdering his two teenage nephews in the US, is escorted by police to Hong Kong's Eastern hospital on February 1, 2016 Anthony Wallace (AFP) "Wanted for two cases of murder...(he) was extradited to the United States of America from Hong Kong on April 15," a police spokesman told AFP in an emailed statement. Media reports said Shi was heading to mainland China when he was arrested on January 24, but he has denied fleeing, saying that he was heading to the southern city of Shenzhen via Hong Kong to deal with business. Unlike Hong Kong, mainland China does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. While in custody in Hong Kong, he was sent to a hospital for a check-up after complaining of being "muddle-headed", but was denied bail. He is accused of killing his nephews after his wife filed for divorce, the Los Angeles Times reported. Their bodies were discovered by their mother at their home in the Californian city. South Sudanese gunmen have slaughtered 208 people and kidnapped more than 100 children in a brutal cross-border cattle raid into Ethiopia. The attack took place on Friday in Ethiopia's Gambela region which, alongside a neighbouring province, hosts more than 284,000 South Sudanese refugees who fled war in their country. One government official claimed to be 'closing in' on the attackers, while another boasted they had 'decimated scores' of the gunmen who carried out the raid. Internally displaced people of the Murle tribe wait to receive World Food Programme food rations in the Sudanese town of Pibor in Jonglei State in 2009 The cross-border raid occurred when ethnic gunmen crossed into Gambela, Ethiopia (illustrated), from neighbouring South Sudan and killed 200 people, kidnapped 100 children and stole 2,000 head of livestock By yesterday afternoon, the toll from their deadly raid had risen to '208 dead and 75 people wounded' from 140 a day earlier. Some 2,000 head of cattle were also taken. The Murle, a tribe from South Sudan based in the eastern Jonglei region, often stage raids to steal cattle. They attacked the Nuer tribe, one of the two main ethnic groups in South Sudan, but who also live across the border in Ethiopia. 'Our forces have been in pursuit of the attackers and they decimated scores of them,' Tewolde Muluteg, an Ethiopian government spokesperson said, without indicating whether the Ethiopian forces entered South Sudan territory. 'In border areas cattle feuds and raids are not uncommon. Of course, something of this magnitude is different,' he added. 'We don't think [the armed men] have any links to the South Sudan government or the rebels.' Ethiopia has been heavily involved in the South Sudan peace process, partly because of the risk that the conflict could destabilise Gambella. South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar is due to return to South Sudan's capital Juba on Monday from his rebel base at Pagak in the far east of the country, close to the Ethiopian border, rebel spokesman Colonel Nyarji Roman said. Machar, who has not set foot in Juba for two years, is to form a transitional government with his rival, President Salva Kiir, as part of a peace deal signed in August. Machar, who was Kiir's deputy before the war, has been living in exile in Kenya and Ethiopia, but was re-appointed vice president in February. The Murle, a tribe from South Sudan based in the western state of Jonglei, often stage raids to steal cattle He is expected to be swiftly sworn into office as vice president at the presidential palace alongside Kiir on Monday but a welcome rally by his supporters may be cancelled amid government security fears. After winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war two years later, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken country along ethnic lines. Tens of thousands have been killed and over two million people forced to flee their homes during the war. France's Hollande visits Syrian refugee children in Lebanon French President Francois Hollande met with Syrian refugee children in eastern Lebanon on Sunday before he was to head to Egypt as part of a four-day regional tour. The French leader travelled to an informal settlement in Lebanon's Bekaa valley that is home to some 600 Syrian refugees, mostly women and children. "I just visited a camp the likes of which are all over Lebanon," Hollande told reporters after spending nearly an hour in the Al-Dalhamiyah camp. French President Francois Hollande (L) meets with a Syrian family at Dalhamiyeh refugee camp in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on April 17, 2016 Stephane De Sakutin (AFP) "They (Syrian children) don't want violence. They want to learn and go home, join their families, their country," he said. About 15 Syrian schoolchildren greeted the French president as he entered the large communal tent used as their makeshift school. They recited a poem in Arabic and gave Hollande pictures they had drawn. "You will be the messengers of peace... France's children are thinking of you a lot," Hollande told them. He met with the UN refugee agency's Lebanon representative Mireille Girard, who said difficult living conditions were forcing young Syrian children into child labour. Lebanon, home to four million people, hosts more than one million Syrian refugees. France hosts more than 10,000. Hollande landed in Beirut on Saturday for meetings with Lebanese officials and announced 100 million euros ($113 million) in assistance to the small Mediterranean country over the next three years. He was to leave Lebanon on Sunday afternoon for Egypt and to eventually travel on to Jordan. In Cairo, Hollande is expected to discuss with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi both the political crisis in Egypt's western neighbour Libya and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His visit to Jordan on Tuesday will take him to the Prince Hassan air base, 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Amman. Syria opposition threatens to quit talks as Aleppo fighting flares The Syrian opposition delegation threatened to quit the Geneva peace talks, due to resume Monday, as a renewed flare-up in violence in Aleppo killed another 22 civilians. The opposition High Negotiations Committee said indirect negotiations could collapse if Syria's regime refuses to compromise on political and humanitarian issues. "We might suspend (our participation in) the talks if things carry on this way, and then there will be no prospect for any political solution," HNC member Abdulhakim Bashar told AFP. Delegation members of the main Syrian opposition body, the High Negotiations Committee (HCN), attend a press conference following Syria peace talks at the United Nations Office on April 13, 2016 in Geneva Fabrice Coffrini (AFP/File) The opposition's chief negotiator also said there could be "no compromise" on Bashar al-Assad's ouster, and called for renewed attacks on regime forces despite a fragile ceasefire. The truce has seen violence drop across parts of Syria, including the northern city. Areas controlled by the Islamic State group, Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, and other jihadists are exempt from the ceasefire, but renewed clashes around Aleppo are straining the truce as other rebel groups are being dragged into the fighting. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the number of civilians killed in Aleppo city was one of the highest single tolls since the truce began on February 27. At least six civilians were killed and eight wounded in regime air strikes on rebel-held eastern parts of the city on Saturday. And a barrage of rockets and sniper fire by opposition groups onto government-controlled western districts killed 16 civilians, including 10 children and two women. Rebel groups fired more rockets at western areas of Aleppo city late Sunday, but there was no immediate information on new casualties. - 'Direct threat to truce' - "There's a clear escalation. This was the bloodiest incident in Aleppo and its province" since the ceasefire began, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. "This escalation directly threatens the truce." The HNC has questioned the regime's commitment to a political solution to Syria's five-year war, particularly in the wake of the renewed violence in Aleppo. "The humanitarian situation is continually deteriorating, the issue of the detainees has not seen any progress, the ceasefire has almost collapsed, and now there is an attack on Aleppo from three sides," Bashar said in Switzerland. "Given these factors, we are reviewing everything, and we will continue our meetings today (Sunday) so that tomorrow we can decide what to do." A second member of the HNC delegation, speaking anonymously, said the talks were nearly at "an impasse". The fate of Assad has remained the main sticking point in peace talks, with Syria's opposition clinging onto its call for his ouster since the conflict began in 2011. But the regime has ruled out his departure, calling it "a red line". "There can be no compromise on the issue of Bashar al-Assad... For us, it's a closed book -- you cannot trade an entire people for one man," opposition chief negotiator Mohammed Alloush told AFP in Geneva. UN mediator Staffan de Mistura is expected to sit down with the Damascus government Monday morning and meet the opposition delegation in the afternoon. - 'Strike them everywhere' - Earlier, Alloush called for renewed attacks on regime forces, despite the shaky truce. "Don't trust the regime and don't wait for their pity," tweeted Alloush, a leading political figure in the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group. "Strike them at their necks (kill them). Strike them everywhere." A fellow opposition figure said Alloush's hawkish statement did not represent the HNC's position. Alloush himself later told AFP that he had been calling on rebel groups to defend themselves against regime truce violations. The peace plan outlined by De Mistura and backed by world powers envisions a political transition, a new constitution, and presidential and parliamentary elections by September 2017. But Syria's government hosted its own parliamentary elections last week only in government-held areas, which Assad's ruling Baath party easily won. The opposition denounced the election as a "farce". Brokered by Russia and the United States, the ceasefire has largely held across parts of Syria, despite frequent accusations of violations by both sides. IS has seized fresh territory from rebel groups in the north, threatening the key opposition town of Azaz, just eight kilometres (five miles) south of the Turkish border. The jihadist onslaught has forced 30,000 Syrians to flee, and tens of thousands more are at risk of displacement. Since the conflict erupted in 2011, half of Syria's population has been displaced -- including five million who have fled to neighbouring states. More than 270,000 people have been killed. Syrian rescue workers and residents help an injured woman following a reported air strike by government forces on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Haydariya in the northern city of Aleppo on April 10, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File) Founder of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, poses for photographs ahead of an interview with AFP in central London on October 17, 2013 Leon Neal (AFP/File) High Negotiations Committee (HNC) delegation head Asaad al-Zoabi (L) next to Chief negotiator for HNC, Mohammed Alloush, during a press conference following Syria peace talks at the United Nations Office on April 13, 2016 in Geneva Fabrice Coffrini (AFP/File) War in Syria: the control of territory Kun TIAN, Thomas SAINT-CRICQ (AFP/File) Turkey denies claims it fired on fleeing Syrians Turkey on Sunday denied claims that its military opened fire on Syrian refugees fleeing clashes between Islamic State group jihadists and rebels in northern Syria. Human Rights Watch on Friday accused Turkish border guards of shooting at the refugees as they approached the border in Syria's Aleppo province. "As civilians flee ISIS fighters, Turkey is responding with live ammunition instead of compassion," HRW researcher Gerry Simpson said, using an acronym for the jihadists. A boy arrives with women as Syrians fleeing Aleppo wait on February 6, 2016 in Bab al-Salama, near the city of Azaz, northern Syria, near the Turkish border Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) The Turkish foreign ministry, however, said the allegations had "nothing to do with the reality", adding that Turkey was hosting nearly three million Syrians who have fled the civil war in their country. At least 30,000 civilians have fled fighting between jihadists and rebels in northern Syria, Human Rights Watch said on Friday, calling on Turkey to open its border to them. The Turkish foreign ministry added that thousands of Syrians had been displaced as a result of "Daesh attacks", an Arabic acronym for IS group. France's Hollande in Egypt visit dogged by rights criticism French President Francois Hollande said Sunday human rights should be respected in the fight against "terrorism" after a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was overshadowed by claims of rights abuses. Hollande had arrived in Cairo earlier for a two-day visit to oversee the signing of several economic agreements, but a press conference with Sisi was dominated by the Egyptian leader's human rights record. Sisi said the French president had brought up the issue during their meeting. French President Francois Hollande (R) waves next to Egyptian counterpart Abdelfattah al-Sisi (C) after reviewing the honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the al-Quba presidential palace in Cairo on April 17, 2016 Khaled Desouki (AFP) "The region we live in, President Hollande, is very turbulent," said Sisi, turning to the visiting French leader. When it was his turn to speak, Hollande said respecting human rights was not an obstacle to fighting jihadists, who have carried out large scale attacks in both France and Egypt. "Human rights are not a constraint but also a way to fight against terrorism," he said. Hollande said he had raised the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni, whose body was found covered in torture marks in February in Cairo, more than a week after his disappearance. He said he also brought up the case of Eric Lang, a French teacher who was murdered in an Egyptian jail in 2013. On the eve of Hollande's visit, rights groups including Amnesty International had criticised what they called France's "deafening silence" on allegations of abuses in Egypt. When a reporter brought up the case of Regeni, Sisi said there was a plot against the country by an "evil force". "Let me say we are being confronted by an evil force that is trying to shake Egypt, and give a false impression of what is happening in Egypt," he said. Italian officials have voiced suspicion that the PhD student was killed by security services, and Rome has recalled its ambassador from Cairo in protest at the pace of Egypt's investigation into his death. Egypt denies he was killed by the police. - Deals signed - "I want to say what is happening in Egypt is an attempt to destroy state institutions. Today accusations are made against the police to bring down the police, then against judges to bring down the judiciary," Sisi said. On the economic front, the two leaders oversaw the signing of 18 memorandums of understanding between Egypt and France, and a 1.2 billion euro agreement to expand the metro line in Cairo. The deals included financing for a wind farm and a solar power plant. Since the overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, police have waged a bloody crackdown on Islamists that has killed more than 1,000 protesters. The crackdown has spread to secular and leftwing dissidents who had supported Morsi's overthrow but then turned on Sisi. Meanwhile, jihadists have mounted an insurgency based in the Sinai Peninsula that has killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen. The Islamic State group's Egypt affiliate has also claimed responsibility for bombing a plane carrying Russian holidaymakers over Sinai last October, killing all 224 people on board. Sisi, who won a presidential election in 2014, has manoeuvred his country into being a cornerstone in the fight against IS, which a US-led coalition is battling in Iraq and Syria. The jihadist group has taken over the city of Sirte in neighbouring Libya, more than five years after French-led air strikes helped rebels there defeat dictator Moamer Kadhafi's regime. For many governments in the West that initially condemned the overthrow of Morsi -- Egypt's first democratically elected president -- the fight against jihadists has become the main concern rather than pushing democracy. For France, Egypt has also become a key market, especially for military hardware. Egypt was the first country to buy French Rafale warplanes, and also purchased two Mistral helicopter carrier ships. After his Cairo trip, Hollande will on Tuesday visit Jordan's Prince Hassan air base, where French aircraft taking part in the coalition battling IS in Syria and Iraq are stationed. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and his French counterpart Francois Hollande hold a press conference at the al-Qubaa palace in Cairo on April 17, 2016 Khaled Desouki (AFP) Bayern Munich beats Schalke 3-0, Leverkusen jumps to 3rd FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) Bayern Munich dominated Schalke 3-0 and increased its lead to 10 points as it closed in on a record fourth straight Bundesliga title on Saturday. Robert Lewandowski's pair raised his league-high total to 27 goals, and Arturo Vidal added Bayern's third. Second-place Borussia Dortmund can cut the gap back to seven points against Hamburger SV on Sunday. Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Earlier, substitute Kevin Kampl scored with his first touch of the ball as Bayer Leverkusen went on to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 to jump to third place. Bayern never looked like losing at home, but could not crack Schalke's defense until Lewandowski chested down a pass from Vidal, turned, and shot from close range in the 54th minute. He doubled the lead by rising to head in a cross from Rafinha. Vidal completed the victory after some good work by substitute Franck Ribery, who went in five minutes earlier. Schalke fell to seventh on goal difference behind Mainz, which plays Cologne on Sunday. Sixth place means a berth in the Europa League next season. Kampl's spectacular volley for Leverkusen broke the deadlock, as Frankfurt fell deeper into relegation trouble. Combined with Hertha Berlin's 2-1 loss at Hoffenheim, Leverkusen's win allowed the club to move past Berlin into third, which guarantees a Champions League slot next season. With four matches remaining, next-to-last Frankfurt was six points from safety and the biggest loser on the day, as most other relegation candidates won. Werder Bremen beat Wolfsburg 3-2, Darmstadt defeated Ingolstadt 2-0, and Augsburg edged Stuttgart 1-0. Kampl, coming back from a long injury, made an immediate impact when he replaced Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who limped off with a left knee injury. Kampl was on the field just seconds before picking up a half-clearance from Frankfurt and driving home a superb first-touch, right-footed shot inside the post in the 70th. Kampl also helped to set up Leverkusen's second through Julian Brandt, and Karim Bellarabi added the final strike as Leverkusen notched its fifth straight win without conceding a goal. Frankfurt had the better chances until Kampl's opening goal, but sorely missed injured top striker Alexandar Meier. Leverkusen moved two points above Berlin, which was winless in three straight matches. Niklas Stark put Berlin ahead, but goals from Fabian Schaer and Mark Uth turned the match around. In Bremen, Claudio Pizarro returned from injury to convert a penalty and become Bremen's top all-time scorer with 102, one more than club chairman Marco Bode. Fin Bartels and Sambou Yatabare got the other goals for Bremen, while Josuha Guilavogui and Bas Dost scored for slumping Wolfsburg, which was eliminated by Real Madrid this week in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It looks likely to miss out on a European competition next season. Hoffenheim, Darmstadt, and Augsburg also picked up big points. Bremen was four points ahead of Frankfurt, and in the relegation playoff spot. Stuttgart and Augsburg were two points ahead of Bremen, while Hoffenheim was three points clear of Bremen. ___ This story has been corrected to fix score in headline to 3-0. Leverkusen;s Kevin Kampl, left, celebrates after scoring the first goal beside Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt, right, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Leverkusen's Kevin Kampl celebrates after scoring the first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Leverkusen's Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez sits on the pitch injured and has to leave the match during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Leverkusen;s Kevin Kampl celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Bayern's Arturo Vidal celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Ted Cruz takes anti-Trump campaign to Wyoming CHEYENNE, Wyoming (AP) Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took his delegate-by-delegate strategy aimed at thwarting a Donald Trump presidential nomination on Saturday to the least populous U.S. state on Saturday, while the billionaire front-runner focused on running up the vote in Tuesday's primary in his home state of New York. Cruz's well-organized campaign is trying to pick up pockets of delegates to deny Trump the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright at the Republican National Convention in July. Cruz's hopes for the nomination rest on a contested convention where pledged delegates will be free to switch to other candidates starting with the second round of balloting. That's what brought Cruz out West on Saturday, where he swept all 14 delegates up for grabs at Wyoming's state Republican convention, handing Trump yet another loss in a string of defeats in Western states. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says remove protesters as he speaks at a campaign rally, Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) Saturday's sweep for Cruz follows his victory last month in Wyoming, when he scored 9 of 12 available delegates at county conventions. Trump and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who later quit the race, each won one delegate last month in Wyoming while one remained undecided. Trump still leads the overall delegate race with 747 to Cruz's 559. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 144. Cruz was the only candidate to address the convention in Casper on Saturday, promising to end what he called President Barack Obama's "war on coal" if he's elected. Wyoming is the nation's leading coal-producing state. Trump largely bypassed the state. In a telephone interview Saturday on "Fox and Friends," he said: "I don't want to waste millions of dollars going out to Wyoming many months before to wine and dine and to essentially pay off these people, because a lot of it's a payoff, you understand that?" Trump's defeat in Wyoming follows his shutout earlier this month in Colorado, where he failed to pick up a single delegate of the 34 in play. He has urged his supporters to protest the results to state officials in that state. Campaigning in New York on Saturday, Trump said, "I guess I'm complaining 'cause it's not fair to the people." In Wyoming and Colorado, he said, "the people never got a chance to vote." Cruz, in an interview with The Associated Press after his speech in Casper, said Trump's decision not to campaign in Wyoming is telling. "The reason he decided not to show up is he recognized he couldn't win, he couldn't earn the support of conservatives in Wyoming," Cruz said. On the issue of coal, Wyoming has seen hundreds of coal industry layoffs in recent months as several of the nation's largest coal companies have filed for federal bankruptcy protections. Calling America, "the Saudi Arabia of coal," Cruz promised to roll back federal regulations he says hamper coal production. Cruz also told the crowd he was "pretty sure, here in Wyoming, y'all define gun control the same way we do in Texas and that is hitting what you're aiming at." Trump was focusing on New York where he was looking for a big victory to grab the lion's share of the 95 delegates at stake. He was holding campaign events across the state over the weekend. On the Democratic side, neither candidate had events planned in New York on Saturday. Polls show Hillary Clinton with a double-digit lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the state which she formerly represented as a U.S. senator. Sanders needs an upset win in New York to make inroads into Clinton's 200-plus lead in pledged delegates, Sanders met briefly with Pope Francis Saturday morning at the papal residence at the Vatican, saying it was a "real honor" to call on "one of the extraordinary figures" in the world. The pope said his brief encounter with the U.S. presidential candidate was a sign of good manners, "nothing more," and hardly evidence of interfering in American politics. The brief encounter came a day after Sanders addressed a Vatican conference dealing with his lifelong passions of economic and social justice. The trip gave Sanders a moment on the world stage, putting him alongside priests, bishops, academics and two South American presidents at the Vatican conference. Sanders has been at a disadvantage during his campaign against Clinton, the former secretary of state, on issues of foreign policy. Before returning to the United States and resuming his campaigning in New York, Sanders said he had the chance to tell the pope that "I was incredibly appreciative of the incredible role that he is playing in this planet in discussing issues about the need for an economy based on morality, not greed." Clinton was in California for a pair of big-dollar fundraisers hosted by George and Amal Clooney, with some donors agreeing to raise or donate six-figure sums. California doesn't hold its primary until June 7. She also told a cheering crowd at a Los Angeles rally on Saturday that if elected she would push Congress to raise the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage. She credited California for recently enacting the nation's highest statewide minimum wage $15 an hour by 2022. To date, Clinton has 1,289 delegates from primaries and caucuses to Sanders' 1,045. When including superdelegates, or party officials who can support any candidate, Clinton has 1,758 to Sanders' 1,076. Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the Wyoming GOP Convention on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre in Casper, Wyo. (Jenna VonHofe /The Casper Star-Tribune via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to people in the overflow area during a campaign event at the Los Angeles Southwest College on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Farm board backs ruling that grower interfered with election FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The California farm labor board has upheld a court ruling that one of the nation's largest fruit growers interfered as employees were deciding whether to reject union representation. The decision Friday by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board marked the latest victory for organized labor in the decades-long fight. The board unanimously affirmed the ruling by Administrative Law Judge Mark Soble to set aside a 2013 election held by workers at Gerawan Farming Inc. FILE - In this April 29, 2014 file photo, Dan Gerawan, owner of Gerawan Farming, Inc., left, talks with crew boss Jose Cabello in a nectarine orchard near Sanger, Calif. The Agricultural Labor Relations Board late Friday, April 15, 2016 unanimously affirmed an administrative law judge's earlier decision in favor of the United Farm Workers in a decades-long fight with Gerawan Farming Inc., one of the nation's largest fruit growers. The board supported the judge's ruling that the company interfered with its employees' vote on whether to reject union representation. (AP Photo/Scott Smith, File) The board found Gerawan allowed employees who favored breaking from the United Farm Workers to gather signatures during work time to hold an election and unlawfully granted a wage increase during the decertification campaign to win the favor of workers. The company hires thousands of people annually to harvest nectarines, peaches and grapes in the Central Valley. It said it will appeal the farm board's decision. "Gerawan is confident that this undemocratic decision will not stand," the company said, adding that it would welcome a new election supervised by board chairman William Gould. "We truly want the workers to have a say since the last time they were asked their opinion was in 1990," the company said. The dispute between Gerawan and the union dates back to 1992, when the UFW began to represent the workers but didn't negotiate a labor contract. Union leaders have said they backed off at the time because they were overpowered by Gerawan. They recently returned to take on the company and represent its workers. The UFW's national vice president Armando Elenes said the farm board decision shows there was illegal behavior. "The decision speaks for itself," Elenes said. "Now we just want Gerawan to implement the workers' contract." The state Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether the contract can be implemented. China criticizes Taiwan for releasing fraud suspects BEIJING (AP) A Chinese spokesman criticized Taiwan after the self-ruled island released 20 fraud suspects just one day after they were deported from Malaysia, citing a lack of evidence. China and Taiwan have been tussling over which side would prosecute an international ring of Taiwanese and Chinese who allegedly targeted hundreds of mainland Chinese in telephone scams, the latest spat to inflame cross-Strait tensions. Malaysia authorities on Friday sent 20 Taiwanese suspects to Taiwan despite protests from China, which claims jurisdiction in the case because its citizens were targeted and it has been investigating the scams. FILE - In this April 13, 2016, file photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese and Taiwanese suspects involved in wire fraud, center, sit in a plane as they arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China. Taiwan on Friday was trying to prevent Malaysia from deporting 52 Taiwanese criminal suspects to China amid an ongoing battle over jurisdiction involving the self-ruled island. (Yin Gang/Xinhua News Agency via AP, File) NO SALES An Fengshan, the spokesman for the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said Saturday that Taiwan had "disregarded many victims' interests and harmed them a second time" after releasing the suspects, and urged Taiwan to "immediately rectify their mistakes," according to a statement on the office's website. An said releasing the suspects harmed the two sides' years-long cooperation on criminal investigations and called on Taiwan to "prevent greater damage to the development of cross-Strait relations." The fight over the deportees reflects a long history of diplomatic wrangling between China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 amid civil war and have been trying to outmaneuver each other in the international arena ever since. Last week, Kenya sent 45 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China instead of Taiwan, infuriating Taipei officials, who accused Beijing of using its clout with the East African nation to "abduct" its citizens. Officials in Taiwan have viewed Beijing's demands for the fraud suspects as a sign that China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, is interfering with Taiwanese affairs and exerting its legal authority over Taiwanese citizens abroad. Beijing, meanwhile, has voiced frustration that it cannot deal with criminal suspects targeting its own citizens despite its law enforcement efforts. The international criminal gang, mostly based out of Southeast Asia, is accused of swindling Chinese through telephone calls by pretending to be police or insurance agents. Malaysia detained a total of 120 foreigners 68 from China and 52 from Taiwan during a bust last month. Two of the so-called masterminds were from China and were deported last Wednesday, after which China requested the remaining 118 be sent to the mainland. Malaysia is expected to send the remaining 32 Taiwanese suspects back to Taiwan, according to a Malaysian official who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. The Latest: Ecuador leader says finding survivors a priority QUITO, Ecuador (AP) The Latest on the earthquake in Ecuador (all times local): 1:25 a.m. Ecuador's president says the earthquake death toll in country has risen to at least 272 and is sure to go much higher. A rescue worker looks as heavy machinery removes the debris of a collapsed building in Portoviejo, Ecuador, Sunday April 17, 2016. A magnitude-7.8 quake, the strongest since 1979, hit Ecuador flattening buildings, buckling highways along its Pacific coast and killing hundreds. (AP Photo/Carlos Sacoto) After visiting areas hard hit by the quake, Rafael Correa gave the new count to reporters early Monday and said it would "surely rise, and in a considerable way." Correa says Ecuador will overcome the tragedy. He said: "The Ecuadorean spirit knows how to move forward, and will know how to overcome these very difficult moments." ___ 10:50 p.m. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa is back in his home country and is making his first public comments about the strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades. He says the priority remains finding survivors. Correa cut short a trip to the Vatican and flew directly to one of the hardest-hit area along Ecuador's Pacific coast to oversee relief operations. In an address from the tragedy-stricken city of Portoviejo, he says the death toll will probably rise considerably from the current 262 in the coming days. But he stresses that there's evidence some people remain alive underneath rubble. He says the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake is the worst natural disaster to befall Ecuador since a 1949 earthquake in Ambato that killed thousands. In Correa's words: "The pain is very large, the tragedy is very large, but we'll find the way to move forward. If our pain is immense, still larger is the spirt of our people." ___ 9 p.m. The death toll from the powerful earthquake that shook coastal Ecuador has risen to 262. Vice Minister Diego Fuentes gave the latest number to reporters Sunday night as search teams continued to pick at rubble looking for survivors and victims. Earlier, Vice President Jorge Glas said more than 2,500 people were injured in Saturday night's earthquake. Glas says there is a long list of missing people that authorities are looking for but he has declined to disclose the number. He says only that the number of casualties is expected to go up more. ___ 6:55 p.m. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has rushed back from an overseas trip and is getting briefed on relief efforts after a powerful earthquake rocked a coastal area of the South American nation. Correa was in Rome when the 7.8-magnitude quake struck Saturday night, causing heavy damage and killing at least 246 people. He had attended a conference at the Vatican a day earlier. The presidential office released photos showing he flew in Ecuador's presidential plane directly to the city of Manta on the coast. He is being briefed at the airport and is expected to make his first statements on Ecuadorean soil soon. ___ 5:40 p.m. The death toll from Ecuador's powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake continues to rise, with 246 people now confirmed dead. Vice President Jorge Glas further says that more than 2,500 are injured. Glas says there is a long list of missing people that authorities are looking for but he has declined to disclose the number. He says only that the number of casualties is expected to go up more. ___ 4:25 p.m. The prospect of a second night on the streets without electricity has gotten more worrisome for people living near the epicenter of the earthquake that rocked parts of Ecuador's coast. Authorities in Manabi province have announced that 180 prisoners being held at El Rodeo jail near the city of Portoviejo escaped amid the tumult after the quake hit Saturday night. Twenty of the prisoners have been reported recaptured and others have returned voluntarily, but most of them remain on the loose. In addition, looting has been reported in several cities affected by the quake. In the absence of shelters, some men are taking turns watching over loved ones as they rest in the open. ___ 1:30 p.m. Ecuadorian officials say the death toll from a powerful earthquake has risen to 238. The government reported the new figures in a press release Sunday afternoon. Earlier, Vice President Jorge Glas reported 235 dead and more than 1,500 injured after an earthquake leveled parts of the South American country Saturday night. The government is also reporting hundreds of buildings destroyed. Major roads remain closed in the areas hardest hit by the quake ___ 12:40 p.m. The Canadian government says two of its citizens are among those who died in the massive Ecuador earthquake. Global Affairs Canada has issued a statement saying it's "deeply saddened by tragic loss of life" caused by the magnitude-7.8 quake that hit late Saturday. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion, says two Canadians are among those reported dead and he extended condolences to their families. The names of the Canadian victims were not released. ___ 12:00 p.m. Ecuador's Vice President Jorge Glas says the death toll from the magnitude-7.8 earthquake has risen slightly to 235. But he says another 1,557 people are injured. Glas tells a news conference that there's no risk of a tsunami an attempt to knock down rumors in the jittery nation that has been shaken by scores of aftershocks. ___ 11:40 a.m. The magnitude-7.8 earthquake has flattened much of the Ecuadoran provincial capital of Portoviejo, leaving rescuers scrambling through the ruins, digging with their hands to find survivors. President Rafael Correa says at least 233 people have died nationally as a result of the Saturday evening quake. El Diario newspaper editor Jaime Ugalde says it seems like nothing has been left standing. Among the collapsed structures are a hotel, the local social security headquarters and a telecommunications building. At a pharmacy, Andres Vera pleaded for help finding his younger brother, his brother's wife and the couple's 2 year-old son. The family had been trying to buy medicine when the shaking started, and the four-story building above the shop collapsed. ___ 10:10 a.m. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa says the death toll from a magnitude-7.8 earthquake has risen to 233. Correa sent the new figure on his official Twitter account while flying home from Rome to deal with the emergency. ___ 7:45 a.m. Authorities in Ecuador are mobilizing resources and help is getting to the ground after a long night of fear and uncertainty caused by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake that killed at least 77 people. Vice President Jorge Glas is overseeing efforts until President Rafael Correa makes an emergency return from a visit to Rome. Glas arrived Sunday morning in Manta along the coast along with dozens of rescuers. The city's airport is badly damaged, but is receiving relief flights. National airline TAME has already organized two humanitarian airlifts with members of the Red Cross and police reinforcements. More than a dozen roads have been closed due to damage from the earthquake, making it harder for rescuers to reach where they are needed most. The Transportation Ministry says that the hardest hit was Manabi province, near the epicenter. Eight major roads there were either closed or partially collapsed from landslides or strong movements of the earth. ___ 7:25 a.m. Ecuador's seismological institute is reporting more than 135 aftershocks following Saturday's magnitude-7.8 quake that ravaged the country's coastline. The strongest occurred overnight around 2 a.m. local time about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the main quake's epicenter and was felt in cities hundreds of miles kilometers away. The U.S. Geological Survey said that quake had a magnitude of 5.6. Authorities are warning that more aftershocks are in store in the coming hours and days. ___ 5:55 a.m. Pope Francis has offered prayers for the people of Ecuador affected by the violent earthquake overnight "that caused numerous victims and great damage." Francis asked the faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday to pray for those suffering in the aftermath of the magnitude-7.8 earthquake, as well as those hit by a separate magnitude-7.0 tremor in Japan early Saturday. He says "may the help of God and of neighbors give them strength and support." Authorities say the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that hit Ecuador's sparsely populated coast Saturday night has killed 77 people and injured over 570 others. Two powerful earthquakes in Japan last week killed 41 people. (This item corrects earlier reference to Japan quake magnitude 7.0 instead of 7.3 and local time Saturday, not Friday). ___ 5:20 a.m. Ecuador's earthquake is about six times stronger and has released more energy than the one in Japan a day before. David Rothery, a professor of planetary geosciences at The Open University, northeast of London, says the total energy released by the magnitude-7.8 quake Saturday in Ecuador was "probably about 20 times greater" than the magnitude-7.0 quake in Japan early Saturday. Rothery told The Associated Press on Sunday that bigger quakes last longer, so both the strength of the shaking and the duration contribute to the total energy. Rothery says the quake in Ecuador began deeper underground than the recent Japan quakes, which would have lessened the shaking on the ground. But the greater loss of life and greater damage in Ecuador can be attributed to the country's less stringent construction codes. The scientist also says "there is no causal relationship between the earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan." (This item corrects earlier report and headline to show the 2nd Japan quake hit early Saturday local time, not Friday). ___ 4:35 a.m. Authorities in Ecuador say landslides are making it difficult for emergency workers to reach the towns hardest hit by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake. The quake was centered on a sparsely populated coastal area 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Quito, the capital. Ecuador's Public Works and Transport Ministry says 12 main roads have been closed. A landslide has shut down one road in Cotopaxi and a landslide warning has been issued for a road in Zamora Chinchipe. The Home Ministry says five helicopters and over 80 buses are ferrying 4,000 police to the quake zone. Vice President Jorge Glas also says electricity has been restored to four towns in the Manabi province and to parts of the cities of Portoviejo and Montecristi. He says the quake has killed 77 people and injured over 570. ___ 4:05 a.m. The strong earthquake in Ecuador also was a topic at a major meeting of oil-producing countries in Qatar. Kabalan Abisaab, Ecuador's ambassador to Qatar, spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting in Doha He says "it's a big disaster. We are very worried about the situation." The ambassador stressed his country was prepared for such disasters, though they still can cause massive destruction. He said Ecuadorean officials are working to help those affected. The Foreign Affairs ministry has opened a hotline for people living abroad seeking information on family members in the country. Officials say the magnitude-7.8 quake, which struck Saturday night, has killed at least 77 people and injured over 570. ___ 3:40 a.m. Ecuador's Risk Management agency says residents who evacuated coastal towns because of the risk of a tsunami after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake can return home now. The quake was centered on a sparsely populated area of fishing ports and tourist beaches, 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Quito, the capital. The country's vice president says at least 77 people have been reported killed by the quake, and over 570 injured. Some 10,000 armed forces and hundreds of emergency workers and firefighters have been sent to the region after the quake flattened buildings and buckled highways. Several major highways have been closed. ___ 3:25 a.m. Ecuador's Risk Management agency says 10,000 armed forces have now been deployed to help people in the coastal area stuck by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake. The quake was centered on a sparsely populated area of fishing ports and tourist beaches, 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Quito, the capital. In addition, the agency says Sunday that 3,500 national police have been sent to the towns of Manabi, Esmeraldas and Guayas y Santa Elena, and 500 firefighters have been sent to Manabi and Pedernales. Five shelters have been set up for those evacuated from their homes. Officials say the quake, which struck Saturday night, has killed at least 77 people and injured over 570. ___ 2:45 a.m. Top officials say Ecuador is in a state of emergency and hundreds of rescue workers are rushing in after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck near its Pacific coast. The Security Ministry says on its Twitter account that "every emergency protocol has been activated" and President Rafael Correa says special quake rescue teams are coming in from Colombia and Mexico. The Red Cross Ecuador says more than 1,200 volunteers are already working in rescue, evacuation and first aid operations. Vice President Jorge Glas says mobile phone operators are allowing free text services in the hard-hit Manabi and Esmeraldas provinces, allowing people to better reach their loved ones or report emergency situations. He says the Saturday quake has already killed 77 people and injured at least 578. ___ 2:20 a.m. Ecuador's vice president says the toll in the country's devastating earthquake has risen to 77 dead and 578 injured. Vice President Jorge Glas made the announcement early Sunday on the Security Ministry's Twitter account. Glas and emergency rescue workers are pressing to reach the sparsely populated area of fishing ports and tourist beaches along the country's Pacific coast where the magnitude-7.8 quake struck after nightfall on Saturday. President Rafael Correa has signed a decree declaring a national emergency and is rushing home from Rome. ___ 1:30 a.m. The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades has flattened buildings and buckled highways along the country's Pacific coast, killing at least 41 people and causing damage in the capital and other major cities that were hundreds of miles (kilometers) away from the epicenter. The death toll is expected to rise Sunday as rescuers reached the sparsely populated area of fishing ports and tourist beaches where the magnitude-7.8 quake was centered. "We're trying to do the most we can but there's almost nothing we can do," said Gabriel Alcivar, mayor of Pedernales, a town of 40,000 near the quake's epicenter. He pleaded for authorities to send earth-moving machines and emergency rescue workers as dozens of buildings in the town were flattened, trapping residents among the rubble. "This wasn't just a house that collapsed, it was an entire town," he said. Vice President Jorge Glas said in a televised address late Saturday there were initial reports of 41 dead in the cities of Manta, Portoviejo and Guayaquil all several hundred kilometers (miles) from where the quake struck shortly after nightfall Saturday. President Rafael Correa signed a decree declaring a national emergency and was rushing home from Rome. The quake was the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979, Glas said. Volunteers rescue a body from a destroyed building after an earthquake in Pedernales, Ecuador, Sunday, April 17, 2016. The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast, sending the Andean nation into a state of emergency. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) A man holds a child next to a collapsed building caused by a 7.8 earthquake in Portoviejo, Ecuador, Sunday April 17, 2016. A magnitude-7.8 quake, the strongest since 1979, hit Ecuador flattening buildings, buckling highways along its Pacific coast and killing hundreds. (AP Photo/Carlos Sacoto) A girl is rescued from the rubble in Pedernales, Ecuador, Sunday, April 17, 2016. Rescuers pulled survivors from rubble Sunday after the strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Rubble from a collapsed building lays on the ground in Tarqui, the business district of Manta, Ecuador, Sunday, April 17, 2016. A powerful, 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Ecuador's central coast on Saturday, killing hundreds. (AP Photo/Patricio Ramos) A destroyed home is seen in Pedernales, Ecuador, Sunday, April 17, 2016. The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast, sending the Andean nation into a state of emergency. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Men cry at as they sit amid the debris of their earthquake demolished house in Pedernales, Ecuador, Sunday, April 17, 2016. The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast, sending the Andean nation into a state of emergency. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Finance leaders pledge effort to boost global growth WASHINGTON (AP) Global finance officials are vowing to try to reinvigorate a lackluster global economy and urging governments to embrace free trade and do more to fight tax evasion. Concluding biannual meetings by the world finance leaders, the 189-nation International Monetary Fund said in a statement that it would work toward "strong, sustainable, inclusive, job-rich and more balanced global growth." "The global recovery is continuing, but the expansion is modest," Agustin Carstens, the head of Mexico's central bank and chair of the IMF policy panel, told reporters Saturday. "We must implement mutually reinforcing policies to boost global growth and strengthen financial stability." German Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schauble, right, speaks with French Finance Minister Michel Sapin at the IMF headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 15, 2016, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings G-20 photo opportunity. (AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz) Markets have stabilized after a chaotic start to the year, when fears were growing about a possible new global recession. But the IMF cited a long list of threats, from extremist attacks and the Syrian refugee crisis to the shock to global confidence from a potential exit by Britain from the European Union. The IMF foresees global growth of 3.2 percent this year, down from the 3.4 percent it predicted in January. New threats may imperil efforts to promote greater trade and capital flows between countries. Many nations buffeted by the forces of globalization have lost jobs and workers' wages have stagnated. In the United States, this anger has propelled the presidential candidacy of Republican front-runner Donald Trump. In Britain, voters will decide in June whether to leave the European Union. Carstens urged nations "to refrain from all forms of protectionism" as it hampers global growth. The IMF policy group and the G-20 leaders also worked on a stronger response to international tax evasion, stepping up efforts to penalize countries that do not share tax information. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde called tax evasion and the use of shell companies a crucial new challenge that must be addressed collectively. "All of us are going to have to think outside the box," she told reporters. This issue came under renewed scrutiny after the leak this month of 11.5 million confidential documents from a Panamanian law firm. The Panama Papers show how some of the world's richest people hide assets in shell companies to avoid paying taxes. Iceland's prime minister resigned after it was revealed that he and his wife set up a company in the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven. British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to release his tax returns for the first time after the papers raised questions about his family's affairs. "The Panama revelations show that the G-20 must carry on its action against tax evasion and promote larger transparency," French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said in a statement. "It is a matter of justice and economic efficiency and it is very important for our societies' cohesion." ___ Associated Press writer Paul Wiseman contributed to this report. From left, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, China's Finance Minister Lou Jiwei, and China's central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan, talk at the G-20 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors group photo, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at IMF headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 15, 2016. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) German police keeping open mind in Sikh temple blast probe BERLIN (AP) Police in the western city of Essen say they are keeping an open mind about the reasons for an apparently deliberate explosion at a Sikh temple that injured three people late Saturday. Essen police spokesman Lars Lindemann said Sunday that a masked man reported to have fled the scene hadn't yet been apprehended. Three people detained late Saturday were released after no link to the explosion was found. Lindemann said police were investigating "in all directions" but there were no indications of a terrorist motive. A police officers stand passes by a Sikh temple after three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion Saturday evening, April 16, 2016 in the western German city of Essen. A spokesman for Essen police told The Associated Press that a masked person is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast. (Marcel Kusch/dpa via AP) He said a 60-year-old man suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries in the blast and remains hospitalized. Two men aged 47 and 56 suffered slight injuries. The victims were members of a wedding party that had held a ceremony at the temple earlier Saturday. The Latest: 60 migrants rescued at sea by Spain VATICAN CITY (AP) The Latest on Europe's migration crisis (all times local): 7:25 p.m. Spain's maritime rescue service says it has rescued 60 people who had been crammed into two small boats at the southwestern end of the Mediterranean Sea. Migrant boy washes dishes while others enjoy a swing chair at the makeshift camp at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Sunday, April 17, 2016. Some thousands of people have been stuck her for more than a month amid hopes that the border would reopen.(AP Photo/Amel Emric) One boat containing 21 occupants was located Sunday morning and another with 39 on board was found in the evening, the service said on its official Twitter account. A Spanish navy ship had joined in the search Saturday for one of the vessels that was transporting migrants trying to reach Europe from Africa. Sunday's two operations bring the total of migrants rescued off Spain's southern coastline over the weekend to 136. Thousands of migrants try to reach Spain each year either by attempting to enter the country's north African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta or by making perilous sea crossings to the mainland. ___ 4:10 p.m. Turkey has denied reports Turkish border guards have shot at Syrian civilians fleeing the Islamic State group. Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said Sunday that such claims "are irrelevant to reality." Human Rights Watch has urged Turkey to allow in thousands of Syrians fleeing clashes between rebels and IS in northern Syria. The advocacy group quoted a Syrian refugee who said Turkish border guards shot at hundreds of people approaching a border wall. Turkey, which borders Syria and hosts roughly 2.7 million Syrian refugees, has tightened border restrictions in the past year. Aid agencies, Bilgic said, are taking "necessary precautions on both sides" of the border to help Syrians displaced in the latest fighting. Turkey is reportedly building three container cities with the capacity to house about 40,000 Syrians. ___ 2:15 p.m. Greek authorities, worried about the spread of diseases in makeshift refugee camps, are urging migrants to relocate to organized camps with better living conditions. A flyer is circulating at the Idomeni migrant camp on Greece's border with Macedonia, saying that gastroenteritis, lice and scabies are spreading among the almost 10,400 people there. Written in four languages, including Arab and Farsi, it urges the migrants to relocate to one of several organized camps across Greece. But the migrants and refugees who have been stranded at Idomeni ever since Austria and several Balkan countries shut down their borders to them in mid-March are reluctant to leave. On Saturday, departing migrants filled just one bus. In addition to Idomeni, another 10,000 migrants are staying in makeshift camps in mainland Greece. ___ 1:25 p.m. Pope Francis says one of the refugees he met on the Greek island of Lesbos was the Muslim widower of a Syrian Christian woman killed by extremists for refusing to renounce her faith. Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday that "she is a martyr." Departing from his prepared remarks, Francis shared his experiences of the day earlier with thousands of people gathered for his blessing. He says among the 300 refugees he greeted Saturday on Lesbos was a Syrian widower with two children. The pope said: "He is Muslim, and he told me that he married a Christian girl. They loved each other and respected each other. But unfortunately the young woman's throat was slashed by terrorists because she didn't want to deny Christ and abandon her faith." A migrant uses his mobile phone as he sits by the sea near the old international airport which is used as a temporary camp in Athens, on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Greek authorities, worried about the spread of diseases in makeshift camps, are urging migrants to relocate to organized camps with better living conditions. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Clinton, Sanders dash about New York days before primary NEW YORK (AP) Bernie Sanders revved up what he said was a record crowd of nearly 29,000 in his boyhood borough, insisting that Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton cannot "tell the American people with a straight face that you're going to stand up to big-money interests" when those same interests are giving millions of dollars to her supportive super PAC. The Vermont senator also said during the rally at Prospect Park that the former secretary of state must have given a "pretty damned good speech" to the bank Goldman Sachs since it paid her more than $200,000 as a speaking fee. Sanders has seized on the months-old arguments with increasing agitation in recent weeks. Sunday's speeches came 48 hours before the New York primary and on the heels of one of Clinton's most high-profile campaign fundraisers yet. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign rally in Prospect Park, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Both Sanders and Clinton claim ties to New York. Brooklyn-native Sanders could use a win Tuesday to jar the front-runner, while Clinton wants to halt his momentum with a victory in the state that sent her to the U.S. Senate. Clinton has led the polls, and in a tacit acknowledgement that the election is likely to be tough, Sanders plans to be in soon-to-vote Pennsylvania on Tuesday night. Clinton and Sanders aggressively campaigned across the city Sunday. Both courted black voters; Clinton needs a large African-American turnout to win Tuesday and Sanders would like to erode some of that support. Clinton brought mothers who lost children to gun violence to a church in Mount Vernon, where she stressed her record on gun control. Clinton then hit get-out-the-vote events in Brooklyn and predominantly Hispanic Washington Heights. She concluded her day on the Republican stronghold of Staten Island, where she touted bipartisanship and rallied a crowd of 500, questioning Sanders' role in the effort to revamp health care in the 1990s. "Well, where were you?" Clinton asked. "I mean, really." Sanders began his day at a church in Harlem, where he emphasized that the Black Lives Matter movement had shown him how black communities feel targeted by the police. He later greeted well-wishers at a park shadowed by the Brooklyn Bridge and toured public housing in Brooklyn. Over the weekend, both candidates briefly left New York. Sanders paid a visit to the Vatican. And Clinton made her way to California, where actor George Clooney hosted two weekend fundraisers for her. Donations for attendees at an event in San Francisco topped out at $353,000 per couple, which even Clooney said is an "obscene amount of money." The fundraiser even drew pro-Sanders demonstrators, Clooney recounted in an interview airing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." When he went to talk with them, he said, they called him a corporate shill. "That's one of the funnier things you could say about me," the Oscar-winner said, though he conceded that some of the protesters had a valid point regarding a different matter. "Their T-shirts said, you know, 'You sucked as Batman,'" said Clooney, the star of 1997's "Batman & Robin," one of the least memorable films in the superhero franchise. "And I was like, 'Well, you kind of got me on that one.'" Asked on CNN Sunday whether Clooney was siding with the wrong candidate, Sanders replied, "I think he is." But he complimented Clooney for talking about money in politics, which has been the cornerstone of his campaign. Sanders then used Clooney in his own fundraiser. In an email seeking $2.70 contributions, Sanders highlighted the size of Clinton's fundraising checks and the actor's comments about them. Sanders has been able to finance his underdog bid through low-dollar online fundraisers. In each of the past three months he has out-raised Clinton. Clooney said he likes many of Sanders' ideas and would gladly raise money for him if he became the Democratic nominee. But the actor said he is supporting Clinton because of his admiration of her work as secretary of state, and he praised her for her efforts to avert a humanitarian crisis ahead of South Sudan's independence. Clooney faulted Clinton for not better explaining where the money she is raising goes. Most of it, he said, would end up being spent on down-ballot races including those for the Senate, which will confirm the next president's picks for the Supreme Court. If the right justice is confirmed for the spot now open on the court, Clooney said, political campaigns could "get this obscene, ridiculous amount of money out so I never have to do a fundraiser again." ___ AP writer Jeff Horwitz in Washington contributed to this report. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a block party in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally in the Staten Island borough of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to members of the media after touring the Howard Houses in the Brownsville neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, center, takes a picture with supporters at a block party in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., greets residents as he tours the Howard Houses in the Brownsville neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Supporters cheer for democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton while she speaks at a block party in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign rally at Prospect Park, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Supporters of democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton watch as she speaks at a rally in the Staten Island borough of New York, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and his son Levi Sanders, left, take a walk in the Brooklyn Bridge park, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Trial begins for ex-reserve who fatally shot unarmed man TULSA, Okla. (AP) Lawyers for an Oklahoma reserve sheriff's deputy who killed an unarmed suspect lying face-down on the ground and being restrained are expected to argue that the victim's drug use and health could have contributed to his death. Robert Bates, a 74-year-old insurance executive who moonlighted as a reserve Tulsa County sheriff's deputy in his spare time, is due to stand trial Monday on a second-degree manslaughter charge in the shooting death of Eric Harris, who was killed after running from deputies during an illegal gun sales sting last April. Video of the killing was captured on deputies' body cameras and can be viewed online. After deputies caught up to Harris and were restraining him on the ground, Bates can be heard yelling "Taser!" before firing a single gunshot that struck Harris near his armpit, killing him. Bates later said he thought he was drawing his stun gun instead of his handgun. FILE - In this July 13, 2015, file photo, Robert Bates arrives for his arraignment in Tulsa, Okla. The ex-Oklahoma sheriffs reserve deputy who was recorded on body cameras fatally shooting an unarmed man after a foot pursuit goes to trial Monday, April 18, 2016, for second-degree manslaughter. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) If convicted of second-degree manslaughter, Bates could be sentenced to up to four years in prison. Bates' attorneys plan to call expert witnesses who will suggest that other factors could have contributed to Harris' death, such as the methamphetamine that was found in his system or his cardiac health. Another expert for the defense intends to tell jurors how stress could have affected Bates' cognitive decision-making and performance, among other theories. One of Bates' attorneys, Clark Brewster, defended the decision to call these experts, saying jurors deserve to consider all possible evidence. Prosecutors declined to comment. Dan Smolen, an attorney for the Harris family, disputed any theory suggesting that anything other than being shot contributed to Harris' death. "This is a patently absurd defense," Smolen said in a statement Friday. "Anyone who has seen the video of the incident knows that Mr. Harris would not have died on April 2, 2015, were it not for the gunshot." Harris' death led to big changes involving the sheriff's office, including a grand jury investigation of alleged wrongdoing at the agency, the indictment and resignation of the longtime sheriff, Stanley Glanz, and the suspension of the 120-member reserve deputy corps. An outside consultant hired to review the sheriff's office determined that it suffered from a "system-wide failure of leadership and supervision" and had been in a "perceptible decline" for more than a decade. Equally disturbing to thousands of residents who petitioned to empanel the grand jury was the perceived close ties between some reserve deputies, including Bates, and the sheriff. Weeks after Harris was killed, an internal memo from 2009 was released by the attorney of Harris' family questioning Bates' qualifications. Bates was a close friend of Glanz who donated thousands of dollars in cash, vehicles and equipment to the agency. The agency memo alleged that superiors knew Bates didn't have enough training but pressured others to look the other way because of his relationship with the sheriff and the agency. Changes at Texas jail where Bland died difficult to attain DALLAS (AP) Several recommendations issued by a panel investigating the small-town Texas jail where Sandra Bland died could be difficult to implement, including a call to separate sheriff and jail operations, which may run afoul of state law. Waller County would also face financial challenges to implementing other panel recommendations, such as constructing a jail better equipped for suicide prevention and hiring medically trained experts to evaluate the mental health of inmates. County officials have faced criticism for not properly monitoring Bland in jail after she acknowledged last summer that she had once tried to kill herself. Problems at the jail highlighted in the report released this week are common to many jails across the country, but few have been scrutinized as closely as Waller County's was after Bland was found hanging from a cell partition, provoking national outrage and drawing the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement. File - In this July 22, 2015, file photo, news media work outside the Waller County Jail, in Hempstead, Texas. Several recommendations issued by a panel investigating the small-town Texas jail where Sandra Bland died could be difficult to implement, including a call to separate sheriff and jail operations that may run afoul of state law. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File) The county sheriff endorsed the report's findings and said he has already started making changes the beginning of an overhaul that the attorney for Bland's family hopes could be her legacy. But some recommendations are far-reaching and more difficult to attain for Waller County, a historically rural area that's become one of the fastest developing in the state as the Houston metro region pushes northward. Among the report's recommendations is one that would separate the sheriff's policing duties from the administration of the jail. JoAnne Musick, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and a member of the five-person panel, said officers responsible for law enforcement should not also be responsible for overseeing inmates. "In the arrest they've already formed opinions about that person, which generally is going to be negative if that's a person you've already arrested," she said. However, state law assigns sheriffs the responsibility of overseeing county incarceration efforts, and modifying that oversight through legislation could be difficult. State Sen. John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate criminal justice committee, said he doesn't support a change in law. Instead, he said Bland and many other nonviolent offenders in county jails should be released on personal-recognizance bonds. This essentially would let them leave jail on the condition they appear later for a court hearing and would help reduce jail overcrowding and avoid mental health crises. "The state has to take more responsibility in terms of overseeing jail operations, and we haven't even discussed city jails or private jails," Whitmire said. The Waller County committee is also pushing for a new jail, describing the current one as obsolete and inadequate for several reasons, including its lack of adequate suicide-prevention cells. The report acknowledges that a new one is planned, but says the construction schedule "should be accelerated." County Judge Trey Duhon, the top administrator in the county, said Waller owns 60 acres on which it's planning to build a new jail. But he said the county must first secure $15 million to $20 million to build one, which will take time. And he said even the most modern of jails don't address a core problem. "Dealing with mental health issues in our criminal justice system continues to be a huge problem, not only for Texas, but also for the country," Duhon said. "The jails are never going to be the right place to treat somebody with a mental health condition." Bland, who was in the process of moving to Texas from the Chicago area, was jailed after a white state trooper pulled her over in July for a minor traffic violation and their exchange turned combative. She was found dead in her cell three days after her arrest. A medical examiner ruled it a suicide and a grand jury declined to indict any sheriff's officials or jailers. Authorities have said Bland indicated on an intake questionnaire that she once tried to kill herself and was taking medication for epilepsy. After she died, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards cited the jail for not observing inmates in person at least once an hour and not documenting that jailers had undergone training for handling potentially suicidal inmates. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other lawmakers last August formed a legislative jail commission that's holding hearings on jail safety, including mental health reviews of inmates and suicides. But the commission has yet to suggest reforms. Musick's committee recommends emergency medical technicians conduct mental health assessments for people being booked into the jail, rather than jail staff. But contracting with an EMT service could be an added cost that's difficult for a small county to absorb. "Deputies do not possess the training or expertise to evaluate the medical and mental health needs of inmates," the report says. FILE - This July 22, 2015, file photo, shows the inside of the Waller County jail in Hempstead, Texas. Several recommendations issued by a panel investigating the small-town Texas jail where Sandra Bland died could be difficult to implement, including a call to separate sheriff and jail operations that may run afoul of state law. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File) FILE - This undated file handout photo provided by the Waller County Sheriffs Office shows Sandra Bland. Several recommendations issued by a panel investigating the small-town Texas jail where Bland died could be difficult to implement, including a call to separate sheriff and jail operations that may run afoul of state law. (Waller County Sheriffs Office via AP, File) Florida zoo to reopen after deadly tiger attack MIAMI (AP) The South Florida zoo where a veteran keeper was attacked and killed by a Malayan tiger is reopening Monday as authorities from several local, state and federal agencies continue investigating what led to Friday's deadly attack. Speaking in front of the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society, Naki Carter, a zoo spokeswoman, told reporters late Sunday that they will open its doors to the public, beginning at 9 a.m., and that a fund has been created to support tiger conservation in honor of Stacey Konwiser. Konwiser was killed Friday by a 13-year-old male tiger in an enclosure known as the night house, where tigers sleep and are fed. The tiger was tranquilized and has since recovered, and remains at the zoo. The zoo was closed over the weekend. FILE- In this April 15, 2016, file photo, police officers enter the administration building at the Palm Beach Zoo after zookeeper Stacey Konwiser died while being attacked by a tiger in West Palm Beach, Fla. The zoo is reopening Monday, April 18, as authorities from several local, state and federal agencies continue investigating what led to Fridays deadly attack. (Damon Higgins/Palm Beach Post via AP, File) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT Konwiser, the zoo's lead keeper, had worked at the zoo for three years and had "extensive experience" in managing large cats, said Carter. "She loved big cats," she said. Konwiser's husband, Jeremy, who worked at the same zoo as a keeper, said in a statement that "human beings and animals lost a wonderful friend." Carter declined to comment on the investigation, but said she wanted to "dispel misinformation" that the tiger had been mistreated. She also said that zoo officials did not fault the animal for the attack. "The tiger is healthy," she said. "There has never been blame assigned to the wild Malayan tiger involved in this deadly incident." The tiger is one of less than 250 such tigers known to exist in the world. The zoo has four similar tigers, three males and one female, and serves as a "breeding ground to make sure they don't become extinct." Carter declined to say whether the public would be able to see the tigers on exhibit Monday and would not identify the nickname of the tiger that attacked Konwiser. She said zoo officials are cooperating with several agencies investigating the attack, including the West Palm Beach police, Florida Fish and Wildlife officials and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Carter said Konwiser was "like a sister to many" and that she will be long remembered for her dedication to the zoo's animals. "Will it be business as usual for us? No it will not," she said. "We've lost a member of our family." 'Eyesore' road signs will be axed to save money, Government says Councils are to be given new powers to strip away "eyesore" road signs in a bid to save cash and make Britain's streets more pleasing on the eye, the Government has announced. Signs warning of permit-parking zones and cycle lanes could be among those removed under measures to be introduced on Friday by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. Repeater speed limit signs could also be axed under changes Mr McLoughlin said could save local authorities 30 million over the next four years and stop drivers being "distracted". Road signs on a stretch of the A419 in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire The Department for Transport says the number of road signs in England has almost doubled from 2.45 million in 1993 to an estimated 4.57 million in 2013. Mr McLoughlin said: "Road signs should only be installed on our roads when they are essential. Our common-sense reforms will help get rid of pointless signs that are an eyesore and distract drivers. "These new rules will also save 30 million in taxpayers' cash by 2020, leaving drivers with just the signs they need to travel safely." Sir Alan Duncan, the former international development minister, will lead a taskforce "looking at removing pointless signs", the DfT said. While motorways and major trunk roads are the responsibility of the DfT, local authorities control all smaller roads. The changes will apply to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. The Government argues that local authorities will save money through a reduction in the number of signs they have to keep lit - although danger signs will still have to be illuminated. Among the rule changes being introduced is a "use by" date for signs warning of a new road layout or new roundabout, to prevent them being forgotten about and left in place "for years" instead of the regulation three months. Other changes planned by the DfT allowing cycle lanes and permit parking areas to be shown just using a road marking, instead of the current need for a marking and a sign. Traffic restrictions like no-entry or no left turn would also only require a sign at their start "if it's safe", the department said. Councils will also be allowed to decide themselves how many speed limit repeater signs are needed on a given road. Sebastian Vettel: Daniil Kvyat opening-lap attack 'suicidal' at Chinese GP A furious Sebastian Vettel accused Daniil Kvyat of "suicidal" driving and blamed the Russian for his opening-lap collision with Kimi Raikkonen in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix. Kvyat, who started from sixth on the grid, attempted to overtake Vettel at turn one, but in allowing space for the Red Bull, Vettel inadvertently ran into his Ferrari team-mate. Vettel and Raikkonen lost significant time in the incident - which was not investigated by the stewards - and both were forced to stop for new front wings, dropping to 15th and 19th respectively. Sebastian Vettel, pictured, took aim at Daniil Kvyat's "suicidal" driving in China Vettel, the four-time champion, commendably fought his way back through the field to pass Kvyat and finish second behind race-winner Nico Rosberg. But the German made his feelings clear over the incident, first on the radio, and subsequently to Kvyat in the green room ahead of the podium celebrations. "The attack was suicidal," Vettel said to his team. "There was always going to be a crash." He also described the Russian, an employee of his former team Red Bull, as a "mad man". After the race finished, Vettel then vented his angst in person to Kvyat in a toe-curling exchange. Vettel began: "You, asking what happened at the start? If I don't go to the left you crash into us and we all three go out. You came like a torpedo." Kvyat, laughing nervously, replied: "I was racing." Vettel interrupted: "Yeah, but if I keep going the same line, we crash. There was a car on the left also. That's why I hit the other car." Kvyat said: "Oh yeah I can see all the three cars, man, come on. I have only two eyes, two cars." The to-and-fro continued before Vettel said: "I know it's racing but you need to expect when you attack like a crazy you damage the car. You were lucky this time. There was damage to Kimi." A stern Kvyat answered: "I am on the podium, so it's okay. You are on the podium, fine." Vettel turned in a fine recovery display to finish second, but, following his retirement in Bahrain, he is already 42 points behind Rosberg. U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea's failed missile test UNITED NATIONS, April 15 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned North Korea's failed ballistic missile launch, warning that it was a "clear violation" of U.N. resolutions and the council could take further punitive measures against Pyongyang. Experts believe North Korea attempted to launch an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Friday in defiance of U.N. sanctions. "The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the firing of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on April 15," the council said in a statement, using North Korea's official name. "Although the DPRK's ballistic missile launch was a failure, this attempt constituted a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," it said. The launch, on North Korea's so-called Day of the Sun which marks the birthday of the country's founder Kim Il-sung, followed its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch in February, which led to new U.N. sanctions. The council said it "would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with (its) previously expressed determination." In slow dance with capitalism, Cuba's Communists turn to future By Frank Jack Daniel and Nelson Acosta HAVANA, April 16 (Reuters) - Cuba's Communist Party meets on Saturday under pressure for the slow pace of promised market reforms as it prepares for a future without the octogenarian leaders who guided the country from a 1959 revolution to a cautious embrace of the United States. The meeting is the Communist Party's first congress in five years and the first since President Raul Castro and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama announced they were to end decades of enmity and seek normal relations. The party has been secretive about the agenda of the meeting, even by Cuba's opaque standards, triggering grumbling among younger members who have grown accustomed to a freer flow of information and contact with the world. As well as the lack of discussion, party foot soldiers said they were worried that the country had not implemented quickly enough the sweeping market reforms adopted at the last party congress in 2011 to avoid economic collapse. "The economic plan is still getting on track but it needs to accelerate," said Wilson Batista, who has been a party member for twenty years. "The world's policies, the world's economy changes daily and we need to adjust ourselves exactly. We need to get on the world economic train." Cuba has improved its financial credibility over the last five years, running trade and current account surpluses and restructuring $50 billion in mainly old debt, although harsh U.S. sanctions remain in place. A nascent middle-class has emerged, making money from small businesses such as construction and hospitality. But in what one Cuban blogger called "paralysis at the cliff edge," the party has not relinquished control of trade or larger businesses. ANOINTING A SUCCESSOR The party has implemented about a fifth of the measures it adopted in 2011, and Cubans are eager for more, especially a unification of the country's two currencies and an end to the government's monopoly on imports and exports. Many Cubans are tired of waiting, especially young professionals who are rarely allowed to set up private practices. With news from the outside world closer thanks to more Internet access and booming tourism, ever greater numbers are taking advantage of new freedoms to travel and emigrate. The congress takes place three weeks after Obama made history as the first U.S. president to visit the island in 88 years and eloquently called for more political freedom and democracy in the one-party state. His words are unlikely to be heeded, because the party sees itself as the greatest defence against Washington's past attempts to dominate Cuba. Cuba's top leaders started their careers as young guerrilla fighters who overthrew a U.S. backed government in 1959, and a few years later repelled the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion - which the party congress is timed to commemorate. Now, party chief Raul Castro is 84 and his top lieutenant in the party, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura is 85. Castro is due to retire as president in 2018 and by the end of the four-day congress it will be clear whether he remains as party leader until 2021, or whether somebody younger takes over the leadership. New Zealand 'Pastafarians' tie knot in first recognised wedding By Jarni Blakkarly April 17 (Reuters) - Donned in eye-patches and a spaghetti bridal headdress, two New Zealanders have celebrated the first legally recognised 'Pastafarian' marriage on board a pirate ship, in a milestone of recognition for the bizarre global 'religion'. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, whose stated beliefs are in a god made of spaghetti, have amassed followers around the world. The group initially formed as a sarcastic criticism of Christian creationist teachings at schools in the United States. Followers who wear colinders on their heads and revere pirates insist that they are not a spoof church and that their beliefs are genuine. The group also celebrates holidays such as 'Talk like a pirate day'. New Zealand's government earlier this month agreed to an application from member Karen Martyn to become a legal marriage celebrant after the group was deemed to comply with the country's regulations. "Does ye take this feisty wench to be yah lawfully wedded best mate? Does yea promise to stay at the helm even when seas are rough?" Karen Martyn, and self-declared 'Ministeroni' asked the couple. Martyn told reporters that many more Pastafarian weddings were being planned. Castro, 84, says Cuba's leaders are too old, proposes limits HAVANA, April 16 (Reuters) - Future top leaders of Cuba's Communist party should retire at 70 to let in younger blood, President Raul Castro said on Saturday, suggesting older members of the party hoping for promotion to the top table could play with their grandchildren instead. Cuba's current leaders include several septagenarian or octogenarian veterans of Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. There is a growing urgency for them to make succession plans to keep the party alive once they are gone. Raul Castro himself is 84 and after his planned retirement from government in two years time the country is likely to be led by somebody with a different surname for the first time since his brother overthrew a pro-U.S. government nearly 60 years ago. His comments during a two hour speech at the inauguration of the Communist Party's twice-per-decade congress were met with silence, perhaps because some members were disappointed with the idea. "So serious! What silence is caused by this subject. Don't think that just because you can't be in the leadership of the country you can't do anything," Castro said, suggesting the elderly continue as party activists and spend more time with their grandchildren. Before the congress, the current party leadership faced some discontent among younger members critical of the slow delivery on promised economic reforms in the past five years and a lack of transparency. Fidel Castro, whose 90th birthday is in August, retired in 2008 after a serious illness and his younger brother took over, introducing a limit of two five-year terms for leaders. That limit has yet to be tested. The proposed new rules would affect new entrants into the leadership and must be approved by the party over the course of the four-day congress. Castro said there should then be a constitutional amendment and a referendum to codify this and other reforms. Castro proposed that 60 years be fixed as the age limit for entering the party's central committee and up to 70 years as the maximum age to perform duties in the party leadership, saying the new rules would have a knock-on effect of bringing younger leaders up through the ranks more quickly. "Somebody who is 65 or 70 is useful for important activities, but not the activities of an important leader," he said. On Monday, the party is due to vote for a new leadership, and is expected to re-elect Castro and the party number two Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 85. Presumably the new rules would not apply to them because they are already within the leadership. Congress to vote on impeaching Rousseff in divided Brazil By Anthony Boadle and Marcela Ayres BRASILIA, April 17 (Reuters) - Brazil's lower house of Congress will decide on Sunday whether to recommend impeaching President Dilma Rousseff on charges of manipulating budgetary accounts, in a vote that could hasten the end of 13 years of leftist Workers Party rule. The political crisis, which comes amid Brazil's worst recession since the 1930s, has deeply divided the South American country and sparked an acrimonious fight between Rousseff and her Vice President Michel Temer, who would take over if she is dismissed. In a frenzied round of last minute deal-making on Saturday, Rousseff appeared to have clawed back the votes of some wavering lawmakers but still appeared to lack the one-third of votes needed in the 513-seat lower house to avoid being sent for trial in the Senate. Rousseff's charismatic predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, led the deal-making to keep her in office and drafted in governors from several states to pressure legislators on Saturday, swinging the momentum back in Rousseff's favour. "The governors' participation is proving decisive," said Paulo Teixeira, one of the Workers' Party's leaders in the lower house. Thousands of police were due to deploy in the capital Brasilia on Sunday, and in the mega-cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where hundreds of thousands of pro- and anti-impeachment demonstrators were expected to take to the streets. A 2-metre (6.5-foot) high wall outside Congress, stretching for more than 1 km (0.6 of a mile) on the grassy esplanade between rows of ministries, showed the stark political divide in what remains one of the world's most unequal societies. Polls suggest that more than 60 percent of Brazil's 200 million people support impeaching Rousseff, whose inner circle has been tainted by a vast corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras. The Workers Party, however, can still rely on strong support among millions of working class Brazilians, who credit its welfare programmes with pulling their families out of poverty during the last decade. PARALYSED GOVERNMENT The impeachment crisis has paralysed activity in Brasilia, just four months before the country is due to host the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and as it seeks to battle an epidemic of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in newborns. While Rousseff herself has not been personally charged with corruption, many of the lawmakers who will decide her fate on Sunday have. Congresso em Foco, a prominent watchdog group in Brasilia, says more than 300 of the legislators who will vote on Sunday - well over half the chamber - are under investigation for corruption, fraud or electoral crimes. If Rousseff loses Sunday's vote, the Senate must decide whether there are legal grounds to hear the case against her, a decision expected in early May. Should it agree to do so, Rousseff would be suspended from office and Temer would automatically take over. Financial markets in Brazil have rallied strongly in recent weeks on hopes that Rousseff's dismissal would usher in a more business-friendly Temer administration. Sources close to the vice president told Reuters on Friday he was considering a senior executive at Goldman Sachs in Brazil for a top economic post. Whoever governs the country in the coming months, however, will inherit a toxic political environment, a deeply divided Congress, rising unemployment and an expected contraction of four percent this year in the world's ninth largest economy. Yemen police say foil two bomb attacks day before peace talks ADEN, April 17 (Reuters) - Police in Yemen said they foiled two car bomb attacks in the southern port city of Aden early on Sunday, a day before peace talks to end a year of war were due to start. Police at a checkpoint opened fire at a car travelling at high speed which then exploded, wounding at least five officers, they said. One of the policemen later died in hospital, a medical source said. Officers also safely disarmed a booby-trapped car parked on a beach road near the airport in the northeastern part of the city, police added. Security forces closed off the area and were investigating. No one has claimed responsibility for the planned attacks near Aden airport in Khor Maksar district, which took place before U.N.-sponsored peace talks between President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government and the Houthis movement were scheduled to open in Kuwait on Monday. Fighting involving the forces of the Saudi-backed government and the Iranian-allied Houthis, a militia group which controls much of northern Yemen, has killed more than 6,200 people. Islamist militant groups including al Qaeda and Islamic State have exploited Yemen's conflict to strengthen their grip on parts of the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula. Militants have repeatedly carried out attacks in Aden, temporary seat of Hadi's government. On Friday, a car bomb was detonated outside the foreign ministry building in Aden but caused no casualties. 0-Saudi-Iran tensions scupper deal to freeze oil output By Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine DOHA, April 17 (Reuters) - A deal to freeze oil output by OPEC and non-OPEC producers fell apart on Sunday after Saudi Arabia demanded that Iran join in despite calls on Riyadh to save the agreement and help prop up crude prices. The development will revive oil industry fears that major producers are embarking again on a battle for market share, especially after Riyadh threatened to raise output steeply if no freeze deal were reached. Iran is also pledging to ramp up production following the lifting of Western sanctions in January, making a compromise with Riyadh almost impossible as the two fight proxy wars in Yemen and Syria. Some 18 oil nations, including non-OPEC Russia, gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for what was expected to be the rubber-stamping of a deal - in the making since February - to stabilise output at January levels until October 2016. But OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to take part in the freeze, including Iran, which was absent from the talks. Tehran had refused to stabilise production, seeking to regain market share post-sanctions. After five hours of fierce debate about the wording of a communique - including between Saudi Arabia and Russia - delegates and ministers announced no deal had been reached. "We concluded we all need time to consult further," Qatar's energy minister Mohammed al-Sada told reporters. Several OPEC sources said if Iran agreed to join the freeze at the next OPEC meeting on June 2, talks with non-OPEC producers could resume. Russian oil minister Alexander Novak called the Saudi demand "unreasonable" and said he was disappointed as he had come to Doha under the impression that all sides would sign the deal instead of debating it. Novak said Russia was not shutting the door on a deal but the government would not restrain output for now. Russia is a key ally of Iran and has been defending Tehran's right to raise output post-sanctions while also supporting the Islamic Republic in many of its conflicts with Riyadh. TOUGH SAUDI STANCE The failure to reach a global deal could halt a recent recovery in oil prices. "With no deal today, markets' confidence in OPEC's ability to achieve any sensible supply balancing act is likely to diminish and this is surely bearish for the oil markets, where prices had rallied partly on expectations of a deal," said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande. In December, OPEC failed to agree on output policy for the first time in years after Iran disagreed over a production ceiling proposed by Saudi Arabia, arguing again that it wanted to boost output post-sanctions. "Without a deal, the likelihood of markets balancing is now pushed back to mid-2017. We will see a lot of speculators getting out next week," said Deshpande, who added that prices could fall close to $30 per barrel. Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Amrita Sen of Energy Aspects said oil prices could fall below $40 on Monday in a knee-jerk reaction. "While today's lack of a freeze deal has no negative impact on balances - since Iran is really the only country likely to raise output substantially - it has a huge negative impact on sentiment especially as the deal had been hyped up so much," she said. Gary Ross, the founder and executive chairman of New York-based consultancy PIRA, said the failure to reach a deal was negative but would not have a long-lasting impact. "The market has recently moved up due to tightening balances. We see geopolitical risks to supply rising, we see U.S. production declining. In many respects, the rebalancing has already started," he said. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to refuse to participate in the freeze. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Ultra-nationalist resurgence could complicate Serbia's EU path By Ivana Sekularac JAGODINA, Serbia, April 17 (Reuters) - Ultra-nationalists are set to return to Serbia's parliament in an April 24 election after an absence of several years, boosted by growing discontent with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic's pro-European Union stance and austerity policies. They include firebrand Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj, whose popularity in Serbia was boosted by his acquittal last month of crimes against humanity by the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Polls indicate Seselj's Radicals and the right-wing Dveri grouping, which hold pro-Russian and anti-NATO views and demand an end to integration with the EU, will both get over the threshold needed to get into parliament and together could win about 25-30 seats in the 250-seat assembly. While the ultra-nationalists are unlikely to challenge the prime minister's strong hold on power, they will use the platform to attack his pro-EU course and fight any concessions he is forced to make during Serbia's negotiations to join the bloc, which began in December. Opinion polls suggest Vucic's Progressive Party is on track to retain its parliamentary majority, but Seselj's Radicals -- who failed to win any seats in elections in 2012 and 2014 -- could become the third-largest group in parliament. Seselj, whose war crimes acquittal is being appealed by prosecutors, gives voice to the grievances many Serbs feel over NATO's 1999 bombing of Serbia over the Kosovo conflict. Seselj was deputy prime minister at the time. "The EU is made up of NATO countries. They bombed us, they took Kosovo away from us," he told cheering supporters last week in Jagodina, a central town where unemployment runs at 30 percent. Seselj, 61, was a mentor to Vucic until 2008 when his protege broke with the Radicals. Seselj, who has been battling colon cancer for several years, remains a fierce advocate of the "Greater Serbia" ideology that fuelled bloodshed in the 1990s Yugoslav wars. His goal is to secure enough members of parliament -- one third or 84 legislators -- to block any attempt to change Serbia's constitution if Belgrade comes under pressure during the EU negotiations to remove a constitutional reference to Kosovo being part of Serbia. AUSTERITY FATIGUE A sharp 2014 recession sent Serbia's budget deficit soaring, forcing the government to seek a 1.2 billion euro ($1.35 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund, which demanded public spending and subsidy cuts, tax hikes and the privatisation of inefficient state firms as a condition. EU membership will also require painful economic restructuring. Analysts say austerity measures and an unemployment rate of 18 percent have pushed voters towards the rightist parties. Until two years ago, Suzana Arsic, a 52-year-old kindergarten teacher from Jagodina, voted for the pro-EU Democratic Party, but now she is changing sides. "I'm going to vote for the Radicals this time. I didn't like what I saw -- plants were shut down, people lost their jobs and were pushed to expensive borrowing they couldn't manage," she told Reuters. Serbia's economy is set to grow 1.8 percent this year, slower than its neighbours, the World Bank says. The average monthly wage of 357 euros is among the lowest in the region. Many Serbs see little benefit from the country's talks on joining the EU. A recent opinion poll found nearly 72 percent of Serbs oppose joining the EU and NATO. Vucic says joining the EU, Serbia's biggest trading partner and investor, remains Belgrade's No. 1 policy goal. The conservative leader is going to the polls two years early to seek a mandate for economic reforms needed to qualify for EU membership. Vucic, who says Serbia will not seek to join NATO, warns of the dangers of rising nationalism. "There can be no compromise with those who are pushing Serbia back in the past," he said. The ultra-nationalist resurgence is not causing great alarm in the EU for now because Vucic has ruled out a coalition with the right-wingers, diplomats say. Hrvoje Stojic, a Zagreb-based analyst with Hypo Group Alpe Adria bank, said the strengthening of rightist parties was a regional trend, noting eurosceptic parties are in power in Poland and Hungary. Both the Radicals and Dveri, running in coalition with the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), pledge to halt privatisations, subsidise farmers and impose import duties to protect domestic producers. "If people look in their wallets, if they open their eyes and switch off their TV sets they'll realise that they're being fooled (by the current government)," Sanda Raskovic Ivic, head of the DSS party, told Reuters, referring to Vucic's promises of improving living standards. Many nationalist voters are not elderly Serbs nostalgic for the old Yugoslavia, but young people who remember little of the wars that accompanied Yugoslavia's break-up. "Vucic has lost his credibility ... He made us slaves to capitalists and that's why I will vote for Dveri," said Dejana Simic, a 23-year-old waitress from Belgrade. Many Serbs, however, accept that Serbia has no option but to seek close ties with the EU. "There's really no alternative to the EU," said Djordje Trifunovic, 22, a Belgrade law student. Nail polish and mascara: beauty brands eye up Iran By Hadeel Al Sayegh and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin DUBAI, April 17 (Reuters) - When Dubai businesswoman Negin Fattahi-Dasmal opened the first branch of her luxurious nail salon chain in Iran this year, it was met with both excitement and scepticism among image-conscious young Iranians. Despite -- or perhaps partly because of -- strict Islamic dress codes, cosmetics sales in Iran are among the highest in the Middle East. Women are required to wear modest clothes and headscarves, but their faces and hands are not covered, and many express their individuality with lipstick, mascara and nail polish in styles that would seem elaborate by Western standards. With most international economic sanctions now lifted after a nuclear agreement with world powers that took effect this year, Fattahi-Dasmal thinks it is time to bring in a high-end international brand. Her chain of nail salons, N.Bar, already has a customer base among the thousands of well-off young Iranians who holiday in nearby Dubai, where they can sunbathe, shop and dress with relative freedom. "For Iranian women it's a sought-after brand," Fattahi-Dasmal, an Iranian-born Emirati, said in an interview. "There have been a lot of counterfeit products in Iran. They are extremely hungry for anything that is real, genuine and imported from the West." Nonetheless, she said some customers were sceptical that the new Tehran branch could replicate the quality and consistency customers are used to in Dubai, where branches offer dozens of standardised treatments and stringent hygiene procedures. HIGH FASHION Iran's fashion-forward twenty-somethings have kept up with global trends on social media and travels abroad, skirting diplomatic isolation and domestic repression. Fattahi-Dansal says they are discerning consumers. Even under sanctions, independent shops in the affluent northern districts of Tehran managed to obtain the latest seasonal collections of top global brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Roberto Cavalli. Some of those luxury fashion brands are now entering Iran directly, and there could be similar opportunities for beauty and cosmetics -- a market estimated by Iran's parliament's research centre to be worth more than $4 billion a year. But they could face resistance from conservative factions in the establishment, which enforce Islamic dress codes and are wary of allowing any perceived Western cultural influence into the country. "The way women dress and look is still one of the red lines in the Islamic Republic," said Afshin Sadeghizadeh, a brand management consultant in Tehran and former editor of Iran's Style magazine. "The brands going to Iran should be ready to face resistance from conservatives or even get shut down and expelled from Iran," he said. Some conservatives even see foreign luxury brands as part of a war against the Islamic Republic. The Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, last week reported that the CIA could spy on Iranians through fake eyelashes or skin care lotions. FRANCHISE IT Complex business and banking regulations are another potential obstacle that lead many, including Fattahi-Dansal, to opt for a franchise arrangement, licensing to a local partner rather than owning her Tehran shop herself. An expensive and badly-regulated rental market adds to the difficulties. "Because of the legalities and complications, Iran is not an easy place to do business but it is also very lucrative. That was the reason we franchised," Fattahi-Dasmal said. Some brands have been held up by the difficulty of finding a partner who is a good fit for their business and not linked to any entity designated under U.S. sanctions that remain in place. "Iran has potential but we are still at the stage of finding the right partner," said Jean Cassegrain, chief executive of handbag maker Longchamp, adding that the process could take considerable time. But Fattahi-Dasmal is not deterred, and is even considering exporting another of her brands to Iran. JetSet, an aviation-themed hair salon chain, could soon land in Tehran. Italian minister hopes Libya seals borders, offers help - TV MILAN, April 17 (Reuters) - Italy said on Sunday it hoped Libya's U.N.-backed unity government could restore control of the country's borders to limit migrant flows from north and south and was ready to help in any way it could. The French and German Foreign Ministers visited Tripoli on Saturday to show support for the government and said they were ready to offer training for the country's security forces and border guards if asked. "We hope Libya blocks both its northern border, from where (migrants) leave to reach us, and its southern border, through which people coming from places such as the Horn of Africa enter the country and use it as a hub to reach Europe," Italian Interior Minister Alfano told TV channel Sky TG24. Alfano said some 90 percent of migrants arriving on Italian shores came from Libya. Rome was proposing European Union financial aid to African countries in exchange for help in controlling migrant flows. Alfano said he would meet his Libyan colleague soon, adding he would offer the Italian government's support to Tripoli. "I will tell my Libyan colleague that Italy is ready to give any help and cooperation," Alfano said, adding that Italian police could offer support to Tripoli. Italy, Libya's former colonial ruler, has played a prominent role in rallying international support for the new government. Senior negotiator calls on rebels to escalate attacks in "self defence" AMMAN, April 17 (Reuters) - Senior Syrian opposition negotiator Mohammad Alloush, representing Jaish al Islam, a major rebel group, said on Sunday rebels should retaliate against what he called Syrian army attacks on civilians. "I say this response should be retaliation so that the regime does not think of attacking civilians as it escalates its attacks," Alloush told Arabic TV al Hadath "I don't think this is a call to escalate violence, it is a call for self-defence no more," he said. The obsession with which the BJP government at the Centre keeps getting after the leadership of the Congress, including those members of the Nehru-Gandhi family who are not even in active politics, shows the dread with with the party views the Gandhis. From cheaply faked letters of Indian's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to former British prime minister Clement Attlee on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to irrelevant plants on Nehru-Sardar Patel relationship, this government has made it its raison d'etre to demolish the Nehruvian edifice. The National Herald case, in itself a non-starter, was hyped up in an insane haste to taint the Nehru-Gandhi family. In the National Herald case, the most common business practice of converting debt into equity was followed by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in favour of a Section 25 company, Young Indian. The law prohibits any profit to the directors or shareholders of a Section 25 company. No asset of AJL was transferred to Young Indian. The Election Commission of India found nothing illegal in the loan extended by the Congress to Young Indian. Incidentally, the saga of the BJP mouthpiece Tarun Bharat went unnoticed in the din of non-issues conveniently whipped up by this government. The BJP extended a loan to a "for profit company" called Shree Multimedia Vision Limited (SMVL), violating the IT and other laws. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was harassed over the rent of her government accomodation. A sitting minister in the Maharashtra cabinet, Vinod Tawde, is the director of SMVL - another violation of the guidelines of the ministry of home affairs on the requirement by ministers to "sever all connections with management and conduct of any business..." Union minister Nitin Gadkari forgets to mention in his election affidavit that he is a shareholder in SMVL. Both Tawde and Gadkari have got away despite violating multiple laws. If Tawde and Gadkari were Vinod Gandhi or Nitin Gandhi, an Arnab Goswami would have got a pay hike for his dutiful prime time attacks on them. The likes of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy not only get away with murder in broad daylight of truth and fair play, they get rewarded with a bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi for raking up the National Herald issue. And what are the grounds for this inxplicable allotment? Security. What is the rent of the accommodation he gets? No questions. No media. No RTI (right to information). Between 1984 and 1991, India lost both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi (both former prime ministers). One at the hands of the security and the other despite the security. Subsequent governments began to take a serious relook at VVIP security. Internationally adopted models of security were studied and adopted. Security protocols have become understandably exacting, both for the protectees and those who interact with them. So much so that at times the Special Protection Group (SPG) often gets accused of insulating the leader from his or her followers. The sanitised zones at public meetings not only increase the visual distance between the two, they actually do not cut the leaders off from the people. The protectee has no say in the level of security detail. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi appeared in court in the National Herald case. In a cheap display of petty politics, stories got planted in newspapers on how Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had expressed her inability to pay the "market rent" for the government accommodation she occupies. In 1996, Priyanka had taken a rented accommodation in south Delhi. Having paid the advance rent, renovations were started. Before she could move into the house, the Director of SPG informed her of the decision taken by the security establishment of disallowing her from taking up a security non-compliant accommodation. The Cabinet secretariat, through the SPG, directed her to occupy a government accommodation for which she, along with other occupants of government accommodations on similar grounds, started paying the market rent/special licence fee. In 2002, Priyanka, KPS Gill (former Punjab Police DGP), MS Bitta (former Indian Youth Congress president) and Punjab Kesri's Ashwani Kumar Minna were surprised to see a 90 per cent increase in the rent under a new head - "Damages rate meant for unauthorised occupants of government accommodation". All of the above were living in houses allotted to them by the government based on the decision of the Cabinet secretariat on security grounds. Thus, the "damages rate" was not applicable on them, as they were not "unauthorised occupants". This anomaly was brought to the notice of the ministry of urban development by the occupants. The ever resourceful Minna did not stop at representations. He met then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and not only got the mistake rectified but also got the rent reduced from Rs 28,000 to Rs 8,000. Where, in this entire story, is the wrongdoing on the part of Priyanka? Or for that matter, on the part of any of the others living in government bungalows under the same category? A section of the media may choose to become "His Masters' Voice", but the masters get exposed every time they indulge in celebrity discrimination - being unfair to someone just because he or she is born into a particular family. Why were there no page one stories on BJP president Amit Shah's Rs 3,875 rent for a sprawling eight-bedroom house on Akbar Road in New Delhi? For a leader, like for everyone else, there are two ways of overcoming one's diminutive persona. The size of your contribution becomes so big that it becomes impossible to ignore you. Learn about the night sky with The Albuquerque Astronomical Society and use telescopes to view the Moon and Jupiter. PLACITAS PUBLIC STAR PARTY SATURDAY, APRIL 16th, DUSK TO LATE PLACITAS COMMUNITY LIBRARY Free and Open to the Public The Placitas Community Library and The Albuquerque Astronomical Society (TAAS) will co-host a star party on the grounds of the Library, located 4.5 miles east of I-25 from the Placitas exit at Bernalillo. This popular event has two big points to recommend it--the excellent dark-sky location, aided by the venue's use of red lights, and the hospitality of the Library staff and its volunteers in providing parking and cider and cookies! A large number of TAAS telescopes of all sizes and types will be on hand to show all the wonders of the New Mexico spring night sky, including the Moon and Jupiter and many deep-sky objects, with members to describe those sights and add astronomy lore. This is a fine family event and welcomes all. Please arrive before dark (sunset is at 7:30pm) to park and get oriented, use red headlamps or red flashlights in the observing area to preserve night vision, and remember to bring jackets for the evening chill. Contact taas@taas.org with questions or call 867-3355 (Library); see www.taas.org for more information Bengaluru: Tiger biologists, including Dr K. Ullas Karanth and conservationists from across three reputed institutions of Wildlife Conservation Society India, have taken objection to a report released on April 10 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Tiger Forum (GTF) that the worlds wild tiger population is on the rise and is on track for doubling in a decade. They have termed the report and its implications scientifically unconvincing. Estimates of tiger numbers for large landscapes, regions and countries are largely derived from weak methodologies. They are sometimes based on extrapolations from tiger spoor (tracks and droppings) surveys, or spoor surveys alone. While spoor surveys can be useful for knowing where tigers occur, they are not useful for reliably counting their numbers. Translating spoor counts to tiger numbers poses several statistical problems that remain unresolved, which can lead to fundamentally flawed claims of changes in tiger numbers, they commented. Dr K. Ullas Karanth, Director for Science Asia-Wildlife Conservation Society, along with Dale Miquelle, Director, Russia Program-Wildlife Conservation Society, John Goodrich, Senior Director, Tiger Program-Panthera, and Arjun Gopalaswamy, Research Associate, Zoology, University of Oxford, UK, stated, Having devoted years of our lives to trying to understand and save wild tigers, we believe their conservation should be guided by the best possible science. Using flawed survey methodologies can lead to incorrect conclusions, an illusion of success and slackening of conservation efforts, when in reality grave concern is called for. Glossing over serious methodological flaws, or weak and incomplete data to generate feel-good news is a disservice to conservation, because tigers now occupy only 7% of their historic range. A recent World Conservation Union (IUCN) assessment showed 40% habitat loss in the last decade, and a spike in poaching pressure in many regions. Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR and China have virtually lost viable tiger populations in recent years. This is not a time for conservationists to take their eyes off the ball and pat each other on the back, they stated. There is no doubt that wildlife managers in parts of India and even in specific reserves in South East Asia and Russia have made commendable conservation efforts, leading to recoveries in specific tiger populations. India has invested massively in recovering several tiger populations over the last four decades, they stated. Such sporadic tiger recoveries should be monitored using statistically robust camera trap or DNA surveys. Rigorous scientific studies in India, Thailand and Russia demonstrate this can indeed be done. But these studies also indicate that tiger recovery rates are slow and not likely to attain levels necessary for the doubling of wild tiger numbers within a decade. Source populations of tigers that occur at high densities and which are likely to produce surplus animals that can disperse and expand populations now occupy less than 10% of the remaining 1.2 million sqkm of tiger habitat. Almost 70% of wild tigers survive within these source sites. They are recovering slowly, only in some reserves where protection has improved. Outside these source sites lie vast sink landscapes, which are continuing to lose tigers and habitat due to hunting as well as rural and developmental pressures, they said. Staunchly living by the adage that a picture speaks a thousand words, 16-year-old Aanya Suri is a youngster with an eye for detail and an urge to make a difference. Her maiden venture Clique India, is an initiative that brings young photography enthusiasts under one roof with an intent to help NGOs and charitable organisations in Bengaluru, by volunteering to capture their tales through the lens. Even the Ugly Indian have rendered support for this initiative. Ive always wanted to channel ise my passion for photography to raise awareness about important causes, with the focus on the underprivileged. Moreover, I observed that the photographs NGOs use are of low quality smart phone, due to budget constraints which dont necessarily bring out the essence of their story. So I wondered, why not help them create better impact by supporting them with imagery that can draw the right kind of attention? remarks the young photographer whos already amassed the support of 30 young volunteers since the ventures inception in March this year. Interestingly, a lot of established groups have extended help to this promising youngster. We have already connected with groups like The Robin Hood Army and The Ugly Indian as well as multiple student-run organisations. The overwhelming responses from potential volunteers, NGOs and people helping me raise awareness, a diverse group of photographers have been formed, and the focus is to give these NGOs the coverage and the footage they require to garner more support. On a personal level, it is really important to me, and shows how people are willing to bring about a change. Citing parental support as an integral factor behind the success of the idea, the student from Mallya Aditi International School says, I'm going to 12th grade now, and apart from exams and tuition, making Clique a success is my focus. Many people say that photography is something you cant pursue full-time and its not a proper major, but my only reply to that would be to see the difference that this small group has already made. I also believe support is integral to go about with anything, and Im glad that my parents are very encouraging and as kicked as I am about this! Quiz her about her other interests and pat comes the reply, Apart from photography, I love travelling and am quite a bookworm, I also enjoy deep sea diving. Speaking about her upcoming plans, the youngster reveals how the concept still has a long way to go. In mid-May we will start conducting our own events to influence the importance of art in children today and we will be having some summer workshops to encourage students to engage in creative and performing arts. More than funding, theres a need for proactiveness and participation, and I aim to bring about a difference through the same. New Delhi: The government is mulling a scheme, named after B R Ambedkar, to help out Dalit-majority villages facing water crisis due to lack of availability or improper conservation infrastructure, Union minister Uma Bharti said here today. The Water Resources Minister also said the Central Water Commission (CWC) has been asked to prepare a report on storage of water in various states and share it with state governments so as to enable them to fight water crisis. Bharti said that as part of Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations, CWC has organised a seminar on 'multi-purpose development of water resources and present challenges' on April 19 to highlight his vision and discuss the way forward to realise it. "His vision was to take water to every poor person in the country. This will be implemented by us. The meeting on 19th will also look into how Dalit-dominated villages, where there is less water or poor provision for storage, can be helped. "A project will also be discussed and it will be named after Babasaheb," she told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural meet on the project on Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies. She said the ministry has already selected two villages in each district as 'Jal Gram' under the 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan' aimed at consolidating water conservation and management in the country, and plans are afoot to pick a third village which will be dalit dominated and facing problems of water crisis. She said this will be done on a pilot basis and after its success, it would be implemented throughout the country. An integrated water security plan, water conservation, water management and allied activities are being planned for these villages by panchayat-level committee to ensure optimum and sustainable utilisation of water. Total of 1,348 villages has to be identified in 674 districts, of which 1,001 have been selected as 'Jal Grams' so far. There are no indications that the incident was a terrorist attack. (Photo: Facebook) Berlin: German police say three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion at a Sikh Gurudwara in the western city of Essen. India on Sunday expressed concern over the development and asserted that they were in touch with the local authorities on the ground situation. "Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situation," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situation Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 17, 2016 A spokesman for Essen police told The Associated Press that a masked person is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast at 7 pm on Saturday (1700 GMT). Spokesman Lars Lindemann said the explosion was "quite violent," blowing out several windows. One of the injured was said to be in a serious condition. Lindemann says police are working on the assumption that the explosion was caused deliberately but that there are no indications it was a terrorist incident. He says the gurudwara had hosted a wedding earlier in the day and those injured are believed to have been among the guests. n 2010, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) had filed the case against Zia and four others. (Photo: AP) Dhaka: A court on Sunday rejected two petitions of Bangladesh's embattled former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia who appeared before it in a graft case which accuses her of embezzling over USD four lakh from a trust, saying there is "no ground" to re-examine the investigating officer. Dhaka's Third Special Judge's Court deferred 70-year-old opposition leader Zia's hearing and fixed April 25 to hear her statement over graft charges brought against her in the Zia Charitable Trust case which accuses her of embezzling 31.5 million Bangladeshi Taka (USD 4 lakh). The court was scheduled to record her deposition on Sunday, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Zia's lawyers petitioned for a fresh testimony of the investigating officer, which the court turned down. The BNP chairperson's counsel then appealed for a fresh cross-examination of the investigating officer, which was also dismissed. The court rejected the petition on re-examining the investigating officer as it found "no ground", The Daily Star reported. There was a heated argument between the prosecution and the defence when Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar deferred recording Zia's statement and fixed April 25 to hear it. In 2010, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) had filed the case against Zia and four others. In 2012, charges were pressed against four, including the two-time former Prime Minister Zia. In 2013, the trial began after the court indicted the four. On March 31, the court had then fixed April 7 to hear Zia's statement, but it was deferred as the BNP chief pleaded for more time. Two others accused in the case Ziaul Islam Munna and Monirul Islam Khan have pleaded not guilty while Haris Chowhdury is absconding. In February, Zia was ordered to appear before a court to face trial in a separate USD 1.85 million graft case over contracting out cargo handling work to a company in exchange of kickbacks. The case filed in 2007 during the military-installed caretaker regime accused her of contracting out an "unqualified" company called GATCO the task of handling containers at the country's main southeastern seaport of Chittagong and Inland Container Depot in Dhaka allegedly in exchange of kickbacks during the 2001-2006 tenure of her BNP-led four party coalition government. Zia and the co-accused were indicted in the case in September 2007 under a massive anti-graft campaign which was being spearheaded by the then interim government, installed with crucial military support on Jan 11, 2007 proclamation of the state of emergency. Pakistan claims the two arrested men were working for the R&AW in the guise of fishermen in the area. Karachi: Pakistan Saturday claimed to have arrested two alleged agents of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) from southern Sindh province. SSP, Counter Terrorism Department, Naveed Khawaja said the R&AW agents were arrested from Thatta city during a raid on a tip-off, the News International reported. Khawaja identified those arrested as Saddam Hussain and Bachal who, he said, were working for the R&AW in the guise of fishermen in the area. Addressing a press conference, the police officer claimed that India had provided codes to the duo. Police have seized photographs of sensitive installations from the possession of the spies, he said. Khawaja claimed that the alleged agents were planning to disrupt the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Five years ago, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress came to power riding the waves of Poribortan (change), sweeping away more than three decades of Left rule (or misrule). In the build up to the final assault on the red fortress, Mamatas assurances to the people of Bengal of Badla noi, Badol chai (We wont seek revenge, only change) raised hopes of Bengals civil society to blossom into a more democratic tradition of tolerance. A number of artists, intellectuals with Left leanings joined her campaign and lent her the moral authority to win over the majority of the population. But after she came to power, Mamata took the lead in crushing the voice of the Opposition and the civil society. The ruling party started taking control over the educational institutions, healthcare system and other spheres of life in the state. Emulating the examples set by its predecessors, Mamata started placing partymen in governing bodies of schools, colleges and hospitals, who would act as an extra-constitutional authority and eventually become the ultimate arbitrators in all aspects of the citizens lives. Mamata knew that her victory in 2011 elections was a byproduct of a negative vote, a vote against the Left. She felt the urgent need to create her own support base. For that, she focused on the Muslims and the Scheduled Castes (SCs). Muslims make up 27% of the total population in Bengal. Unlike their Urdu speaking brethren who are small in number and live in urban areas, the Bengali speaking Muslims are rural people who are engaged in farming. The SCs, who make up 23% of the states population, are also mostly engaged in agriculture. For long years, these communities were major planks of the Lefts popular support base. Singur and Nandigram, two major anti-Left peasant movements that catapulted Mamata to power, were led by these people. To win over the Muslims, she started giving monthly allowances to imams and muezzins. But little effort was made to create opportunities for the community to acquire education and jobs. To keep the Muslim and the SC farmers on her side, she crafted a land policy that ruled out acquisition of farm land by the government for the sake of industrialisation. Despite making regular public appearances with the Muslim religious leaders and pandering to their whims, Mamata did nothing substantial to make the life of the ordinary Muslim better. The Pratichi Trusts study on Muslim life in Bengal (2016) clearly showed that a decade after the publication of Sachar Commission Report, there was no significant improvement in the lives of ordinary Muslims in Bengal. As the first woman chief minister of the state, Mamata raised hopes of the government paying more attention to the womens cause. But the Park Street rape case, followed by the brutal rape and murder in Kamduni village near Kolkata, and several such incidents set a pattern where Mamata and her government would either question the character of the victim or try to project the incident as an attempt by the Opposition to malign her government. Mamatas ministers often tried to buy silence from the victims family by offering them cash as relief. Teachers in schools and colleges getting beaten up by the ruling party cadres became a regular phenomenon. The culmination was when the present vice-chancellor of Calcutta University (a self-declared ruling party man) was heckled by a group of girl students who were Trinamool activists. Poribortan has become a controversial word in the lexicon of Bengals political establishment. A lot of blood was shed in the ensuing turf war that engulfed the length and breadth of rural Bengal as the ruling party gradually established itself as the sole arbitrator between the government and the common people. Between 2011 and 2016, the state saw three elections, to panchayat, municipality and the Lok Sabha, which Mamata won with a massive mandate. But the victories were not free from blemish. In all these elections, the ruling party musclemen had a free run and they were actively helped by the state police and the administration. Syndicates to the fore One cannot overlook the phenomenon called syndicates. Initially, a section of unemployed youth formed themselves into some supply cooperatives (locally known as syndicates) that got involved in supplying material to builders in Rajarhat New Town (a satellite town of Kolkata) project. With political patronage, they started bullying the builders in extracting orders and started looting the project owners by supplying inferior quality materials at a higher than market price. After the collapse of the fly over last month, the investigation reveals that their tentacles spread into all major construction works, including construction of new routes for Metro Rail. In the absence of a boost to economic activities, extortion by anti-socials took the shape of a well-organised parallel economy. Mamatas carefully crafted image of honesty and integrity, too, suffered a serious dent in a series of incidents where she was found to be protecting her party men, ministers and legislators alike, who were involved in various criminal activities. Unlike the Saradha scam, where the complicated money trail made it difficult to pin the culpability of the ruling party people, the visuals of the flyover collapse and Trinamool ministers and legislators taking bribes has had more impact on the minds of the people. The suspicion that the state government was corrupt to the brim turned into firm conviction after Mamata refused to institute an inquiry into the Narada graft case. Now, armed with charges of visible corruption and lawlessness against the ruling party, the Opposition has been successful in setting the agenda for this election. Mamata and her party are now pushed into a defensive mode. With the Congress and the Left joining hands against the ruling Trinamool, the sagging morale of the grassroot workers got a massive boost. On the other hand, the perception of a secret deal between Modibhai & Didibhai damaged the BJPs poll prospects. In the absence of a Modi wave, there is a strong possibility of the Congress-Left combine gaining at the cost of the BJP. But the big question is: Will the Election Commission take pro-active measures to provide security to voters in the remaining phases? In the first two phases of the elections, its role or lack of it, came in for a lot of criticism. If the commission becomes proactive, the election would be a closely contested one. Even if Mamata scrapes through, her margin would be reduced substantially. Or else, Bengal might see a Poribortan of Poribortan. (The writer is a senior journalist based in Kolkata) Western districts (Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore): A sweet spot for Trinamool Congress, Mamata is likely to retain the region. ungle Mahal: Mamata won hearts and minds after the encounter killing of Maoist leader Kishenji in 2012 and ushered in much-awaited end to bloodshed but the tribal-dominated region could go against and stand by Jharkhand Party (Naren), a Trinamool ally in 2011 Nadia: Despite being a Trinamool stronghold, dissident Trinamool MLA Arjun Singh could play spoilsport, helping Left-Congress combine to gain seats Asansol-Durgapur-Ranigunge: The traditional industrial belt with collieries, steel plants and sponge iron factories, the areas mixed bag of voters helped BJP win Asansol Parliamentary and could retain the trend Malda-Murshidabad: The last Congress stronghold in Bengal is likely to retain its flavour although influential Trinamool MP Subhendu Adhikari has made inroads in last one year North Bengal: The weakest link in Mamatas chain, from the plains of Siliguri, where CPM is strong, to the Darjeeling Hills, where GJM rules the roost, Trinamool is not likely to gain much Key Players Mamata Banerjee The firebrand Trinamool Congress chief who fought the Left Front for nearly three decades to wrest power in 2011, upsetting a 34-year-long regime. Her popularity has been on the wane after becoming the CM over various issues. Surjya Kanta Mishra The former Left minister was made CPM state secretary in 2014 and became the first party state chief to contest in polls. Mishra has been instrumental in bringing the Congress on board to form a coalition against Mamata. Dilip Ghosh An RSS pracharak of more than 25 years with extensive organisational experience across the North East, he was brought in as BJP state president to guide the party through troubled waters as the party seemingly lost gains made in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: The ex-junior rail minister and state Congress chief is the partys strongman from Murshidabad and has been holding the last Congress stronghold in Bengal. He realised the need to join hands with the Left to fight Mamata. Asok Bhattacharya: A former minster and CPM heavyweight from North Bengal, he has shown the way to work with the Congress by jointly forming the Board at Siliguri Municipal Corporation in 2015; responsible for keeping Mamata at bay in the region. Bimal Gurung: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) president, who fought the 2011 state polls as a Trinamool ally, switched sides to BJP and gave the saffron party a toehold in Bengal by helping win two subsequent MPs from Darjeeling. He is likely to remain a roadblock for Mamata. Delhi Daredevils opened their account in this edition of the Indian Premier League with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in their first home contest at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Friday. Daredevils bowlers made the most of the turn offered by the pitch. Leg-spinner Amit Mishras lethal spell broke the back of the mighty batting line-up of Kings XI who could muster a meager 111/9 in their 20 overs. It, though, was a bit surprising that Mishra, who emerged with figures of 4/11 off three overs, wasnt bowled his quota of four overs. Mishra was backed well by captain Zaheer Khan and Chris Morris who impressed with their economical spells. In reply, Daredevils were unlucky to lose out Shreyas Iyer after he was adjudged caught behind, although there appeared to be no nick. But Quinton de Kock (59 n.o.) and Sanju Samson (33) batted at a blistering pace to set in an early momentum. De Kock was on 10 when he was dropped by Murali Vijay at deep square leg off Axar Patel. The South African rubbed it in when, a ball later, he whacked Patel over point. He only grew in strength from there on, bringing his half century by muscling a six off Mitchell Johnson. With Samson, he stitched 91 runs for the second wicket. And though Samson was bowled by Patel, Pawan Negi ensured that Delhi safely coasted home with 39 balls to spare. Daredevils, who brought in Jayant Yadav and JP Duminy in place of Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mayank Agarwal, were also excellent on the field and didnt allow partnerships to prosper. Their good work effected run outs of opener Murali Vijay and then Wriddhiman Saha later in the innings. Vijay was on his way back in the second over following an interesting unfolding of events. Manan Vohras lofted cover drive was dropped by a backward running Zaheer. But an instant mix-up between the two openers and a pin-point throw by Karun Nair ensured Vijay was short of his crease. Mishra, introduced in the seventh over, then did the rest. Shaun Marsh, replacing Marcus Stoinis, was lured by the leg-spinners tossed up delivery and danced down the track only to be beaten by flight and spin and De Kock swiftly wiped off the bails. Mishra, on his return, further piled misery on Kings XI by removing their two best batsmen- captain David Miller and Glenn Maxwell within a space of four deliveries. Miller bent down to sweep to counter Mishra but was hit on the front pad to be adjudged lbw. Maxwell looking to loft him was also beaten in air and couldnt pack enough power to give a simple catch at long-off. DH News Service A high-level team from France is expected to arrive here next month to firm up the order for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft by India as both countries have managed to narrow down their differences over pricing. The development comes nearly four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande signed a memorandum of agreement to purchase 36 Rafale combat jets. The Indian side has been negotiating hard to bring down the price with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar refusing to buckle under pressure even as questions were being raised about the delay in signing the contract. The deal comes with the clause of 50 per cent offsets, which will be a bonanza for the domestic industry as it will lead to business worth at least 3 billion Euros and creating new jobs in India. The tough part of the negotiations that began in July 2015 was to get the French side to agree to 50 per cent offsets in the deal. Initially, Dassault Aviation, makers of Rafale, was willing to agree to reinvest only 30 per cent of the value of its contract in Indian entities to meet the offset obligations. The French side finally agreed to invest 50 per cent of the value following a phone conversation between Modi and Hollande late last year. The commercial negotiations, as in the pricing of the planes, equipment and other issues, actually began only in mid-January this year. "It is correct to say that differences over pricing as more or less being settled. A final deal should take place next month if all matters go as scheduled," a defence source said. Government sources said the deal has not been concluded yet but it is in "final stages". The sources said the price for 36 Rafales, as per the UPA tender, keeping the cost escalation and dollar rate in mind, comes to a little over Rs 65,000 crore. This includes the cost involved in making changes India has sought in the aircraft, including Israeli helmet mounted display and some specific weaponry, among others. "The effort is to bring down the price to less than Euros 8 billion (Rs 59,000 crore)," the sources said. The expectation is that the final deal will be clinched by May-end. Under the proposed deal, French companies apart from Dassault Aviation, will provide several aeronautics, electronics and micro-electronics technologies to comply with the offset obligation. Companies like Safran and Thales will join Dassault in providing state-of-art technologies in stealth, radar, thrust vectoring for missiles and materials for electronics and micro-electronics. BJP today accused the ruling AIADMK government and DMK of doing "petty politics", saying both the Dravidian parties presented "corruption full bad governance" and were fooling people while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented "corruption free good governance." "Modiji has presented corruption free good governance but AIADMK and DMK has presented in Tamil Nadu, a corruption full bad governance. They are doing petty politics and fooling voters," Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters here. "AIADMK and DMK are playing smart politics, smart games here," he said. Flaying the AIADMK government for allegedly pasting 'amma' stickers on a centrally sponsored scheme, Javadekar, also BJP election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, said, "in giving free rice to poor, 90 per cent is central government subsidy. 10 per cent is what state government gives. But they are putting label and calling it as Amma Free Arisi (Rice) scheme. What we are saying at least call it as Pradhan Mantri Arisi." "Poor people get Amma Arisi free of cost that is 20 kilos under free rice scheme. What is the proof of Amma free Arisi? ...Central government gives Rs 32 where as Amma (Jayalalithaa) gives Rs three and that is labelled and stickers are pasted as Amma Arisi (rice)..This kind of politics they are playing." "It is not Amma Arisi. It is Modi Arisi. We can say it as Pradhan Mantri Arisi. We are not fond of names. But who is giving what and it must be named together...they are fooling people," Javadekar said. Claiming that coconut growers in Tamil Nadu were not given government subsidy, he said, "I met coconut growers here and they are suffering...They are not given any subsidy. They are not allowed to tap coconut for making herbal drink." "Government does not want poor to take healthy drink but only TASMAC (state run liquor outlets) liquor. That is what they are interested in because it is their business," he charged. For importing palmolein from Malaysia, Javadekar claimed the state government was giving subsidy to Malaysian farmers. "...You are not helping your own farmers. Why cannot you give subsidy on coconut oil. If you give subsidy on coconut oil, poor farmers growing coconut will survive and poor person will be happy to use coconut oil than palmolein for cooking." "So you get votes from Malaysia not from Tamil Nadu farmers," he said. Two self-driving cars produced by a Chinese firm completed a 2,000-km journey in China's first long-distance road test for autonomous vehicles in a bid to stay ahead of Google and others in developing driverless car technology. The vehicles, produced by Chang'an Automobile, left the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing on Tuesday and arrived at Beijing at about 5 pm yesterday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The cars successfully drove distance from other vehicles, changed lanes, overtook and performed other maneuvers including three-point turns automatically but still need the help of a driver in certain road sections and gas stations, the designers said. The maximum speed of the cars reached 120 km per hour. Tan Benhong, deputy director of the Chang'an Automobile Engineering and Research Institute, said they would improve the technologies based on the results of the test and then to prepare for mass production. Chang'an plans to put driverless cars into commercial use in 2018, Tan said. Worldwide, at least 18 companies are developing autonomous cars, including BMW, Audi and Toyota. China's contenders include auto makers BAIC group, GAC Group, SAIC Motor, Chang'an and BYD. A US Air Force reconnaissance plane was barrel-rolled by a Russian SU-27 fighter jet in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner during a routine flight in international airspace, American officials said today, exacerbating tensions between the rival powers. The incident on Thursday occurred when a Russian jet "performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers" as it flew within 50 feet of the US aircraft's wing tip over the Baltic Sea, Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for European Command, said. The Russian SU-27 began the barrel roll from the left side of the US RC-135 and went over the top of it to end on the right side of the aircraft, European Command said. The US aircraft was "intercepted by a Russian SU-27 in an unsafe and unprofessional manner," Hernandez was quoted as saying by CNN. He said that the US plane never entered Russian territory. "The unsafe and unprofessional actions of a single pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalated tensions between countries," said Hernandez, who added that the US is protesting the incident with the Russian government. This encounter comes just days after the US Embassy in Moscow issued formal concerns with the Russian government over an incident in which Russian fighter jets flew very close to the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea this week. One of the Russian jets flew within 30 feet of the Cook's ship superstructure, according to a US official. Close encounters between Russian military aircraft and US warships have become increasing common in recent months. In October, US Navy jets intercepted two Russian Tu-142 aircraft that were flying near the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific Ocean. In an incident in June, a Russian Su-24 jet flew within 500 meters of a US guided-missile destroyer that was sailing in the Black Sea near Crimea. The Russian aerial maneuvers come amid rising tensions on NATO's eastern flank. In February, the Department of Defense announced it was spending USD 3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative in an effort to deter Russian aggression against NATO allies following Russia's 2014 intervention in Ukraine. In recent weeks, the US has deployed additional military assets throughout Europe as part of 'Operation Atlantic Resolve'. Earlier this month, the US Air Force deployed F-15s to Iceland and the Netherlands and F-22s to the United Kingdom. In February, the US announced that it would send six F- 15s to Finland for a training exercise and pre-position tanks and artillery in Norway, both countries share a border with Russia. Recurring incidents of incursions, implementation of an agreement to reduce tensions between border patrols and Sino-India strategic concerns were among the issues expected to figure in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's talks with top Chinese military officials tomorrow. Parrikar, who arrived here from Shanghai by a special aircraft, will hold talks with Chinese Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) General Fan Changlong and others. CMC which is the supreme commanding body of the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) is headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Parrikar will call on Premier Li Keqiang. Later, he would visit China's recently integrated western command military headquarters which has jurisdiction over border with India. The minister is accompanied by senior officials from army and navy, besides the defence ministry. While Indian officials said the talks were expected to review the whole gamut of bilateral ties which showed considerable improvements in the recent times, India's concerns over aggressive patrolling by Chinese troops especially in the Ladakh sector remained high. China denies any incursions, asserting that its troops patrolled areas of its territory in the 3,488-km long disputed border. The two countries may discuss further modalities of the 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) which has outlined various measures to address tensions arising out of the aggressive patrolling by both sides. India and China also conduct an annual dialogue of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination to deal with aggressive patrolling by troops. It helped to bring down tensions over Chinese incursions during the key visits of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2013 followed by President Xi Jinping a year later. Both sides opened several border points for troops and officers on the ground to interact with each other to build good relations. Recent reports from India spoke of the presence of Chinese troops in the forward positions of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) which People's Liberation Army (PLA) dismissed as "groundless". The two militaries also have strategic concerns over each other's military tie-ups with other countries and development of their militaries. Ahead of Parrikar's visit, China hinted that it may take up the recent decision by India to open up military bases to US for logistics and efforts to conclude a pact to share aircraft sharing technologies. China which is grappling with heavy US expansion under the Asia Pivot to counter Chinese military especially in the South China Sea is sensitive to any close military cooperation between New Delhi and Washington. Beijing is also concerned over the inclusion of Japan in the Malabar naval exercises along with US. On its part, India has its concerns over Chinese expansion in the Indian Ocean, regarded as India's backyard with billions dollar deals to build ports in Sri Lanka and Pakistan under the Silk Road initiative. Both sides are also expected to discuss increasing military exchanges at senior levels and allow their officers into their top defence institutions in an effort to consolidate improvement in defence ties. Last year, China said it had taken positive note of Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha's comment that India do not look at China as an adversary anymore. Parrikar's five-day visit will be immediately followed by a visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to hold 19th Boundary Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi later next week. Doval and Yang, who are designated Special Representatives for boundary talks, also have a mandate to discuss entire gamut of bilateral issues. The contentious issue of China blocking India's attempts in the UN to ban Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is expected to figure in their talks. Before leaving for Beijing, Parrikar, who arrived in Shanghai last night, visited Urban Planning Exhibition Centre where he was briefed by the Chinese officials on the urban planning achievements in China's biggest metropolis which has population of over 22 million. The briefing focussed on use of innovative technologies and smart city transportations, Indian Consulate in Shanghai said in a statement. He also addressed members of the Indian community at a meeting held at the Shanghai Consulate where he spoke of his government's "steadfast commitment" at securing interests of Indians living abroad. The defence minister said there was a significant momentum in India's economy, which had been successful in attracting large investments under the 'Make in India' initiative. He also answered questions from the audience focussing on issues ranging from Indias self reliance in defence production, education to high end technologies and retaining skilled talented students, the press release said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's call for an RSS-free India, today received support from Congress which said the saffron fountainhead was "posing a threat to the country's unity and democracy" as BJP jumped to the defence of its mentor, saying its critics should attend its 'shakha' for a day to clear their "misconceptions". The BJP said it was unfazed by Kumar's efforts to form a united front to counter it and that such attempts to stop the Modi government "from working for the development of the country and for the poor will not succeed". Maintaining that everyone was aware of the newly-elected JD(U) chief's national ambitions, BJP spokesman Shrikant Sharma took a dig at the Congress, asking party president Sonia Gandhi to make it clear if Rahul Gandhi will lead such a front or will he be just part of it. Congress backed Nitish Kumar's view that the country should be made 'Sangh-mukt' (RSS-free) as it is "posing a threat to democracy and unity" but did not appear inclined to be a part of a broad-based alliance of secular parties to take on BJP, saying for any national-level alliance ahead of 2019 polls, parties should have a "national existence". Asked if Nitish Kumar can be projected as the leader of a national-level alliance he has mooted, party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said he is "a popular chief minister" who is doing good work in Bihar. "There is no talk of leadership (led by Nitish)...You are trying to create an imaginary alliance. I told you first, an alliance at the national level...all parties are state specific parties. The understanding is with such parties in states. "By the time 2019 elections come, the public themselves will oust the Modi government and there will be no need for any alliance," Ahmed said, replying to queries about the possibility of forging a Nitish-led national alliance. Congress is part of ruling alliance in Bihar. Addressing an event in Patna yesterday, Kumar had mounted a counteroffensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'Congress-mukt Bharat' slogan, saying, "Sangh-mukt Bharat banane ke liye sabhi gair BJP parties ko ek hona hoga (to usher in a Sangh-free India all non-BJP parties will have to come together)." "Uniting against BJP and its divisive ideology is the only way to save democracy," said Kumar, who has already talked about "largest possible unity" among secular parties. Lashing out at the JD(U) chief for his anti-RSS tirade, Sharma said,"Nitish Kumar has called for an RSS-free India. You (Nitish) have stayed with people from Sangh for long. You have had a long coalition with BJP. You have participated in BJP programmes also. But you have called for a Sangh-free India. It is better you learn and understand the Sangh a little bit. "And for that visiting the Shakha of the Sangh is the best. Those who oppose the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the country should first at least visit its 'shakha' (meeting). "Only then will they have a better understanding and their misconceptions cleared. Only then the technical glitches in their software will be fixed," Sharma said, stressing that the RSS has always worked in the interest of the country. Kumar's JD(U) had snapped its 17-year-old alliance with BJP in 2013 as it was opposed to naming Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general election. Sharma said from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, and from Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi, all had opposed the RSS but the organisation has only grown. "The attempt is only to stop the Modi government from taking steps for development of the country, to stop job opportunities for the youth and to stop the government from helping the poor," Sharma said. "You (Nitish) are unable to digest the fact that we are working for poor, weaker sections of the society. And therefore, you are not opposing BJP but the efforts to uplift the weaker sections and to empower the poor. We have no objections to what he says. He won't succeed in his motive," Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. RSS ideologue M G Vaidya said efforts to attack the Sangh will only backfire. "They can't defeat the BJP on their own. May be they will gain a bit by coming together. As far as Sangh is concerned... when there are increased protests against the Sangh, it grows. "Sangh does not grow at someone's mercy but because of the hard work and capability of its workers," he said. Sharma took on Nitish calling him a "kathputhli (puppet) Chief Minister" and said that the real "remote-control" of his government was in the hands of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. Asked if Nitish Kumar was being pitted against Rahul Gandhi in leading an alternative coalition against BJP-led NDA, Congress spokesman Ahmed said, "There is no fight amongst us. We are all together. But before we get together (for a broader alliance), the people of the country will get together to oust Modiji. "Time and things keep changing. Lohiaji was against Congress, but Congress and Lohia's followers are today together in an alliance. There is paradigm shift," he said. Born and raised in New York, actor Devika Bhise says she is more of an Indian at heart. Among the many things that nursed the Indian in her is bharathanatyam which she began learning from the age of 3. Devika believes that it is probably her lessons in dance that got her the role of Srinivasa Ramanujans wife Janaki, in a biopic on the mathematical genius, The Man Who Knew Infinity, slated to release by the end of April. The film is written and directed by Matthew Brown is based on the book by Robert Kanigel. The story revolves around ace mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujans life and the struggles he had to face to prove his merit. It is a true story of friendship that forever changed mathematics, explains Devika. The young actor spent a lot of time researching and understanding the character of Janaki. This, she says, helped her get into the skin of her character. She also interacted with Robert Kanigel, who had met the real-life Janaki later in her life to understand the nuances of her character. Although, Janaki was illiterate, I found her character very compelling. She was a very progressive, intelligent and charming person. She had her own artistic inclinations, says Devika. Janaki understood Ramanujans passion for mathematics and was an active participant in helping him reach his goal, adds Devika. The film has a lot of similarities to Devikas life in real and one of them is her love for mathematics. Ive always loved Mathematics in school and college. My parents wanted me to pursue Mathematics and Science in college but somehow, I wanted to get into the arts, she recollects. She says that this movie has in some way rekindled her passion for Mathematics. The young lass considers herself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful directors in some of her earlier projects which include The Accidental Husband and Anamika: Her Glorious Past. Directors play an important role in helping actors, understand the character and give it a proper shape. The films of directors who spend a lot of time discussing the character, with the actors tend to do well, she observes. Its not only acting, Devika has now forayed into producing films as well. When you are an actor, you are not always in control of things but as a producer you have the freedom to mould the project the way you want. Every actor aspires to create something of their own and I am no different, she says. Devika has some of her family members settled in Mumbai and she travels to India at least five times a year. I am lucky that I get to come down here so often. India is one of my favourite places to relax, she says. United Nations mediator Staffan de Mistura considers the ongoing round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva crucial and says delegations will focus on political transition, governance and constitutional principles. He also expresses hope that this, the third round this year, will be constructive and concrete. The first round in February ended without serious separate discussions either with the government or the Saudi-sponsored opposition Higher Negotiations Committee (HNC); the second round in March lasted 10 days but achieved nothing concrete. The HNC submitted proposals on all three topics to de Mistura while the government put forward principles to serve as the basis for a deal.A Syrian source who has access to both sides as well as Washington and Moscow told Deccan Herald that the HNC has no lack of plans for ending the reign of president Bashar al-Assad but has no strategy to secure their adoption. The government, he stated, has a strategy and able negotiators but no plans for a post-Assad regime. Having survived 5 years of warfare, the government remains committed to Assads rule. He is ready to form a national unity cabinet including figures from the opposition, independents, and civil society, amend the constitution, and hold fresh elections with the proviso that Assad can run. Syrians argue that the proxy talks are pointless. Geneva wont decide, Russia and America will decide, they say. The source concurred, They have agreed that Assad will go but not when (creating instability). And they have agreed that 70% of the regime will remain. The fate of Assad and his entourage is yet to be decided. Unlike the principal negotiators, the Womens Advisory Board, formed in January, has both a plan and a strategy, stated Sawsan Zakzak over tall glasses of fruit juice at the Gemini cafe in Damascuss diplomatic quarter. A researcher and civil society activist, Zakzak is one of 12 board members, all independent of the government and HNC delegations. There have been no negotiations so far, she said. The peace talks stage has not yet been reached. We have only the ceasefire. The ceasefire is not perfect but it sends a good message to the people that we can stop the war... I am optimistic we can reach an agreement on a new government. If we dont World War III will start. People need more than a ceasefire. We have to finish with sieges, detentions and kidnappings. We need to (deal with) high prices (due to the fall in the value of the Syrian pound). We need to start a political transition process, not a (transition) period. The choice of words is very important, she explained. Six board members still live in Syria, 5 left since the war began, and 1 is a permanent resident of Britain. The board has presented proposals to de Mistura and called for the creation of committees to deal with different aspects of the transition in order to avoid deadlock. Finding middle ground Zakzak said, for example, the board can suggest a type of government between transitional and unity that could satisfy the government and HNC. She said the boards current role is to advise de Mistura and discover points of agreement between the sides. We are more than mediators because we are Syrians and we know the concerns and fears of both sides (and) can discover issues (on which) both sides agree. She argued, It is essential to make these negotiations successful. (To do so) we have to change the behaviour of (both) the regime and the opposition. Zakzak is optimistic because Syrians have learned lessons from Iraq, Egypt and Libya as well as Lebanon. Syrians, she said, are well aware of the dangers of sectarianism and fundamentalism. The Lebanese and Iraqi models of governments, based on allocations of role on the basis of sect, are not options for Syrians. We have to have a national (post-war) strategy from the beginning to prevent alienated and unemployed youth from being radicalised in mosques and to recruit armed men into national defence. Instead of claiming that Washington and Moscow will decide Syrias future, Zakzak contended, Syrians will decide with the approval of Russia and the US. Whoever decides, there is no time to waste. Syrians must reach a deal before the end of US President Barack Obamas term in January 2017. Democratic and Republican party candidates standing for his position in Novembers election have vowed to counter Russian and Iranian influence in Syria, thereby escalating rather than ending the conflict. The only way for the US, Europe and opponents of the Assad government to gain the initiative is to end the war and to take a leading role in rebuilding. A plan for reconstruction has already been drawn up by the UN; it needs only to be implemented. For that, Syria needs to be at peace and cleansed of all armed groups, particularly Islamic State and al-Qaedas Jabhat al-Nusra. The BJP on Sunday joined the list of political parties who held a mega-rally at the historic Brigade Parade Grounds in central Kolkata, which is witness to almost all major political developments in Bengal. The star attraction was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lashed out at both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Left-Congress combine in equal terms, touching upon every agenda his party has been campaigning on for the last few months. Modi claimed that Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee is attacking everybody because she realises she has lost, adding that people should not vote for the Left-Congress coalition as they are not here to work for Bengals development but to save their sinking ship. Will you vote for those who have been rejected by people across the country? he asked the rally at Kolkata on Sunday afternoon. The prime minister was addressing his first rally at the historic grounds. Earlier in the day, he addressed another rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, where he raised same points. Talking about Banerjees recent slur against the Election Commission after being served a show-cause notice, Modi said, She has already accepted defeat and is now fighting with the Election Commission instead of political parties. The EC is like an umpire and everybody should respect it. Elections will come and go but the EC is an institution. He added that if reports are true that the states chief secretary replied to the EC on her behalf, it should be considered a misuse of state machinery. Modi also raised the issue of the multi-crore Saradha scam and the recent surfacing of a controversial video footage, two scams that have got several Trinamool leaders embroiled. Every village in Bengal has been affected by the chit fund scam. There will be hard to find a villager who has not lost money. Trinamool leaders have taken money and compromised the future of Bengal and its youth, the prime minister said. Stating that his three-point agenda for Bengal is ...development, development at a fast pace and overall development, he touched upon issues like the recent flyover collapse in Kolkata and real estate syndicates allegedly run by Trinamool leaders. The BJP and the RSS have sharply reacted on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars call for unity of non-opposition parties for RSS-free India (Sangh-Mukta Bharat). The party has suggested him to visit shakha (drill session of the RSS) to clear his misconceptions about the parent organization of the ruling party. The Bihar chief minister had said on Saturday at Patna that non-BJP political parties have to come together to make India RSS free. He had said that uniting against te BJP and its divisive ideology is the only way to save democracy. In the backdrop of tense situation prevailing in Kashmir, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Sunday arrived in the state to take stock of the security situation. The army chief, who was on a one-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, arrived at the headquarters of Udhampur-based Northern Command, where he was received by the northern army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda, a defence spokesman said. Lt Gen Hooda briefed the army chief about the overall security situation, he said. Sources told Deccan Herald that the army chief was apprised in detail about the latest developments on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC), opposite eastern Ladakh. The 4,057-km-long LAC, also known as the MacCartney-MacDonald Line between India and China, runs through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The army chief also sought views on Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) vis-a-vis present security situation, they added. Importance of visit The visit assumes significance in view of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti batting strongly for partial withdrawal of AFSPA from peaceful areas of J&K. Situation improves Life limped back to normalcy in major parts of Kashmir on Sunday after five days of curfew and strike, reports DHNS from Srinagar. Tension had prevailed here in the aftermath of killing of five civilians in firing by security forces in north Kashmirs Kupwara district during the week. Shops and business establishments reopened while public transport reappeared on the streets. Curfew like restrictions were lifted from most parts of the Valley but due to rainfall and Sunday, people largely remained indoors. However, apprehending protests and clashes over the civilian killings, the authorities continued with curfew in most areas of Kupwara district for the sixth consecutive day. Kupwara has been on boil as two civilians were killed by forces during protests against the molestation of a school girl by an army man on Tuesday. Three more civilians died in forces firing in the district on the subsequent days during protests against the killings of two boys in Handwara. More than 200 people including policemen and para-military CRPF personnel were injured in the clashes between protesters and forces during the five-day unrest in the Valley. Intra-Kashmir train services between Baramulla and Qazigund resumed on Sunday after remaining suspended for four consecutive days. With the cost of rooftop solar power exceeding the present market rate, the government has stopped signing tripartite pacts for solar energy with industry. It will now get into pacts only with households, provided they generate power only for their consumption. The government initially wanted to promote renewable energy and allowed building owners, financiers and escoms to sign tripartite agreements. The price fixed by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) for one unit of solar power is Rs 9.56 for those who have not availed subsidy and Rs 7.20 a unit for those who have availed subsidy. However, in the last two years, the cost of solar power in the open market has drastically declined to under Rs 5 a unit. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is executing a 2,000 MW solar park at Pavagada in Tumakuru district, has quoted Rs 4.65 a unit while it is Rs 4.34 a unit in the recent tenders in Rajasthan, a senior official in the energy department told Deccan Herald. The KERC is now likely to announce a revised solar power tariff, which could be less than Rs 5 a unit, on April 20. It will also come up with the gross metering concept where the entire power generated on a rooftop can be sold to the grid. Under the net metering concept, the power generated is used by the installer while the excess power is sold to the grid. According to the new order, no domestic rooftop installation can sell power to the grid as it is restricted to their installed capacity. This is being done to discourage people from investing in rooftop panels for households, says Jagadishchandra Shetty, director Greensol Renewable Power Pvt Ltd. He feels that the state shouldnt have gone in for tripartite agreements as they were set to lose financially by buying power at a higher price. There was nothing wrong in promoting the government policy. Now, in the current situation, there is need to regulate the flow of investments in rooftop solar units, an official said. By restricting the TPA to allocated load for households, the government will not only offload its peak demand but will also save money for escoms as power purchased during peak hours is more expensive than it is billed to domestic consumers, an officer said. On the other side, he explained: The power sold to industry is higher than the purchase price by escoms. It makes sense to sell power to industry instead of buying it from them at Rs 9.56 a unit. And during lean hours, power is available at a much lesser price. It wont be a burden on escoms, he said, reasoning the governments rationale behind the April 2 order restricting the TPAs only to domestic households. The Centre will soon introduce protocols for mandatory testing of the quality of the midday meal. The Human Resource Development Ministry has initiated the move, aiming to checking complaints about serving contaminated and low-calorie food to schoolchildren under the scheme. The moves comes mainly because the Ministrys guidelines for serving safe and hygienic food to school children and mandatory testing of the food samples from the schools have largely remained ineffective. Reports about poor-quality meals served under the scheme keep coming in from different parts of the country. In February, more than 200 children began showing symptoms of food poisoning after serving of midday meals at a school in Palghar district of Mumbai. The protocol for testing of mid day meal is being finalised in consultation with experts. The views of the states were also sought because the testing protocols cannot be implemented without their active support, official sources told DH. The midday meal testing protocols will make the implementation of the scheme more effective, they added. Last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India observed gross irregularities in the implementation of the midday meal scheme while conducting performance audit of the centre-sponsored programme at 27 states (except Mizoram) and seven union territories. As per rules framed under the food security Act, all primary school students are entitled for midday meal with nutritional value of at least 450 calories and 12 gm of protein, while students of upper primary classes must get meals with nutritional value of at least 700 calories and 20 gm protein. Beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya got a pay package of over Rs 1.7 crore last year from his US-based brewery firm that itself is struggling for funds. The firm has been served default notices by lenders. More than half of Mallyas total package for 2015 has been paid by California-based Mendocino Brewing Company (MBC) Inc to him for promoting the companys beer brands. Mallya serves as the chairman of the board of directors of the company, which has an exclusive licence to brew and distribute Kingfisher premium lager in various countries. Besides, it produces and sells a number of craft beer brands. United Breweries Holdings Ltd (UBHL), the holding firm of Mallya-led UB Group, is the indirect majority shareholder of MBC. Total compensation In its annual Form 10-K filing for the year 2015, submitted with the US markets regulator SEC, MBC has disclosed that Mallya was paid a total compensation of USD 256,900 (about Rs 1.71 crore), unchanged from the previous year. Vijay Mallya, chairman of the board, is paid $120,000 per year by MBC for services rendered as chairman, and 89,600 British pound per year by UBIUK for promoting our products in the foreign territory outside the United Kingdom, it said. MBCs foreign operations are conducted through wholly-owned subsidiary United Breweries International UK Ltd and a step-down unit Kingfisher Beer Europe Ltd. The two largest shareholders of Mendocino are United Breweries America (UBA) and Inversiones, both of which are controlled by Rigby International Corp, which in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UBHL. Charges denied Meanwhile, Mallyas UB Group strenuously denied the allegation by the Enforcement Directorate that he siphoned off nearly Rs 430 crore from the loan extended to Kingfisher Airlines by IDBI bank for acquiring property abroad. Mallya & MBC Mallya serves as chairman of the board of directors He was paid a total compensation of USD 256,900 (Rs 1.71 cr) The liquor baron controls over 68% shareholding held through UBHL in MBC MBC, in financial trouble, is exploring options including mergers and asset sales RBS to terminate credit line to KF Beer Vijay Mallyas troubles do not seem to be limited to India, with the global banking major RBS planning to terminate next month a credit line and all other banking services provided to his European beer venture, PTI reports from London. This has forced Kingfisher Beer Europe Limited, owned by Mallya through a complex web of entities, to look for alternative avenues to replace the credit line. The State government appears to be at its wits end in solving the impasse over the evaluation of second PU answer scripts. They, however, appear to have managed to ensure a smooth beginning for the SSLC evaluation beginning from Monday. After it failed to break ice with the agitating lecturers and its alternative plans backfired, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Rathnakar admitted that there could be a 10-day delay in PU results. He, however, assured both parents and the students not to worry, and asked them to focus on CET exams. He said PU evaluation could begin on April 20. The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board has issued orders to 67,000 teachers to report for evaluation work. Out of this 25,000 teachers under the Karnataka State Aided Schools and Colleges Employees Association and Karnataka Rajya Badti Sarkari Praudashala Shikashakara Sangha have decided to boycott evaluations. The rest, all government teachers under the Karnataka State High School Assistant Masters Association will be attending work, assured heads of the association. On Sunday, efforts to complete the coding and decoding by deputing staff from other wings of the primary education failed as many of them could not comprehend the work. Meanwhile, the agitating PU lecturers said they wouldnt attend the valuation work unless their demands are met. Ajay Seth, principal secretary, Department of Primary and Secondary Education, however, said they are roping 4,000 retired PU lecturers in addition to the qualified SSLC teachers who are due for promotions. Around 7,000 lecturers from unaided colleges have also been engaged in the evaluation work. According to Seth, 11,000 lecturers will be reporting to work as against the required 17,000. We may need 16 to 17 days to complete the evaluations. Rathnakar announced that lecturers from the 11 colleges on which the CID conducted raids would be dropped from evaluation work. Rescuers in Ecuador raced to dig out people trapped under the rubble of homes and businesses on Sunday, following a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 233. President Rafael Correa said on Twitter that the death toll on Sunday had risen to 233, up from an initial count of 77 dead and 600 injured. He added that Vice-President Jorge Glas was on his way to the hard-hit city of Portoviejo on the Pacific coast. Glas called it the worst seismic movement we have faced in decades. The quake, felt across Ecuador, northern Peru and southern Colombia, struck at 6:58 pm local time on Saturday, lasting for about a minute and was centered approximately 170 km northwest of the capital Quito. No casualties were reported in Peru or Colombia. In Portoviejo, the temblor reduced houses to rubble, brought down a local market in a nearby community and left streetlights and debris scattered helter-skelter. According to Glas, 14,000 security forces, 241 medical staff and two mobile hospitals were being rushed to the most devastated areas, with reinforcements arriving from Colombia and Mexico. We know that there are citizens trapped under rubble that need to be rescued, he said in a special TV and radio broadcast. Officials declared a state of emergency in the six worst-hit provinces. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the 7.8-magnitude quake struck off the northwest shore of Ecuador, just 27 km from the town of Muisne. The vice-president gave a slightly lower measurement of magnitude 7.6. Ecuador lies near a shifting boundary between tectonic plates and has suffered seven earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher in the region of Saturdays quake since 1900, the USGS said. One in March 1987 killed about 1,000 people, it said. At least 55 smaller aftershocks rattled the country after the main quake, Glas said. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially issued a warning for the nearby Pacific coastline but later said the threat had passed. Curfew was clamped on north Gujarat town of Mehsana and mobile internet services suspended as the ongoing Patel quota stir on Sunday turned violent. Over 1,500 agitators from across the state were taken into the custody. The trouble began in Mehsana, where Patels had gathered in large numbers to participate in jail bharo agitation call given by Sardar Patel Group, one of the two organisations spearheading Patel quota stir in the state. The SPG had urged its supporters to court arrest en masse to pressurise the state government to accede to their demand for the release of the jailed Patel leaders. During the course of events, the Patels took out a rally after holding a meeting in Mehsana. When the police tried to stop the crowd from taking out rally, some in the mob resorted to stone-pelting. This led to the police resorting to lathi-charge and fired teargas shells. They also arrested over 1,000 agitators in Mehsana. SPG convenor Lalji Patel was injured in the melee. Whether the injuries were due to stone-pelting or lathi-charge by the police was not clear. However, visuals of injured Laljibhai became viral on the social media across the state. Offices of ministers Rajnikant Patel and Nitin Patel, a FCI godown and a state government building were set on fire in Mehsana. The Patel mob also torched the Sub Divisional Magistrates vehicle and a state transport bus. Reports of local buses being attacked with stones in Patel dominated Ghatlodia area of Ahmedabad and blockade of Bhavnagar-Talaja highway in Saurashtra region forced state administration to impose internet curfew and divert over 200 state transport buses. In Surat, the police arrested 435 people as Patel agitators clashed with police personnel. This city belongs to all and those creating mischief will be dealt with strictly. We have imposed Section 144 of IPC in the city to prevent any unwarranted incident, Ashish Bhatia, Surat Police Commissioner, said. Even as state BJP president Vijay Rupani, BJP National general secretary Purushottam Rupala and state party spokesperson Bharat Pandya appealed to agitators to maintain peace and urged police to exercise restraint. The City governments second phase of odd-even scheme faces a litmus test on Monday the first official working day since the anti-pollution drive kicked off with schools reopening after the holidays. The AAP governments road rationing plan will be judged on the arrangements made for schoolchildrens pick and drop as autorickshaw and taxi unions plan to go on strike on Monday. Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai wrote to Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Sunday and sought adequate deployment of police force on city roads in view of the strike called by autorickshaw and taxi unions on Monday. During the last strike in March, it was seen that autorickshaw drivers ferrying commuters were beaten up by the protesters, Rai said in the letter. Unions affiliated with the BJP and the RSS have decided to go on strike on Monday. So we request you (L-G) to make sure adequate police personnel hare being deployed so that autorickshaw and taxi drivers can operate without fear, he added. Rai also met representatives of autorickshaw and taxi unions on Sunday, but Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the association which has called the strike, said that it was not invited to the meeting. Sources said those unions who met the transport minister are not taking part in the strike. But Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh affiliated autorickshaw and taxi union will go on strike on Monday. We will go on strike as the city government is not able to regulate the private cabs. They charge Rs 5 to Rs 6 per km whereas our kali-pilli taxi charge Rs 25 for the first km and Rs 14 thereafter for every km. We are loosing out customers, said Rajinder Soni, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh Auto-Taxi Unions general secretary. We are staging a 24-hour long sit in outside the Delhi Secretariat starting Sunday evening, he added. by Linda Curda Cama-i! In the Yupik culture, we embrace each other with a warm and welcoming greeting by offering a hand to shake accompanied by the exclamation, Cama-i! It is in that same spirit that I address you today. For generations, Bethels very own festival celebrating Native dance has entertained tens of thousands of us who live in this region, and around the globe. The Cama-i Dance Festival, modeled after the Yupik Tradition of winter dance gatherings, boasts three full days of dance, laughter, and warm celebration. It serves as the highlight of Southwest Alaskas dark, cold, and long winter. The theme for this years festival is Yurarturciqukut ~ Resilience Through Dance. It was inspired by Nightmute, Alaskas very own Albertina Dull, this years Living Treasure. At over a century in age, Albertina continues to build a legacy of The Way of Authenticity. We are proud to recognize and honor her exemplary service to her community and this region. This last April, after COVID-19 caused a global shut down, The Delta Discovery published an article with excerpts from an interview with Albertina Dull about living through the 1918 Influenza Epidemic. Ms. Dull is, indeed, a Living Treasure. Toksook Bay photographer Jimmie Lincoln captured an image of Albertina performing at a recent dance festival on Nelson Island that graces this years event poster. Merchandise featuring a logo designed by the incredibly talented local artist Maria Nicolai is available for purchase at the Kuskokwim Arts Guild gift shop in the Cultural Center. Call 543-4585 to schedule an appointment to purchase the merchandise. Surviving a global pandemic requires us to make decisions that ensure the preservation of the health of humanity. Human beings are a social creature. Our authenticity depends upon the way we strive to serve each other, and our entire world. Our deeply rooted desire and yearning to come together to celebrate our lives makes this situation even more difficult, but we know social distancing is the right thing to do. Doing the right thing includes postponing our annual festival a few more years, until it is safe for us to gather again. Our initial plan is to hold a festival in a year and a half from now, in spring of 2022. Until then, please stay tuned for more videos and communication, including the honoring of our Living Treasure, Albertina Dull. Our next festival will celebrate the true perseverance of resilient, healthy, and vibrant people. Quyana cakneq! Linda Curda is the Co-Coordinator for the Cama-i Festival, the YK Deltas premier celebration of dance, culture, song and art. Share this: Tweet Email Mayor Fred Watson will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on March 13, 2019 from 6pm to 8pm at the City Council Chambers to inform the public of the impacts the City of Bethel will face if Governor Dunleavys budget is passed as proposed. Public and agency testimony is encouraged and should focus on opposition or support of the Governors proposed budget and feedback on proposed trade-offs. A majority of Council Members may be present however no action will be taken. Share this: Tweet Email April 24, 2019 Today, the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that it is investing to help the Native Village of Napaimute, Alaska, acquire vital equipment needed to spur economic growth in the wood products sector. Supporting locally-devised strategies to boost economic opportunity is a major focus of the Trump Administration, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. The new equipment to be employed by the Native Village of Napaimute will help them continue to compete in the wood products industry. A $589,000 EDA grant will help the Village acquire a waterborne landing craft that will aid the transport of harvested wood products. The addition of the waterborne landing craft will help the Native Village of Napaimute increase economic transactions and foster conditions that will be conducive to the creation of business and employment opportunities. Share this: Tweet Email Thank you for finding our loved ones To the Search & Rescue Volunteers of Alakanuk, Emmonak, Kotlik, and Mountain Village Thank you so much for volunteering your time and resources to help search for our daughters, Patience and Haley, last month. Your willingness to help on short notice is much appreciated and helped contribute to their safe return and a positive outcome. We could not have found them without you. Special thanks goes to Jason Fancyboy and Jeff Unok of Kotlik who found them, fed them, made sure they were warm, and delivered them home safely. God bless all of you that helped with their safe return! Thank you so much, the Alstrom and Moses families. Audrey Alstrom Anchorage, AK A GREAT BIG Bethel THANK YOU! The 2017 Bras n Bros fundraiser event sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary Post 10041 at the end of January was a success due to the involvement of several state, city and local agencies and businesses PLUS the selfless contributions of time from many individuals. THANK YOU to the Robert V. Lindsey VFW Post 10041, YKHC and YKHC Injury Prevention, Lynden Air Frieght, Bethel Police Department, Bethel Fire Department, Immaculate Conception Church, the Magic Man, Mike Calvetti, Gold Rush Liquor and Swansons Store. With everyones support, the VFW Auxiliary raised over $8,000.00 for scholarships, funeral and medical assistance, Americanism, Veterans recognition and Veterans family support. LaTesia M. Guinn VFW Auxiliary Bras n Bros Chairperson Post 10041, Bethel AK Lets stand as one, not as divided tribes It has been a while since I last wrote. To my displeasure of some leaders of this region, I dont need to name names as you know who you are. There are a select few of us without getting compensated are trying our best to help this region. I personally have spent countless hours of phone conversations with some respected and tireless elders and real leaders that affect our economically depressed region. I applaud those that had the courage to attend last weeks first YK Delta Intertribal Conference. Alcohol was the main topic first day and many of the attendees were affected by this very hard topic. From my perspective it was a good turnout. Many spoke out mostly because there already have been many preventable and premature deaths. Young and old have died from alcohol since the liquor store opened. I would like for the City of Bethel to reconsider their position with the two that are open now. The AC and BNCs licenses to operate. Needless to say the BNCs store has not been operating after the leaders of that corporation advocated publically that it is time. Time for the younger generation to learn how to drink moderation and what not. One old man from Bethel testified when the Wild Goose was open back in the late 70s which was heartbreaking. As for the AC liquor store, what has it brought to our delta? Are they going to send food, attention, comfort, and especially LOVE to those children that are being neglected? The money that AC liquor store earns is only benefitting a Canadian company. I can only imagine if they earned 2.7 million last quarter to date this delta contributed over 5 million dollars by now. It is time that we stand as one not as divided tribes. These organizations that you tribes erected have their own agendas. We tried and cried wolf but never got heard but turned the other way. With that being said I hope you tribes can come together. We can all agree to disagree as united tribes and great people of this Yupik, Cupik, Cupig, and Athabaskans of this great region. Steven M Alexie Napaskiak, AK You, Womens History, and the Power of Social Security March is Womens History Month a time to focus not just on the past, but also on the challenges women continue to face. Nearly 60 percent of the people receiving Social Security benefits are women, and in the 21st century, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nations history. Knowing this, you can be the author of your own rich and independent history, with a little preparation. Social Security has served a vital role in the lives of women for over 80 years. With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income. With the national average life expectancy for women in the United States rising, many women will have decades to enjoy retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a female born today can expect to live more than 80 years. As a result, experts generally agree that if women want to ensure that their retirement years are comfortable, they need to plan early and wisely. You can start with a visit to Social Securitys Retirement Estimator. It gives you a personalized estimate of your retirement benefits. Plug in different retirement ages and projected earnings to get an idea of how such things might change your future benefit amounts. You can use this valuable tool at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. You should also visit Social Securitys financial planning website at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners. It provides detailed information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government service, and other life or career events can affect your Social Security. Your benefit is determined based on your earnings. You can create your personal my Social Security account to verify that your earnings are correct. Your account also can provide estimates of future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits. If you want more information about how Social Security supports women through lifes journey, Social Security has a booklet that you may find useful. It is Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know. You can find it online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10127.html. Robin Schmidt Social Security Administration Alaska Public Affairs Specialist Share this: Tweet Email by Peter Twitchell I remember the days of the Fur Rondy Festival weekend sled dog races in Anchorage back in the 50s when there were many local mushers and names of familiar people from rural Alaska. There was also a musher from the east coast named Dr. Roland Lombard. And notably George Attla from Huslia. In my opinion these were the dominant dog mushers who held my attention. Dad had a Zenith cell pack battery operated radio which got the Anchorage broadcasts of the Fur Rondy dog mushing races by way of White Alice satellite dishes strung across Alaska. Peter Jacob was always my favorite dog musher because he was from our local southwest Alaskan village of Bethel. He was a small man in stature, big in spirit, a jovial Yupik man whose eyes sparkled and laughed heartily whenever I told him that I was cheering him on to victory! Anchorages Fur Rondy Festival Sled Dog races 25 mile race courses looped around Anchorage. Dad was glued to that radio set throughout the race every winter in the latter part of the 1950s and the early 1960s. I remember dogsleds and big strong huskies were the only transportation long before snowmachines. People depended on these dogs to hunt, to fish, and gather wood. We took very good care of the dogs. Mom and Dad had a 15 x 20 log building half of which was dedicated to dog food, which was mainly the backbones of the summer salmon which were smoked with cottonwood in the smokehouse with all the other flat slabs of salmon and salmon strips. In the winter months the dogs would get a whole backbone. As spring approached we would give them half a backbone of the salmon. In the summer we cooked fresh salmon and occasionally added dog food to their dishes. Growing up in the 1950s the Yupiks in southwestern Alaska often spoke to the dogs in our native language and yelled commands like gee and haw and the leader would turn left or right. When Dad gave the command come gee and come haw the lead dog would make a 360 turn back. When Dad yelled in a casual voice tang ava-i kaviaq! which means look ahead at the fox! the dog teams ears and the leader would perk up, look ahead, and quicken their gallop. Dad had a white husky leader named Queenie. I myself never owned a dog team and Ive loved dogs all my life. They have been indeed Mans Best Friend. Share this: Tweet Email by CVRF Staff Each winter for the past 10 years, Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) has provided energy assistance to families in its 20 member communities through CVRFs heating oil program. The program helps residents offset the high cost of heating homes in Western Alaska. Since 2008, CVRF has provided over $2 million in heating oil assistance through the program. This year, CVRF offered $383,885 in such assistance, enough for about 35 gallons of heating oil to each of 2,170 households. The resulting distribution of 75,780 gallons of heating oil is a record for CVRF, a notable increase of 19,620 gallons from the previous year. The program also saw an increase in the number of participating households. When combined with the 55 gallons of heating oil per person that CVRF distributed through its elder program earlier this year, CVRF provided more than 113,000 gallons in heating oil benefits to CVRF residents in 2018. Being part of distributing the heating oil program benefit to our residents is a great feeling because we see, first hand, the reactions of our residents, said Dayna Blakeley-Nash, CVRFs Community Service Representative in Chevak and interim Heating Oil Program Coordinator. There were a lot of laughs, happy tears, hugs, and handshakes while our residents picked up their heating oil. The heating oil program is beneficial because it alleviates one of the hardships that our people face the high cost of living in our rural area. Heating oil is one of the largest household costs for families living in Western Alaska where lower cost alternatives, like natural gas, are not available. According to the Alaska Rural Homeownership Resource Guide published by the USDA , the average 2-star energy rated home in communities served by CVRF requires 870 gallons of fuel to heat, which can cost as much as $4,000 per year. I am very happy for CVRF helping the community, said Sharon Williams, a resident of Napaskiak. When people were running out, CVRF provided heating fuel. Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) is a 501(c)(4) Alaska non-profit corporation with 20 member communities located along the west coast of Alaska, from Scammon Bay to Platinum. It is one of six Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups granted fishing rights in the Bering Sea to foster sustainable and diversified local economies in western Alaska. CVRF is dedicated to creating sensible, tangible, and long-term economic development opportunities that generate hope for the more than 9,300 residents of its communities. CVRF is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of one member elected from each community. It is the largest Alaskan-owned seafood company in history and the first CDQ group to own and control the vessels that harvest the vast majority of its CDQ allocations. For more information, visit www.CoastalVillages.org and www.facebook.com/CoastalVillagesRegionFund. Share this: Tweet Email by Candis Olmstead Medevac aircrew from the Alaska Army National Guard provided emergency medical assistance and helicopter medical evacuation to a 75-year old man after he fell into a river and drowned, requiring immediate resuscitation and sustaining multiple injuries, Aug. 12. The patient was on a guided fishing trip with family members on the Yentna River, in South Central Alaska about 70 miles northwest of Anchorage in a remote area that may only be accessed by aircraft or boat. He had fallen overboard into the river and was underwater for about three to five minutes before being saved. He was not breathing after being saved, and was revived by the trip guide after performing about five minutes of CPR. An Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk medevac helicopter and crew from Detachment 2, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, departed Bryant Army Airfield at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, after the Alaska State Troopers requested assistance through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. The initial request for support was communicated via InReach SOS activation by the fishing party, which notified AST. The AKRCC, manned with full-time rescue controllers in the Alaska Air National Guards 176th Wing at JBER, provided the rescue aircrew with the fishing tour groups grid coordinates, which directed the Black Hawk crew to the injured mans location. In less than an hour from notification, they launched the aircraft, arrived at the location and began assessing the patient. We had some bad weather on the flight over, but as we neared the location, it opened up and we found a spot to land, said Staff Sergeant Damion Minchaca, a flight paramedic with Det. 2, G-Co, 2-211th AVN. They were on a river bank and I walked through a creek to get to them, but would not have been able to get the patient back to the aircraft, so the two crew chiefs prepared it for hoist. Minchaca assessed the critically injured patient, donned him with an aviation rescue vest, and prepared him to be hoisted into the aircraft. The Black Hawk took off from where it had landed nearby, hovered over Minchaca and the patient, and raised them into the helicopter via hoist. Once we were in the aircraft, I took his vitals again, performed an EKG, provided medication, stabilized him and addressed complications, said Minchaca, and the crew chiefs provided all of the help I needed. Black Hawk crew chiefs in medevac units are responsible for the maintenance and safety of the aircraft, but are also trained in CPR, IVs, basic airway management and drug recognition. While flight paramedics are responsible for providing care and transport of critically ill and injured patients, they are also trained on basic maintenance of the aircraft. We all have to be able to pitch in with such small crews, said Minchaca. This mission involved landing and hoisting, assessing needs on the ground and providing care en route, and it went smoothly and quickly because we work so well as a team. The guide on the trip saved the patients life, and the seamless, joint effort of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard units ensured a successful rescue and crucial medical care during transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. The patient was delivered to the hospital within two hours of the AST request for support, and he was passed directly to a physician on site for continuation of necessary medical care. Locals and visitors with plans in Alaskas remote and challenging outdoor environment are highly encouraged to travel with a form of communication and a backup form of service, such as a beacon or satellite tracker. ASTs video, How to Signal Searchers, has great tips on how to prepare for and stay safe in Alaskas outdoors at the link: www.facebook.com/watch/?v=202459725082463. Share this: Tweet Email LOVELAND Bernie Sanders scored a decisive victory Saturday in Colorado, taking a majority of the national delegates with a stronger-than-expected showing at a divided state Democratic convention. The Vermont senator captured 41 delegates from the states 78-member delegation, inching him closer to front-runner Hillary Clinton in what the campaign suggested is a larger shift in the presidential race. The margin gives Sanders a clear hold on Colorado enough to overcome Clintons advantage among the states dozen superdelegates. It definitely shows the trend for Bernie Sanders in the state of Colorado is still really strong, said state Rep. Joe Salazar, a top Sanders supporter. I think hes trending toward a win for this presidential nomination. The Sanders campaign won 63 percent in the presidential preference poll at the state convention in Loveland, where Democrats gathered amid a snowstorm that prevented hundreds from making the trip. The vote represented an improvement on his 59 percent victory at the March 1 caucus and gave Sanders 15 of the 23 delegates available at the convention: two more than the initial Super Tuesday projections. Earlier, he claimed 26 delegates from seven congressional district conventions. Outnumbered in a caucus state that favored the high-energy Sanders campaign, Clinton supporters reacted to the final delegate count with resignation. Clinton took 37 percent in the convention straw poll, 3 percentage points lower than the caucus vote, and won eight more national delegates. The campaign finished with 25 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and expects to secure the vast majority if not all of the states superdelegates. Weve been through this before; we know its a long haul, said former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, a prominent supporter. We also believe the math is in our favor. Entering the convention, the chasm that separated Clinton and Sanders supporters created a visibly fractured state party. The Sanders team distributed leaflets at the Budweiser Events Center that warned supporters to watch for shenanigans after a caucus process that left hundreds of voters in the cold and faced repeated questions about fairness. Democratic Party chairman Rick Palacios admission during the week that the party misreported the caucus results and kept it quiet until The Denver Post uncovered the error only added to the animosity. To have the most fair and transparent and efficient convention process, Palacio started the convention by adding a top official from the Sanders and Clinton campaigns to moderate events and serve as vice chairmen. Still, the feeling among some Sanders supporters that the system is rigged echoing arguments on the Republican side from Donald Trump led them to focus their anger on the states superdelegates. The Sanders campaign championed a slate of like-minded Democratic National Committee members for the next cycle, even though it wont help their efforts this year. Its not just about just one candidate. Its about a movement. Its about a revolution, said Hayden Pollock, a 21-year-old restaurant manager from Grand Junction. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet took the brunt of the anger on the issue. He accepted his partys nomination in a 20-minute speech interrupted three times with thundering chants of change your vote from Sanders supporters in the crowd. Bennet, a Clinton supporter and superdelegate, preached a message of unity but it did little to quell his critics. In an interview after his speech, Bennet said their message was very heartfelt, but he demurred on the question of whether he would pledge support to Sanders. Instead, Bennet clarified that he would support the candidate that wins the most pledged delegates in the primary race. Theres a time and place for a debate, he said, referring to the chants. And this is a time and a place for people to let their voices be heard for me to hear those voices. And I think thats what was accomplished today. Other elected officials and party leaders with superdelegate status are encountering similar pressure, especially after Sanders sympathizers posted their personal contact information to the Internet. Brenna Payne, a 34-year-old state convention delegate, wrote a polite e-mail to Bennet asking him to support Sanders. I see both sides of it because people are saying Republicans sure wish they had (superdelegates) right now with how its going, she said. But at the same time, if the Colorado people overwhelmingly picked Bernie as their choice, we feel the superdelegates from Colorado should go that way. Mannie Rodriguez, a longtime Clinton supporter and superdelegate, received a huge stack of what he called hate mail just before the state convention. He said it distracts from the mission. The convention is supposed to be to unite us, to heal us, he said. We are supposed to come out of the convention ready to win, not come out looking like we are fighting. A patient was killed when an ambulance crashed around 2 a.m. Sunday in snowy conditions on Interstate 76 near Brush, according to Colorado State Patrol officials. Lauren Putney, a 23-year-old from Julesbeg, was transporting Brenda Ebke, a 57-year-old patient, between hospitals in a Sedgewick County EMS Ambulance when she lost control in the snow. Ebke died on the scene. Putney and another passenger, Vickie Sandlin, 53, were transported to a hospital with injuries. Colorado State Patrol officials said the crash was the only fatality related to dangerous roads caused by the storm. But snowy conditions across Colorado contributed to traffic woes for intrepid travelers braving the roads Saturday night and Sunday morning. A vehicle on Interstate 25 near Castle Rock slid into a Colorado State Troopers vehicle around midnight Saturday while the trooper was assisting with a nearby collision. The driver of the car sustained minor injuries, but the trooper walked away unscathed. Dangerous driving conditions shut down traffic on several Colorado highways Sunday morning. At 7:30 a.m., U.S. 6 at Loveland Pass and U.S. 85 at the Wyoming border were closed. U.S. 287 from Teds Place to the Wyoming border reopened about 1:05 p.m. after closing around 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The Colorado State Patrol in Limon warned of drifting snow conditions from east of Aurora to Flagler Sunday morning. The agency recommended slower speeds for drivers heading that way. Congestion on Interstate 70 is causing delays of at least 30 minutes, from Denver at C-470 to the Eisenhower Tunnel at milemarker 295-215. The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates total travel time between those areas will average 75 minutes. Chain and traction laws were in effect for many areas on Saturday, but CDOT has begun lifting them in areas where the snow has tapered off. CDOT retracted the traction law between Vail and Silverthorne on I-70 Sunday morning, as well as the one in place in both directions between Silverthorne and Denver C-470. Colorado State Patrol in Canon City tweeted at 11 a.m. that the chain law has been lifted on Monarch Pass. But chain laws remain in effect for several areas of I-70. Vehicles heading eastbound from Silverthorne to Eisenhower Tunnel at milemarker 228-215 are required to chain up. As are cars traveling in both directions from eastbound Georgetown to the Eisenhower Tunnel from milemarker 228-215 and from Golden to Georgetown at milemarker 259-228. The American Red Cross has closed a storm shelter in Falcon that it opened Saturday for people stranded in the snow. The shelter closed at around 7 a.m. Sunday, according to a tweet from El Paso County, which said no one ended up staying at the shelter. The Colorado Springs Police Department tweeted around noon Sunday that Colorado Springs is no longer on accident alert, after spending most of the day Saturday After Colorado Springs spent most of the Saturday on accident alert, the Colorado Springs Police Department tweeted at noon Sunday that the alert had been lifted. Katy Canada: 303-954-1043, kcanada@denverpost.com or @KatySusanna By Yuri Kageyama 12 April 2016 TOKYO (AP) To dump or not to dump a little-discussed substance is the question brewing in Japan as it grapples with the aftermath of the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima five years ago. The substance is tritium. The radioactive material is nearly impossible to remove from the huge quantities of water used to cool melted-down reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, which was wrecked by the massive tsunami in northeastern Japan in March 2011. The water is still accumulating since 300 tons are needed every day to keep the reactors chilled. Some is leaking into the ocean. Huge tanks lined up around the plant, at last count 1,000 of them, each hold hundreds of tons of water that have been cleansed of radioactive cesium and strontium but not of tritium. Ridding water of tritium has been carried out in laboratories. But its an effort that would be extremely costly at the scale required for the Fukushima plant, which sits on the Pacific coast. Many scientists argue it isnt worth it and say the risks of dumping the tritium-laced water into the sea are minimal. Their calls to simply release the water into the Pacific Ocean are alarming many in Japan and elsewhere. Rosa Yang, a nuclear expert at the Electric Power Research Institute, based in Palo Alto, California, who advises Japan on decommissioning reactors, believes the public angst is uncalled for. She says a Japanese government official should simply get up in public and drink water from one of the tanks to convince people its safe. But the line between safe and unsafe radiation is murky, and children are more susceptible to radiation-linked illness. Tritium goes directly into soft tissues and organs of the human body, potentially increasing the risks of cancer and other sicknesses. Any exposure to tritium radiation could pose some health risk. This risk increases with prolonged exposure, and health risks include increased occurrence of cancer, said Robert Daguillard, a spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agency is trying to minimize the tritium from U.S. nuclear facilities that escapes into drinking water. [] Japans fisheries organization has repeatedly expressed concerns over the issue. News of a release of the water could devastate local fisheries just as communities in northeastern Japan struggle to recover from the 2011 disasters. An isotope of hydrogen, or radioactive hydrogen, tritium exists in water form, and so like water can evaporate, although it is not known how much tritium escaped into the atmosphere from Fukushima as gas from explosions. The amount of tritium in the contaminated water stored at Fukushima Dai-ichi is estimated at 3.4 peta becquerels, or 34 with a mind-boggling 14 zeros after it. But theoretically collected in one place, it would amount to just 57 milliliters, or about the amount of liquid in a couple of espresso cups a minuscule quantity in the overall masses of water. [more] AK LAK, 16 April 2016 (VNS) More than 130 cows and thousands of chickens and ducks died from drought in Ea Sup District in the Central Highlands province of ak Lak, according to the latest statistics from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The cows and birds died due to a shortage of drinking water and nutrition. In Ia Lop Commune alone, more than 80 cows died, whereas Ia Rve Commune had more than 50 cow deaths. Hundreds of hectares of crops were destroyed, and at least 91 wells ran dry. Phung Ngoc Cuong, of Village 8 in Ia Rve, said he had never seen such severe drought. The commune did not have any grass, so Cuong led his 40 cows anywhere they could find food, including garbage. Cuong had to buy a rickshaw to carry straw at a cost of VN4 million (US$170) and drill a well, which cost more than VN15 million ($660), to supply food and drinking water to his cows. Pham Bao, also of Ia Rve, said he mixed rice husk with saltwater to feed his cows. Several weaker ones were given restorative medicines and vitamin C. My cows are worth more than VN1 billion ($44,400), but now no one wants to re-buy them, so I tried every way to cure them, he said. At present, more than 30 of Baos 120 cows have died, resulting in losses of VN300 million ($13,300). Nguyen Ngoc Phu, head of the Ea Sup District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the cows died en masse because they lacked nutrition, food and drinking water. They ate so much cassava, so they got indigestion and then died. Many cows in Ia Rve and Ia Lop communes died because the communes did not have irrigational systems or reservoirs. [more] Thousands of chickens, cows die from drought 15 April 2016 (Tuoi Tre News) The devastating climate has caused 83 oxen in Ia Lop Commune and 50 more in Ia Rve Commune in Ea Sup District to die, while destroying hundreds of hectares of crops and draining 91 drilled wells in the locality, the local Office of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Wednesday. The animals have to endure extreme heat from the sun while grazing only dried grass, causing their health conditions to deteriorate, said Le Thi Cuc Phuong, a farmer in Ia Lop Commune. Phuong added that she and her husband have had to force their oxen to drink fresh water in order to prevent exhaustion. Phung Ngoc Cuong, owner of a herd of over 40 cows and bulls in Ia Rve Commune, said that his cattle have been in competition over the few resources available. I have not seen such serious drought in years. As there is no grass left for the animals to eat, they now consume everything in sight, even garbage, Cuong added. The farmer spent VND4 million (US$179) buying straw for cattle feed and another VND15 million ($672) drilling a well to supply them with sufficient water. Showing Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters the herd of skinny and fatigued oxen, Pham Bao, also from Ia Rve Commune, said that he had to buy several metric tons of quality crops to feed his animals. Bao added that he also had to grind rice and combine it with water for the cows and bulls, while providing extra supplements and vitamins for the weaker animals. I have to do everything to save my group of oxen, which is worth billions of dong [VND1 billion = $44,820], the farmer stated. Thirty out of 120 of his cattle have died due to the harsh weather, costing about VND300 million ($13,445), according to Bao. The scarcity of water due to the absence of a reservoir and canal in the commune, accompanied by 40 degree Celsius temperatures, has posed many risks to the survival of the animals, he elaborated. A living cow can be sold for between VND13 million ($583) and VND14 million ($627), said Le Ky Giong, residing in Ia Lop Commune, adding that a dead one is only worth VND3 million ($134). The death of the oxen arose mainly from the deprivation of sufficient nutrition, food and fresh water, said Nguyen Ngoc Phu, head of the Office of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ea Sup District. The situation is common in the two communes, as there is no system of water reservoirs or irrigation ditches, Phu explained. To cope with the severe drought this year, the local budget will be disbursed for the farmers to drill wells and afford food for their cattle, according to the official. [more] Over 130 oxen die from severe drought in Vietnams Central Highlands province HA NOI, 16 April 2016 (Viet Nam News) All forces should be mobilised to cope with severe drought and saline intrusion in order to ensure food and fresh water for daily usage, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao uc Phat said at a meeting yesterday. Topics addressed by the Central Steering Committee for Natural Calamities Preparedness and Control included measures to confront drought and saline intrusion in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), southern central and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta regions. Phat asked localities to closely watch weather and saline intrusion developments and water resources to adequately promote effective measures that would minimise production losses and stabilise incomes. The committee pledged to mobilise all forces to cope with the situation and avoid hunger and possible epidemic to drought-affected people. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was assigned to closely supervise and issue reports on drought and saline intrusion for specific areas and localities. This helps local authorities set up effective plans for drought and saline intrusion control. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce asked the management agencies of hydropower reservoirs to supply fresh water to drought-prone areas as a priority task. The local authorities should co-operate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to adjust production timetables to reduce losses caused by drought and saline intrusion. This years drought was the most severe one in 100 years, and saline intrusion was worsened by the El Nino phenomenon in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), southern central and Cuu Long Delta regions. So far, the droughts and saline intrusion have caused fresh water shortages in 390,000 households and damaged nearly 240,000ha of rice and more than 4,000ha of aquaculture production. The total loss was estimated to be VN5,200 billion (US$236 million). According to the weather forecast agency, drought and saline intrusion are expected to expand to other regions in upcoming months. [more] Govt outlines anti-drought action 13 April 2016 (Pakistan Defence) China has decided to continue discharging water from a hydropower station into the downstream reaches of the Mekong River for drought relief. Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, said on Monday that his country faced a severe drought, and hoped that China would continue to supply water to downstream reaches of the Mekong. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang echoed his words during a news conference on Tuesday. Considering the drought situation in downstream countries, China decided to continue discharging water starting from April 11 and last until the end of low water period. The water volume discharged will be adjusted in accordance with the situation in upstream areas and the actual demand of downstream countries. Since the end of 2015, due to the El Nino effect, countries along the Lancang-Mekong River have suffered drought conditions to varying degrees, and their peoples lives and work have been affected. At the request of downstream countries, China discharged water from the Jinghong Hydropower Station in Yunnan Province from March 15 to April 10. [more] China Continues Releasing Water to Drought-hit Mekong River Countries By Adam Frank 12 April 2016 (NPR) You dont need me to tell you how unusual this primary season has been. Every day, more news sites offer more commentary seeking to explain how American politics reached its current, seemly surreal state. But here at 13.7, our goal is to offer commentary on places where science and culture intersect. From that perspective, one key aspect of this seasons political upheaval can be traced back a decade or more. That aspect is reality, or at least the part were all supposed to agree on. Over the past five years, Ive written many times about the rising tide of science denial in this country and the dangers it poses. As last years spread of measles at Disneyland demonstrated, denying real facts has consequences in the real world. Viruses dont care whom you vote for or what Facebook groups you join. And the facts about viruses the what-should-we-do-now kinds of facts are best revealed through science. That is why, as a nation, we give it value. When the methods of science are pursued as intended, what is returned is public knowledge. This knowledge, composed of facts and an understanding of their limits, are critical for a functioning democracy. The founders of the American experiment in self-government understood the urgency of public knowledge. Its why they held science in such high regard. It was, for them, the principle means of establishing the background needed for our public life, a background composed of a shared reality. Unfortunately, over the past 10 years, we have seen the viability of public knowledge eroding in the public sphere for all the wrong reasons. More than anything else, the pressure driving this erosion can be summed up in two words: climate change. Before we go any further, it is crucial to note that the Republican Party was, for decades, a champion of the U.S. scientific effort. Republican presidents created NASA, NOAA, and the EPA. These lawmakers understood how science served as the engine of national security, stability, and economic vitality. Then came climate change. On this issue, the Republicans did not start out uniformly denying global warming was a problem. For a time, there was consideration over proper responses from all players. But over the past 16 years, one half of the American political establishment came to be aligned with what can only be called denialist positions. Time and time again, the nations premier scientific organizations (NASA, NOAA, the AAAS) issued unequivocal statements about climate change and the threat it posed. Even the military weighed in, as it understands the destabilizing global threat climate change poses. And yet, over and over again, Congressional leaders have rejected the authority of these sources. It can be argued that the denial of climate change is simply part of a longer trend in turning away from science. For example, the battle of evolution and creationism has a long history in this country. And, in many ways, the forces seeking to cast doubt on climate science took a page from the playbook of creationism in their choice of tactics. But the debate over evolution has never had the scope or the reach of what has happened with climate. In particular, we have never seen the kind of wholesale political attack on a science (particularly a physical science) that has come with the climate debate. In the decades that followed World War II, politicians understood the ways in which science contributed to the national good. There was an implicit agreement that science should be left to determine its results, and the role of policymakers was to absorb those results within their own policy debates. But that agreement was broken with climate science. An entire field of research whose results have dizzying implications has been rejected as a whole. The work of thousands of researchers spanning decades is claimed to be wrong or, worse yet, a hoax. And, unlike the debate over evolution, the claim is made at the highest levels and seems to span the whole of a political party. This is something new in our history. Our ability to deal with climate change has clearly been adversely affected by this rejection of scientific endeavor. But facing into the winds of this strange primary season, we can see how this denial yielded other consequences, too. If the point of science is to provide us with a method for establishing public knowledge, then its rejection is also the rejection that such public knowledge is possible. If we hold science in esteem because it represents a best practice for establishing shared facts that hold regardless of ethic, religious or political background, then denying science means denying the possibility of such facts. It implies there can be no means for establishing facts about the world and no reason to award authority to mechanisms that deliver those facts. This wholesale rejection of a shared reality was always the great danger lying in organized, politicized climate science denial. After all, why stop with climate science? Once you get started down this road, who or what determines that its gone too far? [more] Shares in Saga are a 'buy' for the Sunday Times' Inside the City column, after a steady but unshowy performance since its initial public offer two years ago. Management plan to shift the business from a plain old insurer that also markets holidays and other services to its over-50s customers, into a broker that makes commission from sales made to third parties, who will offer services under the company's brand but take on more of the risk. This will require the group to hold less cash - of which 210m of cash and equivalents sat on the balance sheet at the half-year - and return some of this in dividends. A reinsurance deal in March took some risk of the table and analysts predict that alone could result in a bigger year-end dividend. Ahead of results this week, Saga's shares are available on a forward p/e ratio of 14, whereas ratings for brokers are nearer 16. Questor in the Sunday Telegraph advises selling the FTSE 100 as part of the old stock market maxim of 'sell in May and go away, don't come back till St Leger's day'. One of the main risks is Britain's vote on 23 June on whether to stay or leave the European Union. An out vote could cause economic shockwaves worldwide, according to the IMF. The UK benchmark index is also overvalued on the basis of its p/e ratio, currently on 17 versus its long-term average of 15. While the old maxim is predicated on brokers and traders heading for the beaches or the hills for the summer, other factors to that will impinge on equity values in 2016 include reports that we are heading towards the late stages of the present cycle, even more so in the US, which retains a big influence over the FTSE 100. Dividend yields are also looking rather top at over 4%, more than double what long-term government bonds are paying! Buy Safestay shares is the advice from Midas in the Mail on Sunday to adventurous investors. The 2014 flotation is the latest from serial property entrepreneur Larry Lipman, following Safeland, Safestore, Bizspace and Hercules Property Services. Safestay, which has raised 3m and 8m from investors so far, is a provider of holidays hostels currently based on four UK location initially but with plans for fairly rapid expansion to 10 more including a one or two overseas. Trying to distance themselves from the dingy hostels remembered from backpacking trips of yore, Safestay's are based in central city locations, bright, welcoming and learn, with bars, free wifi and comfy beds. Although there have been some doubts about the poor occupancy levels at new sites, annual results released this months revealed sales more than doubling to 4.0m and its Elephant & Castle site in London with occupancy of 78.6%. A 0.6m loss was due to investment in sites, sales and marketing, and a new website offering a dynamic pricing engine. Lipman has been joined by experienced hotels executives at CEO and FD as this young business attempts to continue momentum in forging a new direction against the existing tide of AirBnB and budget hotels. Please note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only and not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information. No power, no hot water, bedbugs at apartment towers near Downtown Residents at the Latitude Five25 apartment towers on the Near East Side said they've had no hot water, no power at times. The city is going to court. Women Made Whole Dothan will present a free financial management and awareness seminar for the community for the groups monthly Serve Day on April 18 from 7-9 p.m. at Comfort Suites, 1650 Westgate Parkway, in Dothan. The speaker will be a bankruptcy paralegal from Brock & Stout discussing The Bible, Your Money, and God's Plan for Financial Management. Women Made Whole is for women of all ages, denominations and backgrounds. Visit www.womenmadewhole.com or www.facebook.com/womenmadewholedothan for more information. Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church #2, 1547 Lucy Grade Road, Dothan, will host its annual spring revival April 20-22 with services at 7 p.m. Guest minister will be Clifton Green of Macedonia Baptist Church in Sarasota, Florida. All churches are welcome. Call 334-677-5765 for information. The Dothan Evening Community Lighthouse of Aglow International meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Shoney's Restaurant, located at 3054 Ross Clark Circle in Dothan. Barbara Brunner, the founder of Rahab's Promise, will be the guest speaker on Thursday, April 21. Rahabs Promise is a ministry that reaches out to women in strip clubs and shares the gospel with them. The Mark Trammell Quartet will perform at Eastside Free Will Baptist Church, 1679 E. Main St., in Dothan on April 22 at 7 p.m. Free admission; an offering will be received. Call 334-793-9376 or 334-790-4746 for more information. Grimes Gospel Lighthouse, 1512 County Road 25, Grimes, will host local talent on April 23; and Billy Gene Dickerson of Ashford on April 30. All concerts are at 7 p.m. Admission is free; offering will be taken. Call 334-983-4654 or 334-714-4658 for more information. Stringer Street AME Church Family Reunion will be held April 24 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Sherrod III, pastor. Members, former members, future members, family and friends are all invited. A family picnic will follow the morning worship service and will feature games, inflatables, food and fellowship. Rocky Mount Baptist Church, 457 County Road 42 W., Abbeville, will hold an Ushers Anniversary service on April 24 at 3 p.m. Guest minister will be the Rev. Vincent T. Owens, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Dothan. Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, located at Seventh Avenue and Oak Street, Ashford, will celebrate its 104th church anniversary with a service on April 24 at 3 p.m. Guest minister will be the Rev. Christopher Scott of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Slocomb. New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2627 Kinsey Road, Dothan, will hold its annual Womens Day program on April 24. Sister Michelle Little of Dothan will be the guest speaker at 11 a.m. and Sister Judy Barnes of New Life in Jesus Ministry in Dothan will be the guest speaker at 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served. The Jerry Maddox Family will be singing at Ebenezer Baptist Church, located at 3894 Ebenezer Church Road in Columbia, on April 24 at 6 p.m. Food and fellowship to follow. Ebenezer Baptist is located off State Highway 52 East and Jesse Road. Call 334-714-3892 for more information. Tabernacle AME Church, 1724 County Road 79 E., Clayton, will host its annual Womens Day Observance on April 24 at 2:30 p.m. The Womens Day colors will be purple and white. Guest preacher will be the Rev. Josephine Marlow of Hopewell AME Church in Clopton. All churches are invited, and dinner will be served. Park Avenue Baptist Church, located at East Park Avenue and South Main Street in Enterprise, will be hosting a revival meeting April 24-27, featuring different speakers each night. Services will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday and 7 p.m. week nights. Guest speakers will include: Michael Mynatt, pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, on Sunday; Danny Wiggins, pastor, County Line Baptist Church, on Monday; Sam Self, pastor, Basin Baptist Church, on Tuesday; and Sonny Moore, retired pastor and U.S. Army Chaplain, on Wednesday. Joint revival services for Bay Springs Baptist Church, Good Water Freewill Baptist Church and Pilgrim Home Baptist Church will be held at Bay Springs Church on April 24 at 6 p.m. and April 25-27 at 7 p.m. Guest preacher will be Brother Jerry Spencer. All are invited. Bay Springs Baptist is located at 1721 S. Bay Springs Road, Dothan. Call 334-692-3138 for more information. Center Missionary Baptist Church, 4344 AL-173, Newville, will host its annual Youth Day service on April 24 at 11 a.m. and its annual Youth Revival on April 27-29 with services at 7 p.m. and the Rev. Bernard Vickers of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Headland as the evangelist. Call 334-889-4710 for information. Temple Emanu-El in Dothan will hold its annual Deli Day on May 4 and will be taking orders through April 25. Bagged lunches are $12 each and include a deli-style kosher corned beef sandwich with a kosher dill pickle, a bag of chips, a chocolate chip cookie and a picnic pack prepared by the John Conti Center at Vaughn-Blumberg. To order, buy tickets from members of Temple Emanu-El; call the Temple office at 334-792-5001 for an order form; or order online at http://www.dothandeliday.org. The 7:14 Spiritual Renewal services will be held April 25-27 at Selma Baptist Church, located at 3255 S. Park Ave. in Dothan. Sponsored by the Selma Baptist Church Primetimers, there will be a meal each night at 5:30 p.m. followed by a worship service at 6:30 p.m. Guest preacher will be the Rev. Rick Evans from Dalraida Baptist Church in Montgomery (former pastor of Selma). Attendees should contact the church office at 334-793-4602 each day by 12 p.m. to eat the meal the church is providing. Meals are free, but donations will be accepted. Child care will be provided for children up to age 3. There will be different workshop leaders and music each night. The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville will hold a Creation Conference on April 26-27 with breakout sessions designed for pastors and youth groups. The conference, free to attend, will examine apologetics with the primary topic being the biblical account of creation. Leading the conference will be Jonathan Sarfati of Creation Ministries International in Atlanta, Georgia. Sarfati will speak at the regular chapel services at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and will lead a special session for pastors on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He will lead a session for youth, homeschoolers and Christian school groups on April 26 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Conference sessions are open to the public by reservation. To register, call 800-328-2660, ext. 513; email hollis.prange@baptistcollege.edu; or visit baptistcollege.edu/creationconference. The Dale Baptist Associations WorshipFest will be held at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ozark on Friday, April 29, starting at 6:30 p.m. WorshipFest is a praise and worship service led by local worship bands and praise teams. There is no cost for admission, and everyone is invited to attend. A nursery will be provided. Ridgecrest Baptist Church is located at 1971 Deese Road in Ozark. Klondyke Gospel Music Center, located between Newton and Ozark at 3885 Highway 123 S., will host the following groups: Stepping out on Faith from Marianna, Florida, April 29; The Conrad Family from Dothan, April 30. Concerts start at 7 p.m. Admission is free; offering will be taken. For more information, call 334-405-1500. First Christian Education Conference will be held April 30 at 10 a.m. at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church II, 1547 Lucy Grade Road, Dothan. The speaker will be Dr. Jonathan McPherson of St. John Baptist Church of Edge Water in Birmingham. All churches invited. Lunch will be served. The Wiregrass Gospel Choir will be singing at Smyrna Baptist Church, 1800 Husky Road, Dothan, on April 30 at 6:30 p.m. Call 334-792-7297 for more information. The Dothan Alabama Community Lighthouse of Aglow International will hold a community outreach program on April 30 at 10 a.m. at Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Headland. Speaker will be Elder Georgia Curry of Rhema Rock Church. Everyone is invited. Resurrection Power Crusades will be holding a two-day crusade at the Geneva County Farm Center on May 5-6 with services at 6 p.m. There will be anointed worship and a message from the Rev. David Watson of the University of Health and Healing in Enterprise. The farm center is located at 2765 E. State Highway 52 between Hartford and Geneva. Love INC of the Wiregrass will host a development meeting on Friday, May 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Dothan Houston County Library Systems main branch at 445 N. Oates St. in downtown Dothan. The nonprofit mobilizes local churches, church volunteers and community organizations to transform the lives of people in need whether they have physical, emotional, mental or spiritual needs. The organization, formally known as Love In the Name of Christ, and its affiliates have worked in communities for more than 30 years. To learn more about the new Dothan affiliate, contact Barbi Nolan at 334-793-4440 or barbi@loveincwiregrass.org. You can also visit www.loveincwiregrass.org. This week, the Alabama Senate rejected a bill to create a constitutional amendment referendum that, if approved by voters, would have allowed a Greene County bingo casino to operate the same sort of electronic bingo games used by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in three casinos on tribal land in Alabama. The bill is now where it belongs relegated to the trash heap of failed legislative ideas. There are several non-tribal bingo casinos in Alabama that have been crippled by the years-long legal battle over electronic bingo. If there were to be a constitutional amendment to address the dilemma, it shouldnt be for one particular bingo operator. Before you give the Senate credit for a sense of fair play, keep in mind that a constitutional amendment measure requires 21 votes in the 35-member Senate, and this measure failed by four votes. That means roughly half of Alabamas sitting senators favored sending this unfair measure to the voters. The idea itself may have merit, as the courts have failed to resolve the bingo question so far. The bills sponsor, Sen. Bobby Singleton, said that Greene County needed the jobs that an operating bingo casino would provide, comparing it to auto plants in other parts of the state. While thats a questionable comparison, the same could also be said about Macon County, where VictoryLands bingo operation is not operating, and Houston County, where Center Stage Alabamas electronic bingo casino has been reduced to running a smaller, non-electronic bingo operation. Before Alabama lawmakers commit to pursuing the expansion of gambling, a questionable mechanism to shore up the states economy, they should ensure that its done in a way that doesnt favor the few before presenting it to the voters. 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. 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The city, which is the second smallest in England, is about 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about 80 miles by road from London. 08:11, 22 OCT 2022 February 24, 2022, the day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, will go down as a tragic date not only for the Ukrainian people, but also for the whole civilised world. Fire service warning following small explosion Fire crews are warning residents about the importance of having both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors following a fire this morning. Crews were called out the Clybane Court in Farmhill at around 7.30am after reports of flames coming from a gas meter. On arrival they used a spray jet to isolate the flames and a crew weaing breathing apparatus then closed the valve inside the meter box closing the gas supply - then proceeded to ventilate and ensure the safety of the building. No one was hurt in the incident and the fire service is taking this opportunity to remind any persons with gas or solid fuel appliances in their home to make sure they are regularly serviced. Re: New to Basel! Quote: stupot I wouldn't want to over exaggerate, it's also basic common sense but I did have a friend who got hospitalised a few years ago and late night robbery is not uncommon, also around kleinbasel like blackbird said. Most of the newcomers seem to live in St.Louis or close by. The ones who've been here longer often buy property, usually a bit further away like Kembs, Hesingue, even as far as Colmar. I have a few friends in Hesingue, it's a nice village. Do you have the option of living in Switzerland? It looks like France it's a better option according to my new colleagues, I was told by HR that 90% of the employees live in France (I have seen new apartments with garage for less than 600), so I guess finances are better. Also cost of living, supermarkets, etc. It would be also useful for me in order to have a car as it looks like parking is easier and car insurance cheaper. I am aware of the fact that living in Basel you don't need a car but it is my intention to be travelling around quite a lot as I love alpinism and climbing so I'd need a car to be close to the walls early in the morning. What I like about Basel is that maybe by spending a little more in accommodation and travelling to France for groceries every now and then, I could have a better social life and by the looks of it, a safer environment. It is difficult to calculate and understand what the difference would be, as the higher insurance, gym memberships, probably getting a garage??, and the accommodation price are higher, but taxes lower... Do you think it would be too quiet for me in St Louis? I've seen Alsace is a perfect place for a family but maybe not for a 26 year old guy just arrived and with no friends there? Hi stupot. I have the option of living in Switzerland, and that's what I am trying to figure out.It looks like France it's a better option according to my new colleagues, I was told by HR that 90% of the employees live in France (I have seen new apartments with garage for less than 600), so I guess finances are better. Also cost of living, supermarkets, etc. It would be also useful for me in order to have a car as it looks like parking is easier and car insurance cheaper. I am aware of the fact that living in Basel you don't need a car but it is my intention to be travelling around quite a lot as I love alpinism and climbing so I'd need a car to be close to the walls early in the morning.What I like about Basel is that maybe by spending a little more in accommodation and travelling to France for groceries every now and then, I could have a better social life and by the looks of it, a safer environment. It is difficult to calculate and understand what the difference would be, as the higher insurance, gym memberships, probably getting a??, and the accommodation price are higher, but taxes lower...Do you think it would be too quiet for me in St Louis? I've seen Alsace is a perfect place for a family but maybe not for a 26 year old guy just arrived and with no friends there? Re: Should I be stocking up on stuff in the US before I arrive in July?? Yes, Switzerland is more expensive than the US for most things, but are you not being paid quite a lot more in Zurich? If no, then you need to reconsider your move. If yes, then you have to factor that in when assessing prices. Your previous tourist/visitor dollars would indeed make things seem pricey, but when you're paying with CH-paid swissies it's really not so bad. And not everything is expensive -- compared to the UK anyway, which is where I was previously. Electric / electronic goods are generally quite well priced as the tax is lower. And buying in the US means the hassle of the different voltage. Groceries will seem pricey at first, but then you discover Denner, Aldi and Lidl + the weekly special offers. Wine is definitely cheaper in supermarkets but OK, almost unaffordable in restaurants -- unless the boss is paying. A large beer in a bar is more than double what I would pay in the UK but again, before I grumble too much I remind myself that I'm earning more here and paying less tax. Among things that I would advise buying before you arrive are outdoor clothes / gear. If you plan to hike or ski or ride a bike (etc.), you'll find it expensive to get kitted out here. It's hard to find bargains in things like walking shoes and good quality backpacks. Remove labels and packaging to avoid the impression they are brand new. Medicines -- stock up with cold remedies, painkillers, and any over-the-counter meds that you use. These things can be hard to find and expensive here. Overall, I'd say don't worry about it too much. Once you've been here a while you'll start to learn where to find bargains, and as an earlier poster said, you can pick up stuff in Germany and France if need be. Amazon is available of course but there are restrictions on some things like healthcare and medicines, and electrical goods will be taxed. It's sensible to think ahead, but remember -- it's not all about money. For most of us, there are many compensations like clean air and water, very efficient public transport, extraordinarily beautiful scenery, and easy access (i.e. within an hour or so's drive) to 4 or 5 countries. For me at least, these benefits are priceless. Amal Clooney might be beautiful, smart and well-dressed (while also being married to one of the most popular Hollywood actors of this generation), yet it looks like she just can't catch a break with her critics. This time around the British-born Human Rights lawyer is being criticized for attending a fundraiser but apparently not donating any money herself for the cause. According to Pop Dust on Friday, Amal managed to turn heads in her pricey outfit (which included a pair of $1,395 pants) while speaking out about sex trafficking at a Dallas fundraising luncheon. Unfortunately, sources say that even though the event raised more than $1 million dollars, Amal didn't contribute anything herself. During the New Friends New Life luncheon Amal also discussed crimes against journalism and how her passion is what gives her the drive to help her clients. Local reports say that even though the conversation sometimes shifted to questions about her husband George, Amal tried to keep focused on the worldwide issue of sex trafficking. Statistics show that over 27 million people could be enslaved throughout the world, including the United States. Writer Joanne Wolf wrote rather sarcastically, "Ironically, Amal could have contributed a million dollars herself, simply by forgoing a few phone-calls to Saks Fifth Avenue, but then there would be no publicity so scrap that idea." It is unknown if and how much money Amal contributed to the cause, as a rep for the lawyer has not made any comments about the report. Keep up with Enstars for all the latest news on Amal Clooney and all of your favorite celebrities right here. Jamie Dornan might not be on the fast track to getting an Oscar just yet, but it looks like he might get another very important honor in his home country, and that's having his image showcased on a bus. There's a new report that says the on-screen Christian Grey is battling it out with other fellow Northern Irish stars for the Translink Metro Legends title in Belfast. According to Belfast Live on Friday, Dornan - who is fast became a household name thanks to his role in last year's megahit 50 Shades of Grey is competing with hometown celebrities Eamonn Holmes, Stephen Nolan, Wayne McCullough, Barra Best and Christine Lampard to see who should be crowned this year's Translink Metro Legend. The site says that the campaign was launched by the transportation hub. They are asking the public to help pick two Belfast "legends" to be features on a Metro double-decker bus. And while Dornan himself has not made any comments about the competition just yet, television star Eamonn Holmes has said that he is quite honored with the nomination on twitter. They might name a Bus after me in Belfast .... is that a Good thing? As you can see I'm excited at the prospect https://t.co/78cB6Gsik5 Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) April 11, 2016 So far it looks like Dornan might just win the title as his fans have taken to the Metro's multiple social media accounts to vote for their favorite actor. Keep up with Enstars for all the latest news on Jamie Dornan and all of your favorite Hollywood celebrities right here. Malaga, Spain - April 17, 2016 - Today, at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, an international research team presented the preliminary results of a new study which aimed to determine whether the predictive value of a past major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) for future MOF changed with time. They studied a database of 118,872 men and women born between 1907 and 1935 who were part of the Reykjavik Study during 1967-1991. Data on all fractures from participant entry into the study until December 31, 2012 were extracted. Of the 5039 patients who experienced one or more major osteoporotic fractures and were included in the analysis, 1919 patients experienced a second fracture. The analysis showed: The risk of a second major osteoporotic fracture after a first increased by 4% for each year of age and was 41% higher for women than men. The risk of a second major osteoporotic fracture was greatest immediately after the first fracture. Although the risk thereafter decreased with time, it remained higher than the population risk throughout follow-up. One year after the first major osteoporotic fracture the risk of a second fracture was 3 times higher than that risk amongst those who had not experienced a fracture. After 10 years this risk was still elevated, at 2 times the risk in the non-fracture population but was lower than at one year. Presenting author Prof. Nicholas C. Harvey of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, stated, "The results of our study show that the risk of further fracture after a first major osteoporotic fracture is greatest immediately following the first event, with a declining, but still increased, risk in subsequent years. These results suggest that pharmacological treatment for secondary fracture prevention should be considered during the period immediately following a first fracture." The results of this study support international efforts to promote secondary fracture prevention in clinics worldwide. Studies have shown that half of all individuals who suffer a hip fracture have already come to clinical attention because of a prior fragility fracture. All too often the broken bone is simply 'repaired' and the patient is sent home without proper diagnosis and management of the underlying cause of the first fracture. It is estimated that approximately 80% of patients who suffer a first fracture are never diagnosed and treated. In order to address this serious problem, the implementation of coordinated systems of secondary fracture prevention has become a major health-policy focus of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) through its Capture the Fracture initiative: http://www.capturethefracture.org ### Reference: OC35 Imminent Risk of Major Osteoporotic Fracture After Fracture (Reykjavik Study) N. C. Harvey, H. Johansson, K. Siggeirsdottir, A. Oden, V. Gudnason, E. McCloskey, G. Sigurdsson, J. A. Kanis Abstract book: WCO-IOF-ESCEO World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, 14 -17 April 2016, Malaga, Spain Osteoporosis International, Volume 27/ Suppl 1/ 2016 About World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2016): Held jointly by IOF and ESCEO, the Congress is taking place in Malaga, Spain from April 14-17,2016. It is the world's largest annual forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of bone, muscle and joint disorders, including sarcopenia and frailty. The next Congress will be held in Florence, Italy from March 23-26, 2017. For complete information visit http://www.wco-iof-esceo.org #OsteoCongress About IOF: The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers, leading companies, as well as more than 234 patient, medical and research societies in 99 locations, work together to make bone, joint and muscle health a worldwide heath care priority. http://www.iofbonehealth.org / http://www.facebook.com/iofbonehealth / https://twitter.com/iofbonehealth About ESCEO: The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to a close interaction between clinical scientists dealing with rheumatic disorders, pharmaceutical industry developing new compounds in this field, regulators responsible for the registration of such drugs and health policy makers, to integrate the management of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis within the comprehensive perspective of health resources utilization. The objective of ESCEO is to provide practitioners with the latest clinical and economic information, allowing them to organize their daily practice, in an evidence-based medicine perspective, with a cost-conscious perception. http://www.esceo.org After a stroke, there is inflammation in the damaged part of the brain. Until now, the inflammation has been seen as a negative consequence that needs to be abolished as soon as possible. But, as it turns out, there are also some positive sides to the inflammation, and it can actually help the brain to self-repair. "This is in total contrast to our previous beliefs", says Professor Zaal Kokaia from Lund University in Sweden. Zaal Kokaia, together with Professor of Neurology Olle Lindvall, runs a research group at the Lund Stem Cell Center that, in collaboration with colleagues at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, is responsible for these findings. Hopefully, these new data will lead to new ways of treating stroke in the future. The study was recently published in the international Journal of Neuroscience. When stroke occurs, the nerve cells in the damaged area of the brain die, causing an inflammation that attracts cells from the immune system. Among them you find monocytes -- a type of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow. The monocytes travel to the inflamed area, and here they develop into macrophages that clear out any dead tissue. But this is not all that they do: they also secrete substances that help the brain repair the damage. "This is what we, together with Michal Schwartz's research group in Israel, have been able to show", says Zaal Kokaia. Most stroke patients recover at least partly over time. This spontaneous improvement is well known, but not its exact cause. The Lund researchers now believe that the improvement is partly due to the substances released by the immune cells. In their study, they actually performed the opposite: in animal model of stroke they were able to ablate monocytes from the blood. Mice with decreased number of circulating monocytes were much less successful in their recovery from stroke than mice whose immune system was functioning as normal. Today's treatment against stroke primarily involves dissolving or removing the blood clot that caused the stroke. However, such treatments must be performed in the very early phase after the insult, which means that most stroke patients are too late to receive it. A future treatment method -- one that could be based on the Lund researchers' new findings and that aims to promote self-healing -- could be implemented later. This treatment could start at some point within the first few weeks, rather than within the first few hours after a stroke. The Lund researchers have focused on what happens in the brain during this later stage. Among other things, they were the first to show that, after a stroke, the brain produces new nerve cells from its own stem cells. They now want to proceed with animal experiments to see if the self-healing can be improved by adding more monocytes to the brain, or by stimulating the production of monocytes in bone marrow. "Obviously, there is a difference between mice and humans, but there is no indication that our brains function differently in this regard", says Olle Lindvall. He further argues that this new insight concerning the positive effects of inflammation could also be applied to other diseases. The Lund research group's collaborators from Israel have obtained similar results in cases of spinal cord injury. "This is no less than a paradigm shift within research, as inflammation has in many instances been seen as a purely negative phenomenon that should be combatted using any means available. We now realise that this view is much too simplistic", says Olle Lindvall. ### Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Contribute to Spontaneous Long-Term Functional Recovery after Stroke in Mice The Journal of Neuroscience, 13 April 2016, doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4317-15.2016 http://www.jneurosci.org/content/36/15/4182.short Contact Professor Zaal Kokaia Lund University Tel 46-46-222-02-76; 46-70-536-59-17 Email zaal.kokaia@med.lu.se The new model will allow the new groups from the beginning of 2017, to request the Minister for Agriculture and Food to levy properties in their region, to be matched by the State Government to conduct declared pest control activities. , , , , . Fayetteville mother says four charged in son's killing were his friends The mother-of-two is struggling to understand not just how her son could be gone so quickly, but why his friends turned on him. Michael Fassbender swore at Sophie Turner the first time he met her. Sophie Turner The 'Game of Thrones' actress was "nervous" about meeting the 39-year-old actor when she joined the cast of 'X-Men: Apocalypse' but knew they'd get on well when he greeted her with a rude gesture. She said: "I was also about meeting Michael Fassbender, but [on my first day on set] I looked over and he gave me the middle finger, jokingly, and I thought, 'We're going to get on.' " Sophie also got on well with "down-to-earth" Jennifer Lawrence and the 'Joy' star even looked after her when she fell ill. She told Britain's Marie Claire magazine: "Despite being one of the most famous actresses in the world, she's so down to earth. One day I got sick and she was looking after me, constantly checking up on me, getting me tablets. She was like a big sister." The 20-year-old star was signed to the next instalment of the superhero film late last year and has admitted she burst into tears as soon as she received the call from her management telling her she'd secured the gig. Asked what she did as soon as she found out, she explained: "I rang my mum and she started crying, then I started crying. It was crazy. Then my phone started blowing up." Vogue Williams wants to have a baby. Vogue Williams The 30-year-old model-and-presenter - who has been single since splitting from husband Brian McFadden last year - is keen to start a family in the next five years and admitted she feels envious that her brother has just become a father. She said: "I would definitely like a baby in the next five years, but I'm only 30 so I still have plenty of time. "My brother recently had a baby daughter, which makes me feel quite jealous. "But for now, I'm a proud auntie and that's how I'll get my baby fix." Vogue and Brian are still on good terms, and she admits she never expected their marriage to end. She said "We're good friends and are still in touch. We talk every week and we have our dog, Winston. We both love him and we share custody of him. "Like any break-up, it's been painful. This isn't what I expected my life to be like, but once you get used to hanging out with yourself and being OK with it, it's fine. "It's taken me a year but now I feel like I'm in the best place I've been in." And the Irish model hasn't ruled out marrying again in the future. She told Closer magazine: "I still have the same views on marriage. Put it this way, I didn't ever get married to get divorced. "I still think it's a lovely thing and my feelings haven't really changed." Chris Hemsworth kept "cracking up" while filming 'Ghostbusters'. Chris Hemsworth Hemsworth - who plays receptionist Kevin in the upcoming reboot - couldn't keep a straight face because his co-stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon were so funny in their improvisations. He said: "There's some nice role reversal there and I'm such a fan of those women. "During shooting I spent more time cracking up and trying to keep a straight face, and there'll be more outtakes from that than anything else I've ever made. "This is highly improvised work - they just kept the camera rolling for hours." Chris was initially opposed to the idea of a remake of the 80s classic, but when he heard about the gender role-reversal, he was desperate to be involved. He admitted: "When I heard they were doing a male 'Ghostbusters' I thought, 'No they can't do that, it's sacrilegious, it can't be remade.' "Then when I heard it was being done with a different spin and a female cast, I knew it was going to be something unique. So when I was offered it, I immediately thought, 'Awesome'." The Australian hunk can next be seen in 'Snow White and the Huntsman' prequel 'Huntsman: Winter's War' and was pleased he got an opportunity to return to the saga. He told Gay Times magazine: "I loved the script the first time round and it came right off the back of 'Thor'. "There were things I liked that we achieved and things I thought we could have done better in the next one. "So having another opportunity means you really get to explore things that you may have missed. "This time round, there's a lot more humour and a larger sense of fun and adventure to it. The first film definitely had a darker palette and style." Hong Kongs subway operator, Mass Transit Railway Corp, has invented perhaps one of the worlds most successful business models by selling land above or adjacent to its railway stations to property developers. Across the Sham Chun River, China Vanke wants to kill two birds with one stone by adopting this railway plus property model in Shenzhen to quickly increase its land bank and, more importantly, fend off a hostile takeover attempt by Baoneng, a little-known financial conglomerate. Baoneng, which is controlled by low-key founder Yao Zhenhua, became China Vankes largest shareholder in December after building up its stake in less than six months. Soon after, Vanke chairman Wang Shi (pictured) publicly voiced his discontent, questioning Baonengs credibility. Our reputation is Vankes biggest asset, Wang said at an internal meeting on December 17. The background of Baoneng may lead to a change in our credit rating, which [has helped] us to secure inexpensive funding internationally and domestically. On December 18 Baoneng hit back, calling the groups share purchases entirely legitimate and emphasising that it believed strongly in market forces. Public documents show that Vanke, which is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges, has net assets of Rmb136.3 billion ($21 billion) compared with Baonengs Rmb120 billion. Investors first got wind of a possible takeover battle in July of last year when Vanke announced that Foresea Life Insurance had acquired more than 5% of its shares. By late August, Baoneng, through its subsidiaries Foresea Life Insurance and Shenzhen Jushenghua, had bought more than 20% of Vanke, a level that made it the biggest shareholder of Vanke, surpassing state-owned China Resources Group. At the last count, it had a combined 24.26% stake to China Resourcess 15.29%. Baonengs stake building in Chinas largest homebuilder wowed investors, as it marks a new milestone in the history of corporate China, with a private company trying to wrest control from a state-owned enterprise. China Resources had been Vankes largest shareholder until last August and had been so for about 15 years. Vanke effectively brought in China Resources in 1999, five years after fending off another takeover attempt, this time by a consortium led by Junan Securities, which later merged with Guotai Securities. Through its partnership with China Resources, Vanke gained more financial firepower to expand nationwide, and with considerable success too. The companys Shenzhen share price has jumped by more than 38 times since 1999, compared with a 5.6 times increase in the Shenzhen Composite Index over the same period. Hostile takeovers are pretty rare in China because most companies are controlled by either the state or by single tycoons or families, which makes the Vanke drama all the more intriguing. The cultural preference also is for closed-door negotiations rather than public confrontation. The great thing about seeing a transaction like that [is that it shows] the market is getting more competitive, David Blumenfeld, a partner at law firm Paul Hastings, told FinanceAsia. Ten years ago, a situation like that wouldnt happen without discussions with the government regulators, he said. Now it appears to be less and less so. In China, Vanke and its founder Wang Shi are household names. Vanke started off as a trader of animal feed in 1984, when the government first started under Deng Xiaoping to encourage private businesses as part of the reform and opening experiment. Today Vanke is Chinas biggest homebuilder with a market capitalisation of Rmb172 billion ($27 billion). Its property sales jumped by 32.5% year-on-year to a record Rmb179.3 billion in 2015. Wang, who has twice scaled Mount Everest, is often referred to as one of the most charismatic Chinese businessmen. He is also proud of his management style, professing to have never bribed any officials or hoarded land to bid up house prices, historically common practices in the Chinese real estate industry. But now, at the age of 64, Wang is embroiled in a struggle for control of the company he founded. Target: Shenzhen ONGOING BATTLE The battle is still ongoing. Shareholders of Vanke agreed on March 17 to extend the suspension of its Shenzhen-listed shares for a further three months. However, China Vankes second-largest shareholder, state-owned China Resources, then said on March 19 that the manner in which Vanke had struck a deal with Shenzhen Metro Group was not ideal as it should have informed the board members. Vanke said a non-binding agreement did not need board approval, raising a question mark over whether China Resources will support the proposed $9.3 billion acquisition when it eventually comes to a vote. In a preliminary accord signed by the two parties on March 13, Vanke said it would acquire Shenzhen Metro Groups property projects, mostly atop subway stations in the booming tier-one city. Vanke intends to fund the deal by issuing new shares worth as much as Rmb60 billion ($9.25 billion), potentially making the state-owned firm its white knight with 20% of the enlarged share capital. According to Credit Suisses calculations, that would then leave Shenzhen Metro as Vankes new No.1 shareholder. Vanke vice-president Tan Huajie said at a Hong Kong media briefing after the deal was announced that the partnership with Shenzhen Metro Group would allow Vanke to backfill a scalable portfolio at a reasonable price. Inspiration: HK's MTR Shenzhen had 131 metro stations at the end of 2015 and plans to increase that number to 371 by 2030. Tan said land prices in tier-one cities such as Shenzhen had surged significantly in the past six months as that land prices atop metro stations are more resilient in case of crashing markets. The deal is still subject to approval from shareholders as well as from other government bodies including the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Should Vanke get the green light from all of them, then Credit Suisse expects the share placement to take place in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. But everything is still to play for. How the saga unfolds will test Beijings willingness to allow market forces to determine outcomes, something President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said he favours. Should Vanke fail in its defence, enabling Baoneng to gain boardroom control it would encourage other potential predators to try their luck with other Chinese companies. DUBAI, UAE, April 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bid Capital appoints its new Managing Partner, Mr. Tariq Mateen Khan, who will be responsible for all financial institution related projects in the MENA and US region. Mr. Tariq brings over 30 years of experience in the global financial institutions market and has worked in countries such as EMEA, APAC and USA. He specializes in the areas of payment services, loans syndications and corporate and SME banking, credit risk management. Prior to joining Bid Capital, Mr. Tariq was the CEO of Habib Bank in New York USA. He has also held senior banking positions with American Express Bank, JP Morgan Chase and Mashreq bank. Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Tariq shared, "Success requires the right people, a strong focus on results and on building long-term client and partner relationships. Dr. Abdulrahman and I share the same values for success and I look forward to leading the company to build upon these values and take our business to new heights." Dr. Abdulrahman Al Ansari, Bid Capital's Chairman said, "I'm very happy to have Mr. Tariq on board. Tariq brings with him sound business and operational acumen, solid experience and outstanding leadership qualities, precisely the attributes required at this stage." "I am looking forward to working closely with Tariq and supporting this strategic approach to achieving our growth targets," he added. Dr. Abdulrahman brings with him more than 18 years of diverse retail and investment banking experience. He was the CEO at FCS and Fairfax Investment bank and held various senior positions in banks like Dubai Islamic Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, ABN Amro and Mashreq Bank. He is also the personal advisor to some of the Royal Family members in the GCC. About Bid Capital Bid Capital Management Consultancy is an exclusive boutique advisory and management firm which engages in advisory and business consultancy services dealing primarily with corporations, institutional clients, government and government related entities and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI). Bid Capital aims to participate in the ongoing economic development of the region by providing the right combination of experience, management skills and financial know-how. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.bidcapitals.com Or email us at info@bidcapitals.com or rajat@bidcapitals.com for any future queries.Telephone: +9714-348-3882. OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Nature's Touch Organic Berry Cherry Blend, a frozen fruit product, sold exclusively at Costco stores, has been blamed for the outbreak of Hepatitis A infections in three provinces in Canada. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 12 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported so far - 9 in Ontario, 2 in Quebec and 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador. The product implicated in the Hepatitis A outbreak bears the UPC 8 73668 00179 1, has a 'Best Before' date of March 15, 2018, and was sold exclusively at Costco warehouse locations in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Nature's Touch is recalling Nature's Touch brand Organic Berry Cherry Blend from the marketplace. Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled product. 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. MEHSANA, India Protests by an Indian caste demanding the release of one of its leaders turned violent on Sunday, as police fought running street battles with stone-throwing demonstrators and detained hundreds. Statewide marches in Gujarat calling for the freeing of Hardik Patel, a young leader of the Patel community who has been in jail since last October on sedition charges, turned violent in the town of Mehsana. Police fired tear gas, deployed water cannon and staged baton charges against protesters. The local administrator imposed a curfew in Mehsana. Across the state more than 400 protesters were detained. At least two dozen people were injured in Mehsana, NDTV said in a report that could not immediately be confirmed. "The internet has been jammed so that no rumours are spread through WhatsApp and other social sites," said Mehsana District Collector Lochan Sehra. "Peace should be maintained throughout the city." Hardik Patel, 22, emerged overnight last year as leader of a mass movement demanding more government jobs and college places for the Patel -- or Patidar -- community that makes up 14 percent of Gujarat's 60 million population. Last year's protests caught the state and federal governments off guard, and challenged the promise of new job opportunities made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who ran Gujarat for 13 years before winning the 2014 general election. Earlier this year the Jat land-owning caste launched mass protests in another Indian state, Haryana, only backing down when the authorities yielded to their demands for more jobs and opportunities to study. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Louise Heavens) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New Delhi: After imposing total prohibition in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar plans to visit a number of states including Uttar Pradesh, where assembly elections are due next year, to lend support to anti-liquor movements as his party JD(U) seeks to widen its reach. Kumar, who is believed to be having a strong support base among women voters in the state, has got invitations from a number of women organisations engaged in anti-liquor movements in UP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Party General Secretary KC Tyagi said the chief minister has agreed to visit these states and hold interaction with women organisations which will be finalised after the national council meeting of JD(U) in Patna on 23 April, which will give its approval to Kumar's election as party president at party's national executive earlier. "The women organizations, many of whom are associated with Gandhian and Sarvoday movements, have invited Kumar. "Invitations are from Jaipur in Rajasthan, Wardha in Maharashtra, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand and some places from Uttar Pradesh. The chief minister will be visiting these states in May," Tyagi told PTI. Around a fortnight ago, Nitish Kumar government had announced a complete ban on liquor, domestic and spicy (masaledaar), as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in Bihar. Women are believed to be somewhat a caste neutral constituency, which Kumar has wooed for quite some time starting with bicycle scheme for school girls in Bihar, which has been a key campaign issue of JD(U) in last few assembly elections in the state. Besides, steps like giving 50 percent reservation to women in panchayat polls, reserving 35 percent seats for women in government jobs and initiating several pro-women schemes like Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana, Akshar Anchal Yojana, Jeevika and Mukhya Mantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana are also cited by the party as proofs of its commitment to women empowerment. The understanding in JD(U) is that alcoholism being a major issue in the country particularly in rural India and women in the lower rungs of society being the worst sufferer of the rampant problem, Kumar's anti-alcohol stand puts him in good stead in these regions and gives the party a plank, which cuts across caste and community barriers. "JD(U) will kick off its social and political outreach programmes soon after 23 April during which over a thousand-member party National Council will put its stamp of approval on Nitish Kumar's election as party president in party's national executive meeting last week. "After 23 April, the ongoing process of merger with some parties as well as alliance with some others will also get a head start. "We cannot afford to wait longer. We have to start public campaign in Uttar Pradesh from May. Pushing for total prohibition will be a key theme for us," Tyagi said. With liquor being a major source of revenue for states, imposing prohibition will be a herculean as Kumar himself admitted some days back, comparing the feat of banning alcohol to scaling Mount Everest. While critics have questioned the feasibility of Kumar's liquor ban move, the Bihar chief minister is confident that the voice for liquor ban has begun to rise in other states. He also referred to the announcements of AIADMK and DMK in the run-up to the on-going Tamil Nadu polls to go for a liquor ban. Kumar feels that states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, which share border with Bihar, would see similar demands to ban alchohal there. In two of these states, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, the JD(U) is eyeing big. In Jharkhand it is finalising the process of merger of Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha while in Uttar Pradesh, Ajit Singh's RLD will join it besides alliance with smaller parties like Peace Party and a faction of Apna Dal. Beijing: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday arrived in Beijing on his first official visit to China for high-level talks with top military officials to consolidate ties between the armed forces of the two countries. Parrikar arrived from Shanghai by a special aircraft and will hold talks with top Chinese officials, including Defence Minister Gen Chang Wanquan and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Gen Fan Changlong on Sunday. He is also due to call on Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Later, he would visit China's recently integrated western command military headquarters which has jurisdiction over border with India. Parrikar is accompanied by senior officials from army and navy, besides the defence ministry. Indian officials said the visit is aimed at further consolidating the defence relations between the two countries which showed considerable improvement in the last few years with periodic high-level interactions between the two armed forces. Parrikar's five-day visit will be immediately followed by a visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to hold the 19th Boundary Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi later next week. Doval and Yang, who are designated Special Representatives for boundary talks, also have a mandate to discuss entire gamut of bilateral issues. The contentious issue of China blocking India's attempts in the UN to ban Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e- Mohammad's chief Masood Azhar is expected to figure in their talks. Before leaving for Beijing, Parrikar visited Urban Planning Exhibition Centre in Shanghai where he was briefed by the Chinese officials on the urban planning achievements in China's biggest metropolis which has a population of over 22 million. The briefing focused on use of innovative technologies and smart city transportations, Indian Consulate in Shanghai said in a statement. He also addressed members of the Indian community at a meeting held at the Shanghai Consulate where he spoke of his government's "steadfast commitment" at securing interests of Indians living abroad. The defence minister said there was a significant momentum in India's economy, which had been successful in attracting large investments under the 'Make in India' initiative. He also answered questions from the audience on issues ranging from India's self-reliance in defence production, education to high-end technologies and retaining skilled talented students, the statement said. Editor's note: On Friday, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Kerala government and the Devaswom Boards in Kerala on a petition by Subramanian Swamy and TG Mohandas seeking to abolish the boards and end the state's control over temples. In light of this development, Firstpost is republishing a three-part series analysing why it might be in state's interest to give up control of religious shrines and temples. This is the concluding segment of a three-part series on Hinduism, godmen and the judiciary The Supreme Court appears to have made the right sounds when it announced that temples could not be taken over by governments in perpetuity. The apex court sent out a similar message when it forbade the government from taking charge of the gold that was found in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. It stated that the gold belonged to the temple and the community, and not to the government. Currently, the gold is being looked after by a special committee constituted by the apex court. The apex court did the same thing when it passed an order nullifying the diktat of the Tamil Nadu government regarding the takeover of the Chidambaram Trust. But there are times when the Court has unwittingly allowed some of the most retrograde decisions to be taken. A good case in point is the way in which the Supreme Court allowed the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to reserve an area of 150 km radius around the Niyamgiri hills which was considered sacred by the local population. To be fair the Supreme Court only ordered the government to respect the decision of the local panchayat in September 2013. The 12 gram panchayats (village councils) in turn, prodded by the MOEF passed a resolution stating that there should be no mining within a 150 km radius from the hilltop of Niyam Raja, the presiding deity of the tribals in that region. The panchayats claimed that the entire Niyamgiri hill range is sacred for us and the source of our livelihood. What the Court did not take into account was that a 150-km radius translates into 70,000 square km. Compare this with the geographical spread of some of the most sacred places in the world. Vatican City, for instance, accounts for barely 0.4 sq km. And do bear in mind that Christianity is the worlds biggest religion if one goes by the number of followers it has. The holiest of shrines for Muslims, the second most populous faith, Masjid al-Haram, which contains the venerated Kaaba, is spread over just 0.4 sq km. Unlike most religions, this is where Muslims from all over the world congregate at a fixed time of the year. Yet, it has not seen any reason to claim rights over more space. Tirupati city, not just the temple, accounts for 24 sq km. And this includes the schools, the colleges and the temples that exist within this area. And this despite the fact that Tirupati has a higher density of population than many of the countries in which the above religious centres exist. So what makes Niyamgiri more important than the rest of the world? Was the MoEF stark raving mad when it decided to support such a resolution? Or does it have something to do with the alleged Jayanthi tax that many believed was the guiding principle for granting environmental clearances for projects? Consider the implications of such a move. What would happen if a tribe settled along the banks of the Ganges or the Yamuna were to claim that the entire river is sacred for us and the source of our livelihood and hence should not be exploited for development? So, should one ban cities along the banks of the rivers? Should one scrap the Ganga and Yamuna expressways? What if another tribe that dwells near the Himalayas echoes similar views and claims that the entire mountain range is sacred for us and the source of our livelihood? No sane government would buy such an argument. That is why the apex court needs to be more careful before granting rights to tribals that nobody in the entire world has. If the tribals have rights, so do industrialists. So do people who want development. Having a blinkered perspective on religious rights can be both vexatious and pernicious. Also read, Part I: Does Hindusim produce more godmen than other religions? Part II: The Supreme Court's attempts to rescue Indian temples A senior BJP leader, campaigning in Kolkata, may well have put his finger on the people's pulse. When he attacked Mamata Banerjee and the Left-Congress Front in equal measure, the crowd response was tepid. But when he attacked the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for 60 percent of his speech, people applauded. At 75 percent, there was thunderous applause. This was at the earlier phases of polling, but there is no reason to believe that the trend will change before counting day. In fact, if the violence witnessed during the earlier phases continues, and the stuffing of ballot boxes by 'ghost' voters after polling hours multiplies, it will become clear that the TMC is nervous. It is brazening it out through violence, which has now become associated with Mamata's party in the popular imagination. Does this mean there was no violence during 34 years of CPM rule? A left liberal intellectual explains it succinctly: "CPM was more disciplined because it was cadre based; cadres knew the area and its leaders, the ones who had to be attacked. TMC goons who have grown during the five years of TMC rule, enter areas they may not know and attack everybody. There is, therefore, much more bloodshed." There is universal fear. "Laat khayega ki biryani khayega" (Would you like to be kicked or served biryani?) An "aabdar" or barman at one of Kolkata's many clubs, mimics the TMC's neighbourhood tough. Aabdar is derived from Urdu - one who serves drinks. "This time we are quiet, but we shall show our hands at the polling booth." He is clearly among the urban Muslims still loyal to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM). Otherwise Muslims across the board have no grievance with the Mamata. In fact, they quite adore her for the way she created an almighty movement in West Bengal on the land issue in Singur and Nandigram between 2006 and 2007. In both these efforts at industrialisation by the CPM, poorest Muslims, among others, would have lost their livelihood and property, "had Didi not intervened". That is where she hit the political jackpot. She had lost the 2006 assembly poll but she used Singur and Nandigram as fulcrums to turn her fortunes around. She won 70 percent of the 54,000 Panchayat seats in 2008. In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, Left Front came down to 15 seats from 42 in 2004. In 2014, they had only two seats. Mamata won 38. Now comes the "vote share" punditry on which those who wish to see the back of Mamata in Bengal base their calculations. Even at her peak Mamata's vote share was only 40 percent. The CPM was 30 percent and Congress, 10. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have won just two seats but its vote share was 17 percent. A very arithmetical argument is: CPM's 30 percent and Congress 10 makes the alliance equal to Mamata's 40. The question is: Which way will the BJP's 17 percent split? In a complex sociological turf, arithmetic is inadequate to accurately calculate electoral outcomes. To this comes a quick riposte. In Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav held onto his vote bank. After the Nitish Kumar-BJP combination ran its course, it was the Nitish-Lalu combination that triumphed. Through grit, courage and a refusal to lose, once Mamata ascended the gaddi, she faced her biggest challenge: How to cope with the CPM cadres? Violent tactics to overcome this handicap has become a strategy. Willy nilly she must keep riding the tiger. A group of thugs, cheering her along. Some of these cheering goons have formed an irregular system of co-operatives, called syndicates. Imagine the new, garish, multi-storeyed buildings near Kolkata airport. Obviously, land has been acquired. "Land losers" have been given a novel compensation. They will supply all the materials used in the buildings. The infection has spread. No enterprise can take to wing without the syndicate's "blessings". A senior Bengali academic from the US, confident that many in Mamata's administration had once been his students, returned to Kolkata to have his ancestral house repaired. Work progressed until one day a dozen peak-capped TMC volunteers materialised. How had work begun without their knowledge? The professor and his wife called up a powerful minister, their student. The minister said he was helpless because the syndicate operated on the directives of a different minister. This system has replaced the Left cadres. Indeed, out-of-job cadres have switched sides and joined the syndicate system. There is great consternation all around. Obviously, there is loss of support for her. This explains the conventional wisdom across the board: She will return with a vastly reduced margin. If it is generally accepted that she is on a down-hill slope, who can say with certainty where she may land? She will, however, not lose support among Muslims who are over 30 percent of the state's population. Talk to Samsuzaman Ansari, local leader in Matia Burj, where Awadh's last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled by the British in 1856, and he will list all that Didi has done for the community. Did not the Left Front government also give them protection? Yes, they gave us protection but they also gave us a mantra: "Gai ka gosht khaao/CPM ke geet gaao" (Eat beef to your heart's content; but sing the CPM's praises). That was all. There is populism all around. She has improved on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's rural schemes not just Rs two per kg of rice but even gold bangles for girls. For the Left Front and the Congress this could well be their last battle for survival in the state. They have joined hands in Bengal even though they are in direct conflict in Kerala. There may be no morality in all of this, but is it practical commonsense? Hyped to the skies, the first ever television interview with Narendra Modi this election season ended up feeling like being stuck in someone's home movie.The first part of the six-part interview of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on NewsXhad little by way of untold revelations and way more of gyan for those who cannot remember Modi's first term. Conducted in a dimly-lit environment, the interview (or monologue?) showed Modi travelling down the memory lane in a sort of stream of consciousness where the questions were edited out and the interviewer remained resolutely off camera. It made for a very puzzling "interview" experience. The interviewer Madhu Kishwar came on camera finally but only after the interview was over to talk about her experience of interviewing the BJP prime ministerial candidate. Here are some of the highlights of what Modi chose to share. On taking over as Gujarat CM "When I took over as Gujarat CM, the media was hostile towards me. The general belief was that Modi looted Keshubhai and used his connections to dump Keshubhai Patel. The negative media coverage against me when I took over as Gujarat CM suited the Congress the most." His secret of how to run an efficient government Modi felt that he could not last through the culture of files and sought a different method of governance. "My inner voice told me that I cannot run the government in an academic style. I am not a Robin Hood kind of personality. I am a good listener. I learn 30 percent by reading but retain 70 percent by listening. I didn't believe in going through a heap of files," said Modi who attended sessions at IIM on management to get up to speed. How 'bhai' became saheb' Giving an insight to his humble upbringing, Modi said he was uncomfortable with senior bureaucrats addressing him as 'saheb'. "I felt awkward when senior bureaucrats addressed me as saheb. I was used to Narendra bhai, Narendra ji," Modi said. Man of action Modi believed in actions more than words. "The message of my sincerity was delivered within 100 days to taking over as Gujarat CM through my actions," Modi said while explaining how he dealt with issues like austerity and increasing the productivity of government officials in his first few days as the state's chief minister. On empowering bureaucrats Modi believes that red tapism tends to slow down the process of governance. He felt that most acutely while dealing with disaster management in the aftermath of the Bhuj earthquake. He felt that officers on the ground should have the authority to take immediate decisions without needing to wait to take approval from the top. "Empowerment was my basic priority. I empowered the officers to take decisions instead waiting for approval from the top," Modi told NewsX. Those who were expecting him to get to the contentious issues of his tenure in Gujarat will have to wait a little longer. Rupa Subramanya, co-author of Indianomix tweeted "Ok folks not a joke. Multi-part series of the Modi interview. Tomorrow we move to day 3 of his CMship... Exciting!!" Stay tuned. As the Congress Tamil Nadu unit gathers up its flagging resources to battle 41 constituencies in alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) next month, one candidate, in particular, is threatening to go rogue. The Press Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and former Youth Congress leader S Jothimani has gone public, airing grievances about the Aravakurichy seat in Karur district being denied to her. The seat, which is held by a sitting DMK MLA KC Palanisamy, has been retained by the Dravidian party in the seat sharing agreement. Speaking to The Lede, Jothimani lashed out at the Tamil Nadu Congress President EVKS Elangovan for not bargaining hard for that particular seat. All over India, educated youth, youth who do not have any opportunity and are in the lower rungs of the society should come up as leaders that is the goal of Rahulji, she stated. That is the reason why many youngsters and I contested in the two previous polls. But, the approach, deeds and the way the seats were shared shows that the TNCC president EVKS Elangovan is completely against the goal of Rahul Gandhi. In this manner, he has done a grave injustice to the growth of the next crop of youngsters to lead the party, she stated. Jothimani had, by herself, announced that she would contest for the Congress from her native Aravakurichy seat earlier this year, and had even begun canvassing aggressively for votes since January. She has been steadfast in conducting door-to-door canvassing in the constituency, has visited farmlands to ask for votes and to playgrounds in this area to persuade the youth to vote her in. Jothimanis face also beams from calendars hanging in the homes of many in her chosen constituency. Jothimani, who had earlier worked closely with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi while in the Youth Congress, said she believed that Rahul would somehow intervene and get her the Aravakurichy seat. She states that she was shocked when the list of 41 constituencies allotted to the Congress was announced and Aravakurichy did not find a mention. Jothimani has taken the fight to social media, posting in her Facebook account There is no change in my contesting and this has reassured the people. Her followers have responded with support some comments on her timeline are as follows If it is a problem for you then it is also a problem affecting us; We will not sit back. Just tell us when to come and what to do and we will do it, they declare. Jothimani in turn posted Parties and their leaders can be bought with the fraudulent money from selling sand but the people cannot be bought that way. This has given me a sense of peace and surety. With the people's great affection and great support begins my Aravakurichy travel. The Congress President for Tamil Nadu was to blame for not landing the seat, charged Jothimani. Sources tell Firstpost that when seat sharing talks were on between the DMK and the Congress, DMK leaders pointed to Jothimanis antics. Congress state president EVKS Elangovan is mockingly said to have uttered - It is just her own enthusiasm. Jothimani contested from Karur constituency in the 2011 Assembly elections and also in the 2014 Parliamentary polls. She lost both times. This is why she has shifted back to her native Aravakurichy and is campaigning hard before even a promise of a ticket. The DMK is reluctant to part with the seat to the Congress since they already have a sitting MLA there. DMK MLA KC Palanisamy refused to comment on the issue, when contacted. Jothimani though is adamant. If necessary, I will contest as an independent candidate, she stated. It is evident that the state Congress president is fed up. Speaking to reporters on 9 April, EVKS Elangovan said, When the seat sharing talks started we decided to retain our own seats. So, we got our own 5 seats and Aravakurichy went to the DMK. They refused to part with it. It is a setback for Jothimani but she has to overcome that and work for the alliance candidate without rancour. He has also warned of severe action against Jothimani unless she changes her mind about contesting as an independent. Jothimani is unfazed in the face of such warnings. I do not know what he said to the press, but Elangovan has promised to try for Aravakurichy seat for me, she said. I am waiting for his decision. I will not change my decision for any reason. I have worked here for the last 20 years and as a Congress representative and I have made promises to them. If I back out at this stage it would dent the Congress credibility, she added. As per Rahul Gandhis direction I have taken a different route, a route of change in politics, she continued. Instead of the leaders nominating the candidates, the person desired by the people should be made the candidate, as Rahul Gandhi always reiterates. I am the desired candidate of the people of Aravakurichy, she said, dogged in her decision. The Congress, already weakened with the exit of former Union Cabinet Minister G K Vasan and his loyalists in 2014, is hoping to piggyback on the DMK in the upcoming elections in May. Recently, around 150 members of the Congress who had left with Vasan, rejoined the Congress along with senior Congress hand Peter Alphonse and former MP Viswanathan. They stated that they were unhappy with Vasans alliance with the Peoples Welfare Front (consisting of Vaiko, Thirumavalavan and the two Left parties) and would work hard to secure a win for the DMK-Congress alliance in the state. New Delhi: In the ongoing battle of political parties to claim BR Ambedkar as their own, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has shot up the next big volley. The Sangh Parivar will be organising a celebration of Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in the national capital in a big way at the Karnail Singh Stadium on Sunday. According to a senior RSS functionary, the objective of the celebration is to propagate the ideals of the Dalit icon among the masses, especially since there is so much politics going on in the name of Dalits. Prior to this, the Congress party had organised a tribute of their own in Nagpur on 11 April, which was seen as an attempt to counter the aggressive bid of the BJP and its ideological fountainhead RSS to usurp the legacy of the Dalit icon through its own brand of aggression. Last year, in its Pratinidhi Sabha (annual conclave), the RSS had taken the decision to celebrate Babasahebs 125th birth anniversary on a national level, which prompted others to also become active, a senior RSS functionary told Firstpost. RSS is not organizing the event in Delhi to gain any political mileage, but they intend to make the world aware about the great contributions of this Dalit icon in our nation building,his fight for the upliftment of the Dalits and his message of equality and social harmony, the RSS functionary said. Exactly a year ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had kicked-off Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations by laying the foundation stone of the BR Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi. For the first time in its history, the RSS has planned to take out processions, in the form of its traditional march-past by the Swayamsevaks, from three locations in the city Ambedkar Bhawan (Araam Bagh), Valmiki temple (Mandir Marg) and Hari Mandir School (Sadar Bazar) which will culminate at Karnail Singh Stadium around 6 pm on Sunday. A public rally has also been scheduled at the stadium. The gathering will be addressed by the RSS Sah Sarkaryavah, Krishna Gopal, who will speak on Babasahebs ideas on Samajik Samrasta (Social harmony). Recent incidents across the country have shown disturbing trends of social inequality and social disharmony. A lot of politics has also been played in the name of Dalits. We hope that Babasahebs message would bring social harmony to our society, the RSS functionary added. Despite of strong efforts by the RSS to show its affinity to Ambedkar, his grandson Prakash Ambedkar had recently remarked that the right-wing organization (RSS) will never be able to digest Ambedkars thinking and ideology, and that his views would be in conflict with the RSS philosophy asAmbedkar believed and taught an ideology that was against Hindu dominance. DrAmbedkar was very much on the left side and the RSS, on the other hand,stands for the complete opposite. The thinking of both the RSS and DrAmbedkar are conflicting of each other, Prakash Ambedkar had remarked while speaking on the 125th birth anniversary celebration of BR Ambedkar. Reacting sharply to this, the RSS had said, DrAmbedkar was everyones leader and should not be tagged as belonging to left or right. The Sangh Parivar has been trying for a long time to integrate Dalits under the broad Hindutva umbrella, which ultimately would help the BJP in expanding its voter base. The 17 April issue of the right-wing weekly - Organiser, has BR Ambedkar on its cover with the title, "Ultimate Unifier, Dr Ambedkar is erroneously projected as a divisive figure by certain vested interests but recognition of his contributions will finally prove to be unifier for Bharat." New Delhi: Illegal cash of over Rs 60 crore has been confiscated from the five states facing Assembly polls, with Tamil Nadu leading the list with seizures of Rs 24.55 crore. Even as polls have concluded in Assam and the third phase of voting is being held in West Bengal on Sunday, the Election Commission (EC)-appointed surveillance teams are taking action. The north-eastern state is still ranking second in the tally with Rs 12.33 crore having been seized there. In West Bengal, the figure stands at about Rs 12.14 crore, while Rs 10.41 crore has been seized in Kerala. Puducherry has seen seizures of about Rs 60.88 lakh, the latest EC data said. The cash seizures were made by EC-appointed special flying squads and surveillance teams and by officials drawn from the Income Tax Department. "The total progressive figure of seizures made till now is about Rs 60.03 crore. Some cash has been released after seizures in West Bengal and the figures have been compiled after excluding that. Polls in Assam are over now," a senior official said. The Model Code of Conduct for these polls came into force on 4 March after EC announced the schedule for the Assembly polls in five states. The first phase of polling was held on 4 April in Assam and West Bengal while the second part of that phase was conducted on 11 April. Three more phases of polls are due in West Bengal. Elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on 16 May. EC, as part of its measures to curb the use of black money in the polls, has deployed expenditure observers drawn from central revenue services like Income Tax and the Customs and Excise departments. To keep a tab on the huge cash expenditure during polls, EC has also asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Customs and Excise department and state police units to keep a strict vigil. It's been just over 24 hours and the world is still reeling from the shock of the horrific Paris attacks that took place in the French capital. It was the worst attack on French soil since World War 2 in 1945 and has left more than a 120 people dead. Facebook has since launched its security check feature and hundreds are being 'marked safe' to the relief of family and friends around the world. People across the networking site have been changing their profile pictures to the blue, white and red filter showing their solidarity and support with the victims and the French. The collective murmur of "nous sommes francais" echos throughout the statuses of countless social media users and news channels are providing 24-hour coverage. While the support and outrage of hundreds of thousands is a sign that this attack has shaken the world to realise the threat of the Islamic State is real in the western world, does changing our profile picture to the French flag or posting pictures from your France vacations and the Eiffel tower really make a difference? With Paris in mind, Lebanese users across Twitter and Facebook are wondering why their disaster didn't receive the same treatment. "No Facebook safety check or Obama address for #Beirut yesterday," one user Tweeted. "Sad but true." Nor did the bombings in Lebanon draw mass tweets from World leaders and celebrities, no live media blogs or 24-media coverage from Western media. Where were the Lebanese flag filters two days ago when suicide attacks killed 41? Or the Kenyan flag filters after the Al Qaeda attack at Garissa University in April that killed 150 in Kenya? Or when Boko Haram razed the town of Baja in Nigeria, killing more than 2,000 people. There was a collective silence from the west and the western media. Throughout 2015, thousands of similar attacks have occurred in Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Yemen, Cameroon, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey... the list is endless. But it was only after the Paris attacks that President Obama in a statement said, "This is an attack not just on Paris...this is an attack on all of humanity." Was the Garissa University attack not an attack on humanity? Is the Syrian conflict that is causing people to dislocate from their homes not an attack on humanity? It leaves us with the lasting question-- Did the reaction to the Paris attacks reach such a level of outrage because it happened in a European country? to European people? After the Charlie Hebdo shooting more than 40 world leaders and what officials claims were between 1.2 and 1.6 million people took part in a unity march to honor the 17 victims, the same will probably be done for the Paris attacks. At the heart of this debate lies the question: Is some life is more valuable than others, or by extension, European lives more valuable than those of the Syrians? the Lebanese? The 43 students that have been missing for over a year now in Mexico? France has sadly experienced what the Syrians and Iraqis have been experiencing for the last two years with the rise of the Islamic State. Over the last year, more than 700,000 requests for asylum have been submitted to European countries by refugees fleeing horrific violence and persecution in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries. Is that not enough to be considered worthy of global outrage? We cant change our profile pictures to express solidarity with one section of people when we ignore another. Don ka intezar to gyarah mulkon ki police kar rahi hain, lekin ek baat samajh lo, Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hain. It is not known whether Anubrata Mondal is a fan of Amitabh Bachchan but when asked if the Election Commission's order to put him on round-the-clock surveillance on polling day has inconvenienced him, the Trinamool Birbhum district president delivered a dialogue that reminded one of the 1978 Amitabh Bachchan-Zeenat Aman cult classic, Don. "I am under no surveillance," said the TMC leader whom Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee loving calls by his nickname, Keshto. "Nobody can put me under surveillance." And he was right. Just as the Don kept eluding the police, Mondal forced a deputy magistrate, eight paramilitary personnel and a videographer who were supposed to tail him 24x7 to chase thin air as he pillion rode a motorbike to a booth in Bolpur to cast his vote during the second phase of polling on Sunday in West Bengal Assembly elections. Across 13,645 polling stations in seven districts, 383 candidates' fate was on the line on Sunday and as curtains fell on second phase, 56 Assembly constituencies recorded 79 percent attendance, said provisional EC data, among a voter base of nearly 1.22 crore. Six of the seven districts Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, north Dinajpur, south Dinajpur, Darjeeling and Malda are in North Bengal where polling remained by and large peaceful. All the action was centred around the sole south Bengal district, Birbhum, and the TMC president remained the centre of all attention among a spate of reports of violence, voter intimidation and rigging from different parts of the area. Earliest report of violence came from Bolpur in Birbhum, Mondal's lair, where a BJP agent suffered head injury in clash. Unrest then spread in Ilambazar area where CPM agents came under attack. Altogether, there were reports of 6 BJP and 2 CPM workers getting injured in clashes and TMC activists were blamed for each of these incidents. Four have been arrested so far. Mondal set the pace with his Houdini act in the morning when he stepped out of the house and reached booth No. 186 and cast his vote with his daughter in tow. Even as he barged into the booth with a TMC logo dangling on his chest, in clear violation of polling norms, the EC's surveillance team was nowhere to be found. The deputy magistrate later told a local TV channel, ABP Ananda, that they failed to tail Mondal since he was riding a motorbike and there were too many media vehicles around him. With a look of despair writ large on his face, the deputy magistrate and his crack team cooled their heels at TMC's party office, waiting for the man, who they were supposed to shadow 24x7, to arrive. Mondal was in a belligerent mood though. Even as reports came pouring in of trouble from different parts of the district, the TMC strongman suggested that the incidents of violence were all rubbish. "Vote has been very peaceful, free and fair," a confident Keshto said, showing no signs of being under pressure. "There have been no incidents of violence. The one in Ilambazar was only exception, but it wasn't TMC's fault. The person who suffered head injury tripped, fell and hurt himself," Mondal was quoted, as saying in ABP Ananda. The EC has reportedly filed an FIR on account of Mondal's violation of polling norms by sporting party symbol while casting his vote. The TMC leader first dismissed the reports saying he didn't and that local TV channels were misleading people by showing "old footage", but he later changed his statement. "I know I am not supposed to. I did not notice it. It was an unintentional mistake. All my kurtas have this party symbol. But the presiding officer could have stopped me. He could have reminded me when I stepped into the booth," said Mondal, brushing aside the allegation as Don does those who dare who confront him. Incidentally, many polling booths in Birbhum had no rival agents, including the one where Mondal exercised his democratic right. "That's not my problem," said the TMC Birbhum chief. "What can I do if BJP, CPM and Congress fail to install their agents in polling booths," said Mondal, who is well known for his organizational skills, strong-arm tactics and vitriolic speeches which have led to the EC acting against him. On Sunday too, TV footage showed Mondal boasting of how "dhakis (drummers) have been placed at different pandals for Dashami celebrations", an apparent euphemism for voter intimidation. Though EC had sought to put the TMC strongman on a leash, it became clear as the day progressed how little an effect it had on the overall "polling arrangements" for "free and fair elections". In Nanoor a town in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum, villagers blatantly refused to step out of their homes, fearing trouble. This, after central paramilitary forces had assured them of all help. "Come out and vote," an officer was heard speaking to villagers in Nanoor. "Cast your own vote. Don't be scared. We are all here to help you," he added. ABP Ananda footage showed unconvinced villagers still fearing for their lives. "'They have warned us not to vote today," a voter said. "I have been casting my vote for a very long time. This has never happened before. I shall not step out of the house to vote today," she added. "Tomorrow the central forces won't be there, you (pointing to the media personnel) won't be around too. Who will come to our help if they attack us," she asked before walking away. Mysterious are the ways of Don. Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday assured External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that his country can be a "reliable partner" for India's energy needs, as the two nations decided to significantly expand engagements in their overall ties, particularly in oil and gas sectors. Swaraj, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday, called on Rouhani and held talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, besides meeting with Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei's Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati and deliberated on a range of issues. "Iran can be a reliable partner for India's energy needs," Rouhani told Swaraj. India has been eying deeper energy ties with Iran following lifting of nuclear sanctions and has already lined up USD 20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there. India is also keen to increase oil imports from Iran from current 350,000 barrels a day. Rouhani spoke of Chahbahar port as a "defining partnership which has the potential of connecting the entire region", Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told PTI. Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar port were the centerpiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues. Rouhani, whose country shares border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, also hoped for closer consultations with India on regional issues especially Afghanistan and the challenge of terrorism. On her part, Swaraj briefed him on her discussions with Zarif and said that India has always considered Iran as part of its extended neighbourhood, the spokesperson said. She apprised him about India's keenness in enhancing investment in various sectors including oil and gas in Iran. "Given our natural complementarities we should move beyond a buyer seller relationship to a win win partnership," Swaraj told the Iranian president. Rouhani recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ufa, Russia, and asked the minister to convey his regards to him, the spokesperson said. The president also called for intensified engagement with India in academic, scientific and technological fields. "India and Iran have had very rich cultural ties through history and this could pave the way for enhanced partnership in tourism and people-to-people ties," he told Swaraj. Earlier, during her talks with Zarif, the two sides agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to spur trade and investment. "The talks were very successful and would give new energy to our centuries old ties with Iran. In particular, the economic partnership will get considerable fillip as a result of today's forward looking talks," Swarup said. Sources said the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav was not at all raised by the Iranian side. Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country. Both sides discussed the progress on the Chabahar project and agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending USD 150 million credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the "very near future". Decisions on this line of credit, as well as USD 400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by India. Swarup said both sides discussed the energy partnership and Iran invited greater Indian participation in its oil and gas sector. "Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India." On Farzad B oil field project, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad B field outside the auction basket. The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner. Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ," he said. "In terms of connectivity, Iran said it supported Indias desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the ChabaharZahedan Railway link," said the spokesperson. On Trade and Investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense. "They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis," said Swarup. India is keen to enhance its investment in Iran as there has been impressive prospect of the countrys economic growth. The size of Irans economy is around USD 400 billion, the second largest in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia, and the country is being seen as one of the world's hottest investment destinations as it has opened various critical sectors including oil and gas for joint ventures and foreign capital. Countries like Japan, China, the US and a number of European nations are scrambling to take advantage of opportunities in the oil-rich nation after the sanctions were lifted in January. Both sides decided to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism and maritime security as they agreed that concerted global effort was required to combat the menace. They reviewed bilateral relations, in particular the progress in implementing the decisions taken at the last Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi in December 2015. "Both sides took note of the good cooperation between the National Security Council structures of the two countries and agreed to intensify this engagement," said Swarup. In terms of cultural cooperation, both sides agreed to promote and strengthen the existing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by observing "Weeks of Iran and India" in each other's country, publication of manuscripts, organizing conferences and events related to language, literature and religion. They also agreed on the establishment of a Hindi Chair in Tehran University sponsored by ICCR and to renew the Cultural Exchange Programme. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the recent exchange of visits and called for more high level exchanges to give fresh impetus to India-Iran relations. The two ministers also reviewed global and regional issues, in particular the situation in Afghanistan. Earlier in the day, the External Affairs Minister visited an Indian Gurudwara and the Kendriya Vidyalaya. She met the members of the small but vibrant Indian community in Tehran and assured them that she would take up issues of concern to them with the Iranian leadership. Her visit is seen as a balancing act by India as it came nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Saudi Arabia, another West Asian power which considers Iran its rival. Iran is an important country for India for its energy security as well as to get access to oil and gas-rich Central Asian nations. India imports close to 12 million tonnes of crude from Iran and it is looking at increasing the oil import from the country. From Iran, Swaraj left for a two-day trip to Moscow to attend the annual Foreign Ministers' meeting of RIC (Russia, India and China). Last year, I had two weeks left on deadline for a book I was writing. My publisher was getting antsy, as I hadnt sent her anything yet. Id done all the research, the problem was sitting down and getting the writing done. But I wasnt worried. Id been here before. With 12 days left until my deadline, I went to the United Airlines website, and bought a round trip business class ticket to Tokyo, leaving the next day. I got on the plane, armed with nothing but my laptop, a power cord, and my phone. When the plane took off, I took out my laptop, and in the 14 hours it took us to get from Newark to Tokyo, I wrote chapters 1-5. We landed in Tokyo, I went through immigration, walked outside, took a deep breath of fresh air, turned right around, went back through security, back to the gate, and boarded the same plane back from Tokyo to Newark. I even sat in the same seat. On the 12-hour flight home, I wrote chapters 6-10. I landed 31 hours after I took off, with a completed book, and my second best-seller. When I tell this story to normal people, they look at me like Im insane. Why? Because what normal person would spend upwards of $5,000 to not really go anywhere, and write a book in 31 hours? Not one normal person. But then, if youve ever met me, you know: Im not normal. Im faster than normal. Like, waaaay faster than normal. And what does that mean? It means I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. But instead of medicating myself with amphetamines, or acting out, Ive learned to use my ADHD to my advantage, and as a key to improving my life. I understand that my brain works differently than normal people. It moves quick, darting in and out of ideas at light speed. I do things to encourage that, and drive my brain differently than people without ADHD. Whats normal for regular people could be deadly for me, so Im hyper-aware of that. I dont drink. I workout every single day. I know what triggers I have and how they affect me, and I go out of my way to avoid them as much as possible. Having a faster than normal brain is responsible for a lot of my success, if not all of it. Thinking differently helps, as does realizing that what other people think of me doesnt matter, as long as Im happy with myself. I focus my time on doing things that improve my life. Im a constant reinvention of myself, always striving for the next great thing. In the end, the goal is to create, build, and keep myself occupied with things that work for me, so Im focused on doing positive things, as opposed to that which could negatively affect me. I fall out of airplanes, for example. It drives my family crazy, but Im a licensed skydiver. Why? Because it keeps me grounded, ironically enough. It keeps me focused, keeps my dopamine and serotonin levels at good, normal doses. It allows me to drive my faster-than-normal brain all the way to success. For years, weve been looking at attention deficit disorder (ADD) and ADHD as a disability, because it makes us not normal. Well, it does make us not normal. But thats a gift, not a curse. It makes us Faster Than Normal! In the end, who doesnt want to be faster? Peter Shankman is the founder of ShankMinds Business Masterminds, a day-long business mastermind series in multiple locations around the world. Hes perhaps best known for founding Help a Reporter Out, the worlds largest source repository in the world, which fundamentally changed how journalists source their stories. Peter is the author of four books, including his most recent best seller, "Zombie Loyalists: Using Great Service to Create Rabid Fans." Peter recently launched the Faster Than Normal Podcast, helping people understand that ADD and ADHD is a gift, not a curse. EXCLUSIVE: Since 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps has prided itself on being The Few" and "The Proud." But while the Corps takes pride in doing more with less, senior Marine officers are warning that the Corps' aviation service is being stretched to the breaking point. Today, the vast majority of Marine Corps aircraft cant fly. The reasons behind the grounding of these aircraft include the toll of long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the fight against ISIS and budget cuts precluding the purchase of the parts needed to fix an aging fleet, according to dozens of Marines interviewed by Fox News at two air stations in the Carolinas this week. Out of 276 F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters in the Marine Corps inventory, only about 30% are ready to fly, according to statistics provided by the Corps. Similarly, only 42 of 147 heavy-lift CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters are airworthy. U.S. military spending has dropped from $691 billion in 2010 to $560 billion in 2015. The cuts came just as the planes were returning from 15 years of war, suffering from overuse and extreme wear and tear. Many highly trained mechanics in the aviation depots left for jobs in the private sector. Quite honestly, it is coming on the backs of our young Marines, Lt. Col. Matthew Pablo Brown, commanding officer of VMFA(AW)-533, a Hornet squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. They can do it, and they are doing it but it is certainly not easy. Brown's squadron is due to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days. Lack of funds has forced the Marines to go outside the normal supply chain to procure desperately needed parts. Cannibalization, or taking parts from one multi-million dollar aircraft to get other multi-million dollar aicraft airborne, has become the norm. To get one Hornet flying again, Marines at Beaufort stripped a landing gear door off a mothballed museum jet. The door, found on the flight deck of the World War II-era USS Yorktown, was last manufactured over a decade ago. Imagine taking a 1995 Cadillac and trying to make it a Ferrari, Sgt. Argentry Uebelhoer said days before embarking on his third deployment. You're trying to make it faster, more efficient, but it's still an old airframe [and] the aircraft is constantly breaking. Maintaining the high-performance Hornets is a challenge with 30,000 fewer Marines, part of a downsizing that has been ongoing since 2010. We don't have enough of them to do the added work efficiently. We are making it a lot harder on the young marines who are fixing our aircraft, said Maj. Michael Malone of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31. Sometimes it takes the Marines 18 months to get parts for early model F-18 jets whose production was halted in 2001. We are an operational squadron. We are supposed to be flying jets, not building them, said Lt. Col. Harry Thomas, Commanding Officer of VMFA-312, a Marine Corps F/A-18 squadron based at Beaufort. The cuts include those made by the Obama administration as well as the sequestration cutbacks agreed to by Congress. Asked about the Marines concerns on Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest put the onus on Congress to right the problem and said Republicans have blocked spending reforms that would have helped military readiness. He said Republicans championed the sequester cuts. Lt. Col Thomas, call sign Crash, deployed to the Pacific with 10 jets last year. Only seven made it. A fuel leak caused his F/A-18 to catch fire in Guam. Instead of ejecting, he landed safely, saving taxpayers $29 million. Thomas has deployed eight times in all, including six to Iraq and Afghanistan. Right now only two of his 14 Hornets can fly. His Marines deploy in three months. We are supposed to be doing the type of maintenance like you would take your car to Jiffy Lube for replacing fluids, doing minor inspections, changing tires, things of that nature, not building airplanes from the ground up, he added. The aircraft shortage means pilots spend less time in the air. This last 30 days our average flight time per pilot was just over 4 hours, said Thomas. Ten years ago, Marine Corps pilots averaged between 25 and 30 hours in the air each month, according to one pilot. This is the worst Ive seen it, he added. Another pilot who asked to remain nameless told Fox News that Chinese and Russian pilots fly more hours each month than Marine Corps pilots. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets are supposed to have a shelf life of 6,000 hours, but they are being refurbished to extend the life to 8,000. There is talk that some aircraft might be pushed to 10,000 hours while the Marine Corps waits for the 5th-generation Joint Strike Fighter, which is slated to replace the F-18, but has been plagued by cost overruns. Our aviation readiness is really my No. 1 concern, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller told Congress last month. We dont have enough airplanes that we would call ready basic aircraft." Col. Sean Salene oversees nine helicopter squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina. Unlike previous wars, we did not have a period of time afterwards where we did not have tasking, said Col. Salene. There was no time to catch our breath. Maj. Matt Gruba, executive officer of HMH-461, a Super Stallion squadron at New River took Fox News reporters inside one of the large helicopters, which has sent thousands of fully loaded Marines into combat over the past three decades. Inside, hundreds of small wires cover every surface of the helicopter except the hard non-skid deck. Its up to the Marine maintainers to inspect each one. One failure could be catastrophic, as happened in 2014 when a Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon crashed off the coast of Virginia after a fire engulfed the aircraft due to faulty fuel lines. "It would be easy to miss some small minute detail, some small amount of wear [which] could potentially, eventually cause a fire, Gruba said Lt. Gen. Jon M. "Dog" Davis is the Marine Corps' deputy commandant for aviation, tasked with getting his aircraft back in the air. Davis ordered the Corps to refurbish all of the old CH-53E helicopters to their pre-war condition, including fixing the chafing wires and jerryrigged fuel lines that were repaired in theater. "The biggest thing is right now after 15 years of hard service, of hard fighting and deploying around the world, is we don't have enough airplanes on the flight line, Davis said. The cuts have not sat well within the military leadership. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Fox News Bret Baier in a recent interview that he felt betrayed when told to cut billions from the budget after having already done so. I guess Id have to say I felt double-crossed. After all those years in Washington, I was naive, he said. And last week, the Armys top officer, Gen. Mark Milley, said cuts could mean more American troops could lose their lives. If one or more possible unforeseen contingencies happen, then the United States Army currently risks not having ready forces available to provide flexible options to our national leadership. ... And most importantly, we risk incurring significantly increased U.S. casualties, Milley testified last week on Capitol Hill. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top Obama administration doctor, urged Congress on Sunday to promptly agree to appropriate an additional roughly $2 billion to fight against Zika -- the latest in the back and forth between the White House and GOP-led House about funding against the deadly virus. We have to act now, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Fox News Sunday. House Republican leaders have argued that the federal government has enough money now to fight the virus and that additional funding should come through the regular appropriations process this fall. However, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers suggested last week that he would support immediate supplemental funding, with a White House request that includes a detailed spending plan. We cant do it without the numbers, the Kentucky Republican said Wednesday on Capitol Hill. While Rogers also has tried to assure the public that Congress will not allow a public health crisis, he has suggested that the administration might not get all of the roughly $2 billion, which he has referred to as a slush fund. I disagree with that, Fauci said, arguing the administration has presented Congress with a project-by-project approach and that it will also use money left from fighting the Ebola virus. There has so far been no documented Zika infections in the United States from mosquitoes that carry the virus. But nearly 350 illnesses have been reported across all 50 states, each linked to travel to Zika outbreak regions, largely the Caribbean and Latin America. Thirty-two of the infected women were pregnant. The virus can also be spread through sex. The regular appropriations process takes too long, Fauci said Sunday. I dont want to wait to have to develop a vaccine. The House agreed late last week on a bipartisan measure to speed up development of a treatment. However, on Friday, Democratic Reps. Nita Lowey, N.Y.; Rosa DeLauro, Conn.; and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Fla., urged Rogers to hold a special meeting on the administrations request for emergency supplemental funding. Under the rules of the Appropriations Committee, three members may request the chairman convene a special meeting. If the chairman fails to schedule such a meeting within seven calendar days, a majority of the committee members may convene a special meeting on their own. A Zika infection causes only a mild and brief illness in most people. But in the last year, infections in pregnant women have been strongly linked to fetal deaths and devastating birth defects, mostly in Brazil, where 1,113 cases of related microcephaly have been confirmed since October. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 101-year-old Florida woman is getting a second chance at prom. Eleanor Bessin says she attended her prom on a boat in Boston with a man she had been planning to marry. However, he went off to serve in World War II, and when he returned, he developed cancer and died. She still carries his picture. Student government leaders from TERRA High School are setting up the dance for about 75 seniors at the Palace Nursing & Rehab. Nursing home staff will vote for a prom king and queen during Thursday's prom. Resident Sadie Gilbert, 86, says she was never invited to her high school prom but will now get the chance to attend. A real gun went off during a water-gun fight at a family barbecue Saturday and the bullet struck a teen in the shoulder, Houston police said. The victim, a 15-year-old girl, was in stable condition at a local hospital and was expected to recover, KHOU-TV reported. Police said people at the barbecue were playing with water guns when the girl was shot. They said there were conflicting stories about what happened but it appeared the shooting, which took place around 5 p.m. Saturday at a home in North Harris County, was accidental, KTRK-TV reported. Lt. Daniel Garza told the station the owner of the 9-mm. gun, a 40-year-old friend of the family hosting the party, was taken into custody and could be charged with deadly conduct. A teen told KTRK that he saw the shooting. "When the 40-year-old man went to go get his dry clothes, he had a gun somewhere in there, Lawrence Martinez said. And when he went to holster it he was spinning it on his finger, he pulled the trigger and accidentally shot her near the collarbone. A Border Patrol agent on routine patrol found a 140-foot-long tunnel extending across the Mexican border to California. The agent was on patrol Thursday morning 2 miles east of the Calexico Port of Entry and noticed a depression in the soil which caved in as the agent approached, exposing a hole 18 inches wide, The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. It was not immediately clear if the tunnel was completed. The entire tunnel was about 3-feet wide and almost as long as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, according to the Times. The tunnel ended in the Mexican desert, 60 feet from the border. This agent saw something that didnt look quite right and it turned out to be a tunnel, Border Patrol Sector Chief Rodney Scott said, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles. The Board Patrol discovered another smuggling tunnel last month that ran 400 yards underneath the border from a restaurant in Mexico to the living room of a home in Calexico. A Florida school bus driver was arrested Thursday for allegedly molesting at least four special needs students, authorities said. Carlos Ojeda, 72, of Haines City, was charged with 10 counts of capital sexual battery. Polk County Sheriffs investigators said Ojeda used candy to lure special needs students onto his bus and then sexually abused him, WFLA-TV reported. A student at Horizons Elementary School in Davenport told his school counselor Wednesday that he saw Ojeda repeatedly put his hands down the pants of two female students, officials said. Fox 13 News reported investigators checked the school bus video surveillance system and saw Ojeda motioning to the girls and flashing candy from the stairwell of the bus. Investigators said Ojeda had candy in his pocket when he was arrested. According to Fox 13 News, the video shows Ojeda pulling a girl toward him and sexually abusing her out of the view of other students. He then gave her candy as she went to the back of the bus to sit down. Investigators said similar scenes played out three separate times over the last week. Since his arrest, Ojeda has admitted to inappropriately touching two girls each of whom under 12 years old eight times. "There are no words to describe the depravity displayed by this suspect," Sheriff Grady Judd offered. "He drives a school bus, where he has access to these precious children. He lures them with candy, and physically assaults them in such a way that nobody will see it, or report it." The Polk County School Board told Fox 13 News Ojeda drove a school bus for three different schools and has been employed by the country since April 2007. Detectives plan to interview all the school children Ojeda has been around, as well as their parents, to try and identify other victims. Together with the Polk County School Board we are committed to keeping children safe. Thanks to their quick actions in reporting this, we were able to prevent this monster from hurting anyone else, Judd said. Click for more from Fox 13 News. Click for more from WFLA-TV. A Chicago murder suspect was arrested on a U.S. Navy base in Key West on Saturday, the U.S. Marshals Service said. Jacqueline Rutherford-Brown, 21, was living in a housing unit with her husband at the Key West Naval Air Station, officials said. She had been living at the Florida residence since mid-March, a base spokesperson told The Miami Herald. Rutherford-Brown is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Ismael Rangel to death in Chicago during a 2013 attempted robbery. An unidentified accomplice also allegedly participated in the murder, The Herald reported. Rutherford-Brown, who also goes by the name Jackie Brown, was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center and is set to be extradited to Chicago. Chicago police issued a warrant for Rutherford-Browns arrest on March 29 and had been looking for her in Virginia before locating her in Key West. Rutherford-Browns husband, who has not been named, is an enlisted sailor stationed at Navy Munitions Command Detachment Key West. He was not arrested and is not under suspicion of anything, the base spokesperson said. The cost of body cameras is preventing the Los Angeles Police Department from equipping them on officers, officials said Saturday. Mayor Eric Garcetti had vowed to have the cameras on thousands of officers by the end of 2016. But the department doesnt expect to outfit 7,000 officers until the fall of 2017 at the earliest, the Los Angeles Times reported. The plan is projected to cost $58 million. Councilman Mitch Englander told the LA Times that he wants the department to start the bidding process over and plans to introduce a formal proposal next week. "This is too big to get wrong," said Erlander, who heads the council's public safety committee. "It's more important that we get it right and not just do it quickly." Steve Soboroff, the Board of Police commissioner and a longtime advocate of the cameras, said city lawmakers are horribly underestimating the ramifications of delaying the program for what could be years. "This is an unequivocal disaster for public safety in Los Angeles," Soboroff said. City Hall has been scrutinizing the camera plan over the costs, with one council member saying he was experiencing "sticker shock" over the price tag of $57.6 million over five years. Technology companies planned that they were unfairly left out of the police departments selection process, which in part relied on a separate search for body cameras for a much smaller nearby sheriffs department. Garcetti said through a spokesman that he hoped the council would act as quickly as possible. The police department has about 860 cameras, bought through private donations. Last year, the department negotiated a contract with Scottsdale, Arizona-based Taser International to provide thousands more, as well as replacement equipment, digital storage of the recordings and thousands of Tasers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A woman and her friend are facing charges after they left her infant in a hot car outside a strip club where she was auditioning. WSB-TV reports 24-year-old Kelsey McMurtry was auditioning at club in downtown Nashville Thursday while her daughter sat in a locked car with the windows up. A passerby saw her and called police. According to a warrant, it was 72 degrees outside when officers arrived and temperatures inside the car had reached 100 degrees. Witnesses estimated the baby was in the car 30 minutes. She was treated at a hospital and placed with children's services. McMurtry's friend, 19-year-old Summer Taylor, told police she was watching the child but witnesses disputed that. McMurtry and Taylor both face child neglect charges. A group that represents 240,000 University of California students statewide called for the chancellor of UC Davis to resign Friday over the schools public relations spending to scrub the universitys 2011 pepper spray incident from internet search results. The UC Student Association wants Chancellor Linda Katehis to quit, joining seven state lawmakers and student protesters who say she must go, The Sacramento Bee reported. The demands come after the newspaper reported earlier this week that UC Davis paid image consultants at least $175,000 to repair the damage online to the universitys reputation after campus police pepper-sprayed student protesters in 2011. Video of the altercation gained nationwide attention. "The students ... are free of course to express their opinions, and I appreciate it," Katehi said Saturday at the campus' annual Picnic Day festival. She said the Bee misrepresented the facts, but she didn't elaborate. Other companies were also paid to help improve UC Davis online image, using a strategic communications budget that almost doubled in the six years after Katehi became chancellor in 2009. "It's inconceivable that they thought this was either a good idea or something that wasn't going to be seen or recognized eventually," a PR expert told CBS Sacramento Wednesday. UC Davis Provost Ralph Hexter said in a statement to the campus Friday that the university used no public or student funds when it hired consultants to "optimize search engine results in order to highlight the achievements of our students, faculty and staff." "Even if such a thing as eliminating stories and images from the Internet were possible, 'pepper-spray' will always be part of UC Davis' history," the statement said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Two Ohio teens led Alabama police on a dangerous car chase Wednesday night, bypassing roadblocks and attempting to ram police officers and cruisers, officials said. The pursuit ended when a Fayette City police officer shot Chase Alexander McKinney, 19, in his right shoulder. McKinney was the passenger in a vehicle driven by Cassidy Marie Francis, 17, WBRC reported. He was treated at a hospital and released on Thursday. Francis was charged as an adult with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer. McKinney wasnt facing charges since he was a passenger in the car, Sheriff Jim Underwood told WBRC, but he was due to be extradited back to Youngstown, Ohio, to face unspecified charges. Police initially began following the car on Wednesday after receiving a 911 call from an unidentified person reporting an intoxicated driver. Francis, however, is not facing any alcohol-related charges. Police attempted to stop the vehicle she was driving, but officials said the driver was not following directions to pull over. As Francis and McKinney fled, police said their vehicle tried to ram a Fayette police cruiser near the county line and later tried to run over an officer, AL.com reported. Francis was reported missing from Youngstown on April 12. The vehicle she was driving belonged to her mother, Underwood said. Two 17-year-old boys, who were swept out to sea Saturday while playing in the surf at San Franciscos Ocean Beach, are presumed drowned after rescuers failed to find them. The Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department called off the search at about 9 p.m. after nearly five hours of looking, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Fire Department spokesman Jonathan Baxter said no recovery effort will continue Sunday. He said the boys families understood what likely happened to them. We offered to continue to have a presence, Baxter said. But the families were very understanding as to what has likely happened to their children. The boys had run into the surf linked at the arms with three other friends when they were pulled by a strong wave, Baxter said. Their friends made it back to shore and were taken to the hospital in stable condition. Coast Guard officials said the boys bodies could have been carried up to 15 miles out to sea since the time they disappeared. Baxter said the extensive search included air, land and sea crews. The Coast Guard used 47-foot life boats to search for the boys, while San Francisco fire officials used air- and water-rescue squads. Some fire crews also searched on foot. The boys' names weren't released. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from The San Francisco Chronicle. Two brothers suspected of murdering a Washington state couple remained on the loose Monday as authorities continued a frantic hunt to find the dangerous duo. Brothers John Blaine Reed, 53, and Tony Clyde Reed, 49, may be driving a 2007 Volkswagon EOS Coupes with Washington license plate AXH5106, but authorities, speaking during a Sunday news conference, did not know their current location. Both are convicted felons, though their previous crimes weren't named. Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary cautioned anyone who sees them to avoid contact. They are armed and dangerous and the public should absolutely be worried, Trenary said Sunday. John Reed is 508, 190 lbs. with hazel eyes and gray hair #ShunnPatenaude https://t.co/XFGMjLPNiA pic.twitter.com/7NpgXXhroJ Snohomish Sheriff (@SnoCoSheriff) April 17, 2016 Detectives on Saturday found two vehicles a Jeep Wrangler and a Land Rover belonging to former Army Airborne Ranger Patrick Shunn, 45, and his wife, Monique Patenaude, 46, in a remote, rocky area about 15 miles from the couples Arlington home. Trenary said its clear Shunn and Patenaude are deceased based on evidence collected from those vehicles, and evidence obtained from the couples house. Officials have not yet recovered any bodies. Tony Reed is 511, 150 lbs. with green eyes and gray hair. #ShunnPatenaude https://t.co/XFGMjLPNiA pic.twitter.com/53m9GsDlix Snohomish Sheriff (@SnoCoSheriff) April 17, 2016 Trenary said the Reed brothers were seen on video surveillance disposing of the vehicles that were discovered Saturday. John Reeds house was very close to where Shunn and Patenaude lived and its believed there was a property dispute of some kind between the parties. John Reed had been intermittently visiting his house, officials believe. It was known that Shunn and Patenaude had been engaged in a legal dispute with neighbors, accusing the neighbors of assault, trespassing and scratching death threats in the mud, The Seattle Times reported. The neighbors were not named in The Times report and its unclear if they were John or Tony Reed. Shunn sought a restraining order against one of the neighbors, but a court commissioner dismissed the request in January, saying a physical encounter between the two groups appeared to be unintentional. Shunn and Patenaude were last seen Monday and were reported missing Tuesday afternoon. Their disappearance was instantly considered suspicious because it was unusual for the husband and wife to stay out of contact with family or friends for such a prolonged period of time. Pat did not show up for work nor did he call in, Shunns brother, Erik Shunn, wrote on Facebook Tuesday. That is very uncharacteristic of him. Pat and Monique have pets and livestock and they havent been taken care of the last day and a half. A man with a gun was subdued Saturday by workers when he slipped past security at a Fiat Chrysler factory in Detroit. The morning shift had just started when the intruder appeared at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant, Fox 2 Detroit reported. Before any shots were fired, about eight workers wrestled the .45 caliber handgun out of the mans hands and then held him until police arrived and placed him under arrest, the station reported. He was a former employee at the plant who was on parole in an assault case, according to the station. His companion works at the factory, police said. A police spokesman told the Detroit Free Press that the man, who was not identified, was a suspect in a series of carjackings earlier Saturday. Fiat Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson told the paper the man entered the plant through the shipping yard. He was apprehended by plant personnel and disarmed and the police took him into custody and fortunately no one was harmed and no shots were fired, she said. The paper reported that the plant was evacuated and employees from the morning shift were sent home. Click here for more from Fox 2 Detroit. Twelve people, including three children, were killed when Afghan and U.S. forces conducted a raid on the house of a suspected Al Qaeda member in east Afghanistan, according to a confidential report and people familiar with the matter. The Wall Street Journal reviewed an Afghan interior ministry incident report that detailed the early Friday operation in eastern Logar province. The report said the operation was conducted by coalition forces, a term used to refer to the U.S. force that maintains a presence in the country and works with the Afghan army. It didnt detail whether Afghan forces were present. A U.S. coalition member said the operation was jointly conducted by Afghan and U.S. military forces. The Afghan defense ministry declined to comment. The report said the night raid targeted a suspected Al Qaeda operative named Abu Abdullah. The operation took place in Kharwar district, an insurgent stronghold. Two people were seized at the house along with weapons, phones and a fake passport, the report said. No further details on the intended target were provided, but overnight raids are a cornerstone of Afghan and coalition efforts to defeat the Taliban and other militant groups, including Al Qaeda and a local affiliate of Islamic State. The operations aim to take out powerful commanders, leaving lower ranks in disarray. The number of casualties from Fridays operation was unusually high compared with others carried out in recent months, based on information gathered from Afghan witnesses of previous raids. The report didnt detail how the deaths occurred. It said the children were among seven ethnic Chechens killed at the house. Extremist members of Chechnyas rebel movement adhere to ideas tied to jihad and the creation of an Islamist state. Afghan and foreign officials say as many as 7,000 Chechens and other foreign fighters could be operating in the country, loosely allied with the Taliban and other militant groups. An American spokesman for the NATO force that maintains a presence in the country said the mission was aware of the civilian casualty allegations and that U.S. officials were investigating. There were contradicting reports about how many people were killed and who had conducted the raid. Saleem Saleh, spokesman for the governor of Logar, said three Afghans and seven Chechens died. He said the operation was carried out by Afghan forces and there were no children among the dead. The raid comes as Afghan and U.S. officials say the Taliban has intensified an offensive near the northern city of Kunduz, raising fears it could once again fall to the insurgents. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. Even as Iran brazenly rolled out components of a new advanced air defense it received from Russia Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani said "a mighty Iran" would not "mount a threat to neighbors and other Islamic countries." Iran started to receive its first parts of the S-300 missile defense system from Russia last week. Some of the parts were shown in the countrys Army Day parade Sunday. A mighty Iran militarily, politically and economically wont mount a threat to neighbors and other Islamic countries," Rouhani said, The Tehran Times reported. "The strength of other Islamic countries is ours and vice versa. Russia delivered the defense system despite repeated U.S. objections. A video from the parade purportedly shows the missile system being carried past a podium. However, the Pentagon hasnt confirmed whether they are parts of the system. The S-300 missile defense system is one of the more advanced types of weaponry of its kind that can engage multiple aircrafts and ballistic missiles around 90 miles away, according to Reuters. We all pursue the same goal and likewise, our diplomacy and armed forces both pursue the same goal: national security, stability and development," Rouhani said. Flying overhead during Iran's Army Day celebrations were old U.S. F-14 and F-4 fighter jets, sold to Iran during the Nixon administration. At the time, the jets were the most advanced warplanes in the U.S. military's inventory, but they have both been long scrapped. In the late 70s, the United States sold high-end military equipment to Iran, as long as it was non-nuclear. This news comes days after Russian jets harassed a U.S. Air Force spy plane over the Baltic Sea Thursday as well as buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer 31 times over two days, according to the Pentagon. "The enemy should bear in mind that there is no schism among our nation, government and armed forces," Rouhani said. "We are all fingers of the same hand. President Obama will be in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss with Gulf leaders about Iran's growing presence in the region. Rouhani highlighted that presence in his speech Sunday, noting a series of economic, technological and scientific advancements the Islamic Republic had achieved due to increased travel to the country, The Tehran Times reported. "Had it not been for the mighty army, it would have been impossible to achieve this, he said. Fox News Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. Click for more from Reuters. PAIA, HawaiiThe plantation town of Paia, with its single stoplight along a main drag edged with bikini shops, arty boutiques and tempting little locavore eateries, is a surfer haven these days. While American tourists throng Lahaina, a 45-minute drive to the west, Europeans head for this windsurfing capital on the north shore for all the right reasons. There are no big resorts here, just a handful of small inns and a few dozen vacation rentals. But Paias charms are appreciated by celebrities, surfers and French expats alike. Willie Nelson occasionally drops in at Charleys bar, were told. And Gene Simmons opened a Rock & Brews here two years ago. Theres a rock n roll meets beer hall vibe at the latteran open-air sipping-noshing spot with long communal tables, flat screens airing surfing competitions, ball games and rock footage, and plenty of rock memorabilia. Its all caressed, blessedly, by a cooling breeze. Order a Local Flight and the pours, which include Maui Brewings Bikini Blonde and Big Swell, arrive on a Stratocaster-shaped serving tray. The town, which makes the perfect jumping-off spot for treks to Hana or Mauis Upcountry, is flush with quirky little spots to grab a bite or get your java fix. Stroll down an unprepossessing driveway just off the main street and youll find Paia Bay Coffee, for example, where you can sip a latte in an oasis of lush tropical plants. Other local eateries range from the 26-year-old Paia Fish Market to the 6-month-old Hana Ranch Provisions, which celebrates the organic ingredients raised at the end of the famous Road to Hana. Need bottled water, bison jerky or another critical food item? The Mana grocery store is so winsomely crunchy, it makes Whole Foods look corporate. Theres an entire aisle devoted to the seaweed genre, from nori to furikake. Organic, vegan, gluten-freeyou name it, its here someplace in the towering, narrow aisles. Weve grown accustomed to Bubba Gumped seaside scenes, with their trademarked restaurants, beer oclock T-shirts and souvenirs that run the gamut from tacky to tawdry. But this is the opposite. Paias main street is blissfully bohemian, the beach vibe translated into hand-blocked prints on covet-worthy bedding at Pearl Butik, cheeky bikinis at Maui Girl and other swimwear shops, and stunning underwater photography at John and Dan Ceseres photography gallery. This beach town has a beach, too, with playful waves rolling up the strand. Its pretty much perfect. MILLER Please accept my sincere thanks for the ones who sent cards for my 90th birthday and also the ones who planned the party at the Tower. Also, thank to... Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia was among the right people enshrined on the memorial wall on Saturday, Oct. 21. Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 16, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack and fighter aircraft conducted three strikes near Mara in Syria, striking three separate ISIL tactical units and destroying two ISIL fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq Attack, ground-attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 15 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government: -- Near Fallujah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Hit, two strikes destroyed an ISIL mortar system, 14 ISIL boats and an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Kisik, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Mosul, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, 14 ISIL modular oil refineries and two ISIL crude oil stills and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and 10 ISIL boats. -- Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 24 ISIL boats, two ISIL rocket rails and two ISIL assembly areas. -- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar system and an ISIL assembly area. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Tal Afar, a strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit. 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. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, officials added. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, 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 Transcript Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter April 16, 2016 Media Gaggle SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASH CARTER: Okay, well you'll be happy to learn I don't need the podium. I'm not going to open a notebook and -- I just said pretty much what I wanted to say to those folks, which is why they're here, why the counter-ISIL mission is so important, and their other missions in the region, and how proud we are of what they're doing. I should note that in addition to our hosts here, there were some other coalition members who came through the line there, so you had a lot of good friends out here also. But anyway, let's just go right to your questions. STAFF: Courtney, you're the new arrival. SEC. CARTER: Hi, Courtney. Q: Hi, Secretary. You mentioned (inaudible) that the U.S. wants to do more. Can you give us some specifics what they're talking about? Is it more of the same? Is it (inaudible)? What is that -- are we talking more (inaudible)? SEC. CARTER: Across the whole spectrum. You know we're looking to do more, but it ranges from in the air to on the ground. All consistent with our overall strategic approach, which is to enable local forces ultimately to hold and sustain the defeat of ISIL, after ISIL is defeated, but to enable them to do so and accelerate that process so we continue to look for and identify ways of accelerating that, and as we find those we will do them. Obviously in Iraq we do that with the permission of the Iraqi government. But we -- you should expect us to -- to see us doing more, to be consistent with the same approach, but it will be across all the domains, right up to cyber, which I mentioned earlier. Now over the next few days I'll have an opportunity to talk to our commanders, and also to some in the region here, and obviously look for more good opportunities to accelerate the defeat of ISIL here in Syria and Iraq, which is absolutely necessary. Q: When you say "on the ground," do you mean more U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq? SEC. CARTER: Yes, I mean, I think some of these have that aspect to it, but I just want to emphasize there's a lot more that goes with this, and our -- and our presence on the ground is -- and will continue to be to enable, not to substitute, for local forces. STAFF: Lita. Q: Mr. Secretary... SEC. CARTER: But I mean, don't forget, as far as I'm concerned these people here are in the fight too. I mean, I know when you talk about on the ground you're thinking of Iraq and Syria. I just want to remind you here at al Dhafra these people are pretty busy, and some of them are in risky situations every single day. Q: You talked a lot to the troops about the accelerants and wanting to put an end to ISIL. How soon do you see any further decision on who (inaudible) the White House of some of these options and accelerants that you've talked about? SEC. CARTER: We've gotten approval from the White House every time the chairman and I have gone to ask for something that we've needed to accelerate, going way back to last year, and so that isn't really the issue for us. The issue for us is identifying yet more ways to accelerate the campaign. Q: As far as the ones you keep mentioning, the... SEC. CARTER: We haven't had any problem getting anything approved by the president -- I mean, anything that's made sense, but we don't propose anything that doesn't make sense, and that's been pretty much across all of those domains that I've mentioned to you. This is a campaign, which you know, is novel in the sense of the way that ISIL operates and so forth, so we're doing a lot of innovation. And then of course you wouldn't have thought of a war in the past that we would have fought in cyberspace, as well as in the air, so it's got a lot of novel dimensions to it, and I expect it more -- I expect more, and that's why I'm encouraging General Votel and General McFarland, and all of our other commanders here, and that's what I said to these kids out here, that we're looking for more approaches to accelerate the defeat. STAFF: Tara? Q: For the airmen at this base (inaudible). --does that mean you want sorties, or airstrikes or surveillance? What can we expect? SEC. CARTER: It could be more sorties. It can be a shift in the nature of their campaign. I mean, what they've seen here and mentioned to me in the course of the last year is, as we've learned more and are more on top of the enemy, you can do more dynamic targeting, whereas the ratio of deliberate to dynamic was (inaudible). But on the -- but we're also finding new deliberate targets as well. You remember the banks and that kind of stuff as well. I talked to several people here about important changes they're making to these platforms and their command and control, and that's important. That's in the data systems. It's in the command and control systems. It's in ways to make them -- so that they can operate more easily with coalition air forces, and so it's constantly evolving. You see the family of aircraft here has grown over time, and I think it's fair to say -- I don't know that this is exactly right, but that every major airframe in the American armament of the Air Force is on this base. I'll bet that's true, and it's very few exceptions if there aren't. STAFF: Laurent, you had a question? Q: I've heard you saying that you were paving the way, that you would be paving the way this week for the next GCC summit. SEC. CARTER: Right. Q: What are you -- what do you intend to discuss with the GCC leaders (inaudible)? SEC. CARTER: A couple of things. I'd put them in sort of three categories, as I was doing on the plane there. The first is the two "I"'s, as I called them -- the counter-ISIL campaign, and the concern by everyone in the region, which we share, about the possibility of Iranian aggression and malign influence, and the need to stand with them, and the other is just generally the capabilities of our allies and partners out here, and particularly our Gulf partners. And the president promised that last year at Camp David that we work real hard this year, and we have been, to look at ways -- to identity ways, and advance ways, that we can work better together. I mentioned some of them today on the -- they range from cyber to integrated air and missile defense, to ground forces, special operations forces, the kinds of capabilities that they need in order to make the full contribution that they can make to whatever happens here. And I also note that of course we'll be in the -- in connection with the counter-ISIL thing, continuing to discuss with our Gulf partners, the additional contributions they are making -- military, economic and political. I'm sorry. I shouldn't call on -- put Peter out of a job. STAFF: It's your press conference, sir. SEC. CARTER: Could've fooled me. Q: On the economic front can you outline a little bit more what you'll be asking (inaudible)? SEC. CARTER: Yes, in general terms, and I don't want to get ahead of a conversation the president is going to have with other heads of state. But in general, it is in recognition of the fact that for the defeat of ISIL to stick in Iraq and Syria, these badly broken places, destroyed, by ISIL, pillaged by ISIL, mistreated by ISIL, are going to need to be rebuilt. And also in recognition of the fact that our oil prices are down, and that has a serious impact in Iraq, which depends so heavily upon oil to support all of its regions, and therefore to support the overall multi-sectarian state, which is what we support, and what Prime Minister Abadi wants. So you know, Iraqis have lots of political debates, lots of things. These go back and -- a long time. But Iraqis want to get ISIL off their territory, and after they do that, they want to get back to some sort of normal life, and that's going to take some economic and political help, as well as military help, and so even as we're looking to make contributions in all three of those areas, so also can the Gulf partners, and we'll want to talk to them about that. STAFF: So we have time for one more. Tara? Q: With additional assistance, military assistance, to Iraq's (inaudible) depend upon any sort of political milestones that the Iraqi government would have to make, or (inaudible)? SEC. CARTER: Well, we're not going to change in any way what we're offering to contribute to the fight, and what we're willing to contribute to the fight. And as I said, I mean, there are a lot of debates in Iraqis politics that I've got to leave Iraqi politics to the Iraqis. But it's a very popular idea that they should rid their country of this evil group, and so I'm confident we'll be able to continue to work with them. I do want to emphasize that, you know, we're very careful, as is appropriate. Everything we do is with the permission of the Iraqi government. That's the way we operate there. That's the way we'll continue to operate there. But we're going to continue to accelerate what we can do for them, and we're not going to change that. STAFF: Thanks, everybody. SEC. CARTER: All right, thanks, everybody. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/722852/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Recovery operations from HMH-463 helicopter mishap concluded US Marine Corps News By Cpl. Timothy Irish | April 16, 2016 Recovery operations to retrieve wreckage from a January 14, 2016 aviation mishap involving two CH-53E helicopters and 12 U.S. Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 have been concluded. The 12 Marines serving as air crew on the helicopters were officially announced deceased on January 21 by Marine Corps officials. They had been previously been listed as duty status whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN) while the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the missing helicopters. The human remains discovered during the search and rescue operations and during the subsequent recovery and salvage operations led to positive identification of nine of the 12 Marines involved in the incident. Remains of Sgts. Dillon Semolina and Adam Schoeller, and Cpl. Christopher Orlando were not recovered. Significant wreckage from both helicopters has been recovered. The recovery operations were conducted primarily by the USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), a rescue and salvage ship from Military Sealift Command, a Remotely Operated Vehicle Detachment from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Navy divers attached from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 and Marine Aircraft Group 24. Various echelons of command within the U.S. Pacific Command assisted in the planning and execution of the recovery. The USNS Salvor used sonar, video cameras, and a submersible deep-dive remotely operated vehicle to search while utilizing cranes to retrieve found items. A systematic mapping of the known wreckage site began immediately after the conclusion of search and rescue operations on January 19. Although weather and sea states delayed the USNS Salvor's port departures, a thorough mapping and detailed recovery effort was conducted with 24-hour operations while on station. Before concluding recovery operations, the USNS Salvor and attached units twice swept the entire debris field, the surrounding area, and the flight path from the debris field back up to the initial aircraft collision site. The USNS Salvor supported recovery and salvage operations for a total of 13 days, with the recovery team conducting 24-hour operations and completing more than a hundred dives on the site. There is the chance that some small debris not recovered may eventually wash ashore; should any member of the public find such a piece of debris, they are asked to contact either the Honolulu Police Department at (808) 529-3111, or the Marine Aircraft Group 24 Duty Officer at (808) 590-6961. Aviation Mishap Board (AMB) and Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) investigations into the cause of the crash continue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's top military officer inspects islands in South China Sea People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 19:00, April 15, 2016 BEIJING, April 15 -- Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Nansha Islands in the South China Sea in recent days, the Ministry of Defense said Friday. Fan, who was accompanied by military officers and civilian officials, met with officers and soldiers stationed on the islands as well as construction workers, the ministry said on its official website. Fan was also briefed on the construction projects on Nansha islands and reefs. The ministry said the construction projects are going smoothly. Those projects, including lighthouses, automatic weather stations, oceanic observation centers and oceanic research facilities, will provide public services for the international community. Five lighthouses for navigation safety have been completed, and four of them are operative now, it added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gunmen kill 140 civilians near South Sudan: Ethiopia Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 6:9PM At least 140 people, including women and children, have reportedly been killed after gunmen attacked an area near Ethiopia's border with South Sudan. According to a Saturday statement from the Ethiopian Government Communication Affairs Office, the attack took place on Friday when gunmen from South Sudan raided the Jakaya area, in Ethiopia's Gambella region. "140 civilians died in the attack carried out by bandits that crossed from South Sudan," the statement said. The statement added that Ethiopian troops had crossed the border to pursue the attackers, saying "60 of the assailants have been killed so far." The Ethiopian region hosts thousands of South Sudanese refugees who fled conflict in the world's youngest nation. It is also home to Ethiopian and South Sudanese armed groups that attack government installations and soldiers. The statement also said that the armed men had no relation with South Sudanese government troops or rebel forces that fought the government in the capital, Juba, in a civil war that ended with a peace deal signed last year. South Sudanese officials were not immediately available for any comment. South Sudan plunged into chaos in December 2013, when fighting erupted outside Juba, between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors led by rebel leader Riek Machar. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over two million others. The warring sides reached an internationally-mediated peace deal in August 2015 and agreed to share out ministerial positions in January. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN says new sex abuse allegations in DR Congo Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 5:55PM The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has acknowledged the receipt of new complaints of sexual abuse by peacekeepers. Maman Sidikou, the head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), told reporters in the capital, Kinshasa, on Saturday that the mission had received seven new allegations of sexual abuse by its soldiers. Five involve Tanzanian soldiers who arrived last September, one involves the South African contingent and the seventh case involves forces from Malawi, Sidikou said. Earlier this month, the UN had announced it was investigating accusations regarding Tanzanian peacekeepers based in northeastern Congo sexually abusing and exploiting five women and six girls, leaving them all pregnant. "All of these cases are presumed cases of either pregnancy or of paternity ... and eight of the victims are minors," Sidikou said. The UN is hit by a huge sex scandal involving peacekeepers and monitors accused of either exploitation or raping women and children of both sexes in exchange for money, food, water and other commodities. Amid the scandal, the UN has ordered an entire contingent of troops from the DRC to return home. The UN forces have been accused of so many sexual abuse cases that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the phenomenon "a cancer in our system" and vowed a "zero tolerance" approach toward violators. "It betrays the values and principles that the UN purports to advance, and tarnishes the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping operations and the United Nations as a whole," Ban stated. Human rights advocates and experts say systemic issues still hinder the investigation and prosecution of alleged abusers, leading to a sense of impunity among UN troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Majority of US Marine Corps jet fighters not airworthy: Report Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:45PM A new report says some 70 percent of the US Marine Corps combat aircraft are not airworthy over years of wear and tear and maintenance costs. The report by the Fox News television channel says out of 276 F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters in the US Marine Corps, only about 30 percent of the fleet are ready to fly. Also, out of 147 heavy-lift Super Stallion helicopters, only 42 are operational. Marine Corps officers at airbases in North and South Carolina told the channel pointed to several reasons in this regard, including years of service in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as military spending cuts. The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to drive Taliban out of power. It then raided Iraq in 2003 to oust former dictator Saddam Hussein. American combat aircraft have over the years suffered wear and tear and had little time to see renovation, noted the report. Fox also said the US military spending was slashed from $691 billion in 2010 to $560 billion in 2015, thus contributing to Marine Corps fighter jets being grounded. It said lack of money forced the Marines to seek unconditional ways to procure the needed parts for the planes. They were reduced to 'cannibalizing', or taking parts from one aircraft to get another one airborne. This even led to the snatching of aircraft parts from museums in order to keep planes flying. The report said many Marine Corps mechanics left their jobs as a result of cost-cutting measures and had to seek vacancies at the private sector. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US unable to be fully in lockstep with Russian subs: Official Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 2:24PM A senior US Navy official has stated that Russia has been deploying combat submarines and missiles in scales that America has issues keeping pace with. Admiral Mark Ferguson, commander of US Naval Forces in Europe, has told CNN that Russia is deploying new submarines that are harder for the American Navy to track and detect. He said that is partly due to the NATO military alliance's eastward expansion in the post-Cold War world. "NATO is viewed as an existential threat to Russia, and in the post-Cold War period, the expansion of NATO eastward closer to Russia and our military capability they view as a very visceral threat to Russia," said the commander. They are quieter, better armed and have a greater range of operation, noted Ferguson. "The submarines that we're seeing are much more stealthy. We're seeing [the Russians] have more advanced weapons systems, missile systems that can attack land at long ranges, and we also see their operating proficiency is getting better as they range farther from home waters." "We cannot maintain 100% awareness of Russian sub activity today," retired Admiral James Stavridis, a former NATO commander, told CNN. "Our attack subs are better, but not by much. Russian subs pose an existential threat to US carrier groups." The US currently has 53 submarines in its inventory, but because of decommissioning and budget decisions, Ferguson said that figure will drop to 41 by the late 2020s, the report added. According to CNN, Russia is adding or upgrading some 12 naval bases across the Arctic Circle - expanding its capability to send subs in numbers through the crucial Greenland-Iceland-UK gap into the Atlantic - and closer to US and NATO territorial waters. The US believes the new activity is designed to achieve multiple objectives, including denying NATO and the US the ability to operate within Russia's so-called "near abroad," the channel added. On Monday, two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes flew within meters of the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea. Russia on Thursday denied its aircraft were engaged in reckless or provocative behavior, as claimed by Washington, saying the fighter jets "turned away in observance of all safety measures" after observing the US Navy warship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Polish FM calls for more NATO troops near Russia border Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 9:10AM The Polish foreign minister has called on NATO to step up its military build-up in East Europe to counter what he called "existential" threats posed by Russia to the continent. "The presence of troops from various NATO countries could be a symbol of determination to defend the eastern flank," said Witold Waszczykowski while addressing the annual Globsec security forum in Slovak capital Bratislava on Friday, Poland's state news agency PAP reported. He added that the scale of such deployment could be discussed during the Western military alliance's July Summit in Warsaw. The top Polish diplomat further made a comparison between Moscow and the Daesh terror group mainly active in Iraq and Syria, adding: "We have existential threats and non-existential threats. Of course the Russian activity is kind of an existential threat because this activity may destroy countries," he added. Waszczykowski rejected terrorism and the refugee influx in Europe as immediate threats to the continent. The minister further said the deployment of NATO forces in the region should not be considered as a provocation against Moscow, but rather a decisive military measure aimed at deterring potential aggressors. "Showing weakness," he said, "is often seen as an incentive for aggression." Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky also stated at the same summit that Russia was actively "testing the defensive capabilities of NATO in the Baltic region." Russia plans to use its rare talks with NATO officials next week to protest the alliance's "absolutely unjustified" military buildup in the Baltic states under the pretext of the Ukrainian crisis, according to Moscow's ambassador to Belgium. Relations between Russia and NATO specially soured after Crimea separated from Ukraine and rejoined the Russian Federation following a referendum in March 2014. The military alliance ended all practical cooperation with Russia over the ensuing crisis in Ukraine in April 2014. The United States and its European allies accuse Moscow of destabilizing Ukraine, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied. Russia has also repeatedly slammed NATO's military buildup near its borders, saying such a move poses a threat to both regional and international peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War-hit Yemen closest ever to peace: UN envoy Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 6:52AM The United Nations special envoy for Yemen says reconciliation between warring sides to the conflict gripping the Arab country has never been as close as it is now. In an address to the UN Security Council on Friday, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said both Houthi Ansarullah fighters and Saudi-backed loyalists to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Yemen's former president, had "never been so close to peace." The two parties' consensus on an open-ended ceasefire that began at midnight on April 10 and their commitment to attend peace negotiations due in Kuwait on April 18 highlights the potential for peace, he added. They last sat down for discussions in the Swiss city of Geneva in December 2015. However, the six-day talks ended with no major breakthrough and led to a shaky truce that officially ended on January 2 following repeated breaches mainly by Saudis. Elsewhere in his comments, Ahmed said the developments over the last weeks have raised hope despite "a worrying number of serious violations" of the latest truce. He also called on both sides to the Yemeni conflict to "drop their destructive and belligerent attitudes," agree to overcome obstacles and restore peace. "Yemen is now at a critical crossroad," said the UN official, adding, "One path leads to peace while the other can only worsen the security and humanitarian situation." He further emphasized that a positive outcome in the peace talks will require "difficult compromises from all sides, as well as determination to reach an agreement." The Houthi Ansarullah fighters took state matters into their own hands after the resignation and escape of Hadi, which threw Yemen into a state of uncertainty and threatened a total security breakdown in the country, where an al-Qaeda affiliate is present. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a deadly military campaign against Yemen since March 26, 2015 in a bid to reinstate Hadi and undermine the Houthi movement. Riyadh's military has turned a blind eye to the new ceasefire agreement and continues its bombing campaign against Yemen. Ansarullah has in recent days recorded tens of truce violations by the Saudis and their allies. Over 9,400 Yemenis, including 4,000 women and children, have lost their lives in the Saudi airstrikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington Targets IS in Mideast Military, Diplomatic Talks by Carla Babb April 16, 2016 U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter compared the Islamic State group to cancer on Saturday, saying the insurgent group must be destroyed in Iraq and Syria because that is "where the whole thing arose." He spoke during a visit to the United Arab Emirates, part of an effort to get Gulf nations to help Iraq as it fights the Islamic State. He said it would be vital to have a capable local force in place once IS was defeated to be sure someone "keeps them defeated." Carter toured Al-Dhafra Air Base, where he was briefed by key U.S. military and diplomatic officials. The U.S.-led coalition has used the base to launch airstrikes against IS militants, as well as for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions. This Middle East portion of a lengthy diplomatic trip by Carter will include talks with Gulf Cooperation Council defense leaders in Saudi Arabia. President Barack Obama, who is to join Carter in Riyadh, will most likely ask for contributions to rebuild areas of Iraq damaged by the fight against IS when he speaks with Gulf partners. "That's a global effort in which many countries can make a contribution," Carter said. The secretary also plans to talk with GCC leaders about how to fight IS more effectively. "We're going to accelerate the military campaign" he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nigerian Military Vows to Continue Effort to Rescue Chibok Girls by Peter Clottey April 16, 2016 The Nigerian's military is continuing with the fight to combat terrorism and would not be deterred to rescue all civilians including the kidnapped Chibok School girls abducted by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, director of Defense Information, said Saturday. Abubakar said the army has not given up efforts to find the missing girls and return them home safely to their parents. This, after dismissing the recently released video allegedly showing proof the abducted Chibok school girls were still alive. Increased pressure In an interview with VOA, Abubakar called the video inconclusive and a demonstration of the frustration of the militants due to the army's continued pressure on them. He said it is uncertain that the latest video released by Boko Haram is genuine, describing it as propaganda tool. He urged the media not to drag the military into a media war with Boko Haram following the release of the video. Abubakar said the military is focused on ensuring the country maintains its territorial integrity by defeating the radical Islamist group. Abubakar declined to give details about plans to rescue the abducted Chibok girls and other kidnapped victims from the Boko Haram militants, but added the military will not be deterred in the commitment to bring back the girls home. "Our operations are on course and we have a total unified operation against the Boko Haram, which led to the total decimating and breaking their will in order to wage any reasonable attack against the armed force and other security agency locations. These are indications that they are weak However, terrorists as they are rely on information to champion their cause keep on coming up with series of purported, unconfirmedclips.," said Abubakar. "So the issue of video or not video is not our concern, because that will not affect our operations towards liberating whoever are with the terrorists; either the Chibok girls or non-Chibok girls," he said. Difficult task Critics of the military said it appears the security agencies are not up to the task to rescue the abducted school girls. They cited instances of suicide bombings in Nigeria and the ability of the militants to launch cross-border attacks in neighboring countries including Cameroon as examples of the potency of Boko Haram, despite what they said are claims by the army and government of technically defeating the militant group. Abubakar disagreed. "So many of them have surrendered to the armed forces and other security agencies. We have about 800 Boko Haram members who surrendered willingly. And these are some of the things which the remnants are not happy with, and they are doing all sorts of things to tell the international community and the domestic audience that they are still alive, but they are not," said Abubakar. Local media reported that the army has opened a backdoor channel to negotiate with the militants to release the kidnapped Chibok girls. "These are some of the blackmails, which some organizations or groups are [peddling] against members of the Nigerian military and its allies. All these things are not true and are dreams of those who are saying it. The Nigerian military [is] strong enough to quash not only Boko Haram, we have done it elsewhere and we will do it in this country, and I believe we have all the capacity to do that," said Abubakar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Weapons, Rights Frame Hollande's Egypt Visit by Lisa Bryant April 16, 2016 French President Francois Hollande arrives in Egypt Sunday for a visit intended to shore up security cooperation and produce lucrative weapons deals despite sharp criticism by rights groups. Hollande's Cairo leg is part of a four-day trip to the Middle East that began Saturday in Lebanon and ends Tuesday in Jordan. There, he will address shared concerns with Arab allies, ranging from terrorism and instability in Iraq, Syria and Libya, to the refugee crisis and the long-simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Monday, Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi will oversee the signing of arms agreements worth roughly $1.1 billion, including Egypt's purchase of a French military satellite communications system, according to France's La Tribune website. Arm sales The acquisitions add to a string of high-profile French weapons sales in recent months, including multi-billion-dollar deals in which Egypt and Qatar will each buy 24 French Rafale fighter jets. Paris is in discussions to complete another Rafale agreement with the United Arab Emirates. The weapons sales underscore France's new role as top weapons supplier to Egypt, edging out the United States and bringing in needed revenue, says Paris-based Defense News correspondent Pierre Tran. It also sends a message to the United States, which suspended military aid to Egypt in 2013 following the ouster of former leader Mohamed Morsi. While Washington lifted the freeze last year, Egypt has diversified its arms suppliers. Washington's role in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was another strike against it. "They're thumbing their nose at the U.S., which has disappointed Arab nations specifically because of the agreement with Iran," Tran said. By contrast, Paris scored points with its hard-line stance during the Iran nuclear talks, he added. The payback partly came with Hollande's invitation to become the first Western leader to attend the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council summit last May. "He was there while the U.S. was not," Tran said. France and Egypt may also sign a deal Monday for Cairo's purchase of four French warships, La Tribune reports. Once again, Iran's growing regional clout is a driving force. "It's all about Iran," Tran said. "The Gulf is why Egypt wants warships to patrol and control the security of the Gulf where all the trade flow happens." Rafale sales The Rafale sales, however, also reflect shared concern about the growing regional threat posed by the Islamic State militant group, he added. Hollande's visit to Egypt comes amid growing international criticism over Cairo's deteriorating human rights record since Sissi took power in 2013. Earlier this month, Italy recalled its ambassador to Egypt, accusing Egyptian authorities of failing to fully cooperate in a joint investigation into the death of an Italian student whose battered body was found in February next to a Cairo-area highway. In an open letter published in the Le Monde newspaper on Friday, five prominent rights groups urged Hollande to press Sissi to abandon a crackdown against Egyptian nongovernmental groups, and to demand answers on the 2013 death of Frenchman Eric Lang while in Egyptian police custody. They also called on Hollande to ensure Egyptian authorities will not use weapons purchased from France for internal repression. "France will bear a heavy responsibility if it abstains for bringing up these points" in discussions with Sissi, warned the groups, which included Amnesty International France, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights. On Lang, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday that Paris "is mobilized so all light is shone on this tragedy." A New York Times editorial this week sharply criticized Western countries "that trade with and arm Egypt" for failing to speak out against the country's human rights abuses. Noting Hollande's upcoming visit, it added, "there has been a shameful silence from France." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Obama Sides with Saudis, Opposes Bill to Release 9/11 Findings Sputnik News 20:58 16.04.2016(updated 21:19 16.04.2016) The Obama Administration has been lobbying Congress to block a bill that would allow Saudi Arabia's government to be held accountable in American courts for any role it played in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In addition to Obama's efforts to keep information about 9/11 confidential, Saudi Arabia has threatened to sell hundreds of billions of dollars worth of its American assets if Congress passes the bill. In recent weeks, administration officials have been warning lawmakers of the bill's potential economic fallout. The Obama Administration's strict opposition to the 9/11 bill has left many family members of the terror attacks' victims outraged. Mindy Kleinberg, whose husband died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, expressed her discontent in an interview with the New York Times. "It's stunning to think that our government would back the Saudis over its own citizens," Kleinberg said. In the past, families of the victims have had trouble using the courts to face elements of Saudi banks and the Saudi royal family, whom they've accused of funding terrorism. Their efforts were slowed by a 1976 law that awards foreign nations a certain degree of immunity from lawsuits in American courts. The 9/11 bill would eliminate this immunity for nations found culpable of terrorist attacks that kill Americans on American soil. So far, a 9/11 Commission found "no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded the organization [Al-Qaeda]." Critics argue that the Commission's limited scope and wording steered the investigation away from lesser-level officials and other elements of the government that may have played a role in the terror plot. They also point to a still-classified Congressional Inquiry in 2002, which cited evidence that members of the Saudi government played a role in the 9/11 attacks. Nonetheless, the Obama Administration argues that limiting foreign nations' immunity would put the American government, as well as its citizens and corporations at risk of lawsuits if foreign nations were to retaliate with their own legislation. As for Saudi Arabia's economic threat, some economists are calling the move an "empty threat" that would not only be difficult to pull off, but it would also cripple the Kingdom's own economy. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Transfers 9 Yemeni Inmates From Guantanamo by VOA News April 16, 2016 Nine Yemen nationals have been transferred to Saudi Arabia from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the Obama administration pushes to close the controversial facility despite strong opposition from congressional Republicans. Television footage late Saturday showed the detainees, captured in the U.S.-led war on terror, arriving in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where they underwent medical exams and where a top Yemen official awaited their arrival. Several detainees thanked the Saudi government for taking them in. "We are looking to carry out a genuine program that gives them hope and a window into the future ... part of this society, one that is based on peace," said Yemen Human Rights Minister Ezzeldin Al-Abahi. The transfer, announced by the Pentagon earlier Saturday in Washington, came just weeks after President Barack Obama announced an accelerated plan to try to shutter the prison before he leaves office in January 2017. It also came days ahead of Obama's scheduled arrival in the Saudi capital for a summit of the six-nation security and economic forum known as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The transfer followed extended negotiations with Saudi officials, who eventually agreed to take in the detainees and put them through a government-run rehabilitation program that seeks to reintegrate militants into society. The Obama administration has ruled out sending Yemenis to their homeland because it is engulfed in civil war and has an active branch of al-Qaida. Hunger-striking inmate Saturday's transferred prisoners included Tariq Ba Odah, a hunger-striking inmate whom the U.S. military began force-feeding in 2007. At its peak, Guantanamo housed as many as 780 inmates. With the latest transfers, the Pentagon said the prison population now stands at 80. The remaining prisoners include 26 detainees already cleared for release in the coming months by a U.S. government interagency task force. Obama is seeking to make good on a 2008 campaign promise to close the facility, a vow that has met stiff opposition from Republicans both inside and outside the government. Republican 2016 presidential hopefuls have vowed to send more terror suspects to the facility rather than close it. Guantanamo is a U.S. naval base on the southeastern Cuban coast that former President George W. Bush designated as a prison for enemy combatants just months after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The designation classified the detainees as unlawful combatants, who were not afforded legal protections under the Geneva Conventions. Since then, the inmates' legal status has been challenged in numerous court cases. Some information for this report came from Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Corruption Charges False, Impeachment 'Anti-Democratic Coup' - Rousseff Sputnik News 21:47 16.04.2016(updated 21:59 16.04.2016) Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff stated that her government had fought against corruption, passing anti-corruption laws, created administrative transparency and supported an independent judiciary. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Saturday stressed her innocence of corruption charges, accusing opponents seeking her impeachment of violating the country's constitution and endangering democracy. Brazil's lower house of parliament is set to vote on Rousseff's impeachment on Sunday, with opposition accusing the president of corruption and violating financial rules by manipulating state banks accounts to close budget gaps. "To unseat a president by impeachment, without her having committed a crime, means tearing the Brazilian Constitution. This is a coup against the Republic, against democracy and, above all, against the votes of all Brazilians who participated in the electoral process They want to submit to one of the greatest injustices can be committed against someone: condemn an innocent," Rousseff said in an article published in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper. The president stressed that her government had fought against corruption, passing anti-corruption laws, created administrative transparency and supported an independent judiciary. Opposing and criticizing the government is part of democracy, while attempting to unseat an elected president on unfounded charges has no place in democratic practice, she added. Meanwhile, Rousseff lost several allies with the Progressive Party and the Social Democratic Party having left her coalition earlier this week. The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party left the governing coalition in late March. Rousseff has been facing a wave of public discontent for over a year amid Brazil's struggling economy and a major corruption scandal in the state-owned Petrobras petroleum company. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council condemns DPRK's firing of ballistic missile People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:33, April 16, 2016 UNITED NATIONS, April 15 -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday strongly condemned the firing of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier in the day. "Although the DPRK's ballistic missile launch was a failure, this attempt constituted a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," the Council said in a statement. The DPRK shall refrain from further actions that violate relevant Security Council resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions, the statement said. UNSC members also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation. "The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Council's previously expressed determination," the statement said. The UNSC has adopted four resolutions to curb the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs. The latest one adopted in March imposes the most severe sanctions yet on the country, including an export ban and asset freeze. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNSC deplores N Korea's latest unsuccessful missile test Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:59AM The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has denounced North Korea's reported unsuccessful test-firing of a missile, warning that it could take further punitive measures against Pyongyang. In a statement issued on Friday, the 15-member council "strongly condemned" the launch, adding that the move "constituted a clear violation" of UN resolutions although it ended in failure. The council further noted that it would closely monitor the situation and was ready to "take further significant measures" against North Korea. The United States and South Korea said on Friday that Pyongyang had failed in its attempt to launch what was believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The launch came on North Korea's so-called Day of the Sun, which marks the birthday anniversary of the country's founding leader Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang has not made any comments on the Friday reports so far. North Korea launched a long-range rocket in February, which according to Pyongyang was aimed at placing an earth observation satellite into orbit. However, Washington and Seoul described the practice as a cover for an intercontinental ballistic missile test. Pyongyang declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and carried out four nuclear weapons tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016. In March, the UNSC unanimously approved the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades over its missile and nuclear tests. Chinese state media censure N Korea missile test In another development on Friday, China's official Xinhua news agency said in an English language commentary that the firing of a mid-range ballistic missile, though failed, "marks the latest in a string of saber-rattling that, if unchecked, will lead the country to nowhere." "... Nuclear weapons will not make Pyongyang safer. On the contrary, its costly military endeavors will keep on suffocating its economy," the commentary added. North Korea has pledged to develop a nuclear arsenal in an effort "to protect itself from the US military", which occasionally deploys nuclear-powered warships and aircraft capable of carrying atomic weapons in the region. Washington also holds joint military maneuvers with Seoul, which Pyongyang views as preparations for war and a direct threat against its security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Larijani calls for resolution of Iran's banking problems IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 16, IRNA -- Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on Saturday called for resolution of Iran's banking problems. He voiced hope that the European delegation's trip to Iran will produce tangible economic results. Larijani called for resolution of banking problems, adding that certain states are sabotaging the execution of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Terrorist groups are harmful to all regional states, he added. Mogherini for her part said that Europe is keen to revive its relations with Iran, adding that closer ties between Iran and European parliaments could be very helpful in this regard. Saying that Iran has been bound to its obligations, she voiced hope that other parties to the talks would be committed to their obligations. Mogherini underlined that Europe wants a sustainable agreement with Iran that would lead to concrete economic and political results. There is political will in US for resolution of banking problems of Iran and EU is doing its best to resolve it, she said. Mogherini added that Europe is against separatism and believes that regional problems should be resolved through national reconciliation. Praising Iran's positive role in Iraq, she called for Tehran's constructive role in Yemen and Syria. The official urged collective cooperation against terrorism and said that Europe is keen to cooperate with Iran in Lebanon and Afghanistan. 9191**1664 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SNSC sec.: US decision to maintain sanctions unconstructive, undesirable IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 16, IRNA -- Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said that the US approach to continuation of sanctions and impeding implementation of JCPOA is undesirable and unconstructive. He made the remarks in a meeting with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini here on Saturday afternoon. If such a process continues and if EU fails to confront it, this will have negative affects on continuation of cooperation and implementation of reciprocal commitments, Shamkhani said. Recalling the EU's pivotal role in the signing of Joint Comprehensive Plan of action (JCPOA), Shamkhani underlined necessity of maintaining the achievement and supervising and controlling the correct implementation of the deal through EU cooperation and active role of the joint commission. Shamkhani referring to Iran's key role in confronting ISIL and terrorists groups in Syria and Iraq and hefty expenses borne by Iran in providing security for the region said that long term presence of Takfiri elements would spread insecurity and instability at global level. He said stopping suc a process needs closer cooperation of EU in the fight against terrorism. Imposing sanctions against a number of Iranian officials under false pretexts of human rights abuses runs counter to the the new atmosphere of relations between Iran and the EU and will lead to lack of confidence. Shamkhani added that mistreating, rejecting and returning refugees, who have escaped from danger of terrorists by European countries, are contrary to the spirit of human rights. He pointed out that a big part of crises in Syria, Iraq and Libya was due to the supply of weapons and support of European states for opposition and armed groups in those countries and now they should accept responsibility for the consequences of their policies. Shamkhani reminded that the Zionist regime in spite of numerous condemnations by international fora is going ahead with its settlement construction and massacring Palestinians and its illegal nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction has threatened the security of the region. He underlined the need for the EU to take a realistic approach towards the Syrian people's will and demands and said that recent parliamentary election in Syria demonstrated the fulfillment of democracy and political participation of different groups of people in determining the fate of their country. For her part, Mogherini praised Tehran's efforts for implementation of JCPOA and said that achieving the real outcomes of the deal including elimination of all financial sanctions is the right of the Iranian people. She added that all sides should take steps in direction of strengthening JCPOA. Considering Iran's important role in maintaining security and stability of the region, cooperation between Iran and EU can facilitate settlement of crises through diplomatic means, Mogherini added. 1391**1412 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mogherini: Iran missile tests not violating N. deal ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat 16 Apr 2016 - 14:47 TEHRAN (ISNA)- The EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said that Iran's missile tests do not breach the JCPOA. "Iran's missile tests are not violating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and we are not so concerned about this issue," she said in a press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif here in Tehran on Saturday. She also said that the EU welcomes Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Mogherini continued that during her current trip to Iran, she is being accompanied by 7 commissioners of the EU working in transportation, economy and energy, to pave the way for boosting bilateral ties with Iran. She was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 states -- Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany -- in Vienna last July. Mogherini, however, said "this doesn't mean that we are not concerned." On March 9, Iran successfully test-fired two ballistic missiles as part of military drills to assess its defense capabilities. The missiles dubbed Qadr-H and Qadr-F were fired during large-scale drills, code-named Eqtedar-e-Velayat. A day earlier, the country's Armed Forces fired another ballistic missile called Qiam from silo-based launchers in different locations across the country. The US claims that Iran's missile tests violate the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the JCPOA. Zarif, in turn, told the presser that Iran's missile tests neither breach the JCPOA nor any United Nations Security Council resolutions as the missiles "are not designed to carry nuclear weapons." Elsewhere in the press conference, the two sides underscored their determination to promote Iran-EU bilateral relations in various areas, particularly economy, as well as cooperation on other issues of international importance. Zarif said Mogherini's trip to Tehran could be a "new beginning" in ties between Tehran and the 28-nation bloc. "Today is the serious beginning in the relations between Iran and the European Union and we hope that this cooperation leads to common interests, progress and international development for the people of Iran and EU," Zarif said. He said economic and financial cooperation as well as the opening of a permanent EU office in Tehran is on the agenda of talks, adding that four statements are to be issued at the end of the discussions. Referring to last July's nuclear agreement, Zarif said Tehran and the EU "will cooperate to remove the remaining obstacles in the way of the JCPOA's implementation." "We are certain that the EU's political and economic interests lie in implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and cooperation with Iran," the Iranian foreign minister said. The top EU diplomat, for her part, said her visit to Tehran is focused on a broad spectrum of topics from the expansion of bilateral ties to regional issues. She further hailed the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 states adding that the JCPOA proved "diplomacy works." "Iran has delivered on its side of the deal and so has the EU by lifting the sanctions," the EU official said. After the JCPOA went into effect on January 16, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities. The EU official further said the 28-nation bloc will support the Iranian bid to join the World Trade Organization. Mogherini has traveled to the Iranian capital on a one-day visit at the head of a high-ranking political and economic delegation comprising seven European commissioners. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU must act on US mischief on implementing JCPOA: Iran Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:52PM Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani says the European Union needs to take an "effective measure" to thwart subversive US acts concerning the implementation of a nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and six global powers last July. In a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Tehran on Saturday, Shamkhani said the US has adopted an "inappropriate and unconstructive" approach in keeping to put sanctions against Iran and refusing to fulfill its obligations stipulated in the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "If this trend continues and the European Union does not take an effective measure to counter it, it will have a negative impact on the continuation of the path of cooperation and the fulfillment of bilateral obligations," he added. Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia plus Germany started to implement the JCPOA on January 16. The JCPOA was signed on July 14, 2015 following two and a half years of intensive talks Shamkhani also said Iran has played a leading role in fighting terrorist groups, including Daesh, operating in Syria and Iraq and is paying a considerable cost to improve security in the region. "The long-term presence of Takfiri elements will lead to the spread of insecurity and instability at an international level," he said, urging the EU to cooperate more in the fight against terrorism. The SNSC secretary further said the Israeli regime's "illegal possession of nukes and weapons of mass destruction poses a threat to regional security." Removal of financial restrictions, Iran's right: Mogherini The EU foreign policy chief, for her part, said Iran has the right to see the tangible outcomes of the implementation of the JCPOA, including the removal of financial restrictions. She also added that Iran plays a key role in improving regional security and stability and said cooperation between Tehran and the 28-nation bloc can facilitate political solutions to regional crises. Mogherini arrived in Tehran on Saturday at the head of a team of seven European commissioners. Earlier in the day, she held talks and attended a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran missile tests no violation of nuclear deal: Mogherini Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 9:19AM The European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says Iran's missile activities are not in contravention of the country's nuclear agreement with the six world powers. "We do not see the missile tests as a breach of the JCPOA," she said on Saturday during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran. She was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 states -- Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany -- in Vienna last July. Mogherini, however, said "this doesn't mean that we are not concerned." On March 9, Iran successfully test-fired two ballistic missiles as part of military drills to assess its defense capabilities. The missiles dubbed Qadr-H and Qadr-F were fired during large-scale drills, code-named Eqtedar-e-Velayat. A day earlier, the country's Armed Forces fired another ballistic missile called Qiam from silo-based launchers in different locations across the country. The US claims that Iran's missile tests violate the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the JCPOA. Zarif, in turn, told the presser that Iran's missile tests neither breach the JCPOA nor any United Nations Security Council resolutions as the missiles "are not designed to carry nuclear weapons." 'New beginning' in Iran-EU ties Elsewhere in the press conference, the two sides underscored their determination to promote Iran-EU bilateral relations in various areas, particularly economy, as well as cooperation on other issues of international importance. Zarif said Mogherini's trip to Tehran could be a "new beginning" in ties between Tehran and the 28-nation bloc. "Today is the serious beginning in the relations between Iran and the European Union and we hope that this cooperation leads to common interests, progress and international development for the people of Iran and EU," Zarif said. He said economic and financial cooperation as well as the opening of a permanent EU office in Tehran is on the agenda of talks, adding that four statements are to be issued at the end of the discussions. Referring to last July's nuclear agreement, Zarif said Tehran and the EU "will cooperate to remove the remaining obstacles in the way of the JCPOA's implementation." "We are certain that the EU's political and economic interests lie in implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and cooperation with Iran," the Iranian foreign minister said. 'Diplomacy works' The top EU diplomat, for her part, said her visit to Tehran is focused on a broad spectrum of topics from the expansion of bilateral ties to regional issues. She further hailed the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 states adding that the JCPOA proved "diplomacy works." "Iran has delivered on its side of the deal and so has the EU by lifting the sanctions," the EU official said. After the JCPOA went into effect on January 16, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities. The EU official further said the 28-nation bloc will support the Iranian bid to join the World Trade Organization. Mogherini has traveled to the Iranian capital on a one-day visit at the head of a high-ranking political and economic delegation comprising seven European commissioners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi protesters call for political reforms, anti-graft fight Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:12AM Dozens of the Iraqis have held another demonstration in the capital Baghdad, demanding the government fulfill its pledge to enact anti-corruption reforms. Protesters gathered at Baghdad's central Tahrir Square on Saturday to express their dissatisfaction with what they called hesitation in carrying out the proposed reforms aimed at combating 'systemic political patronage that has abetted graft' in the Arab country. Security forces cordoned off all roads leading to Baghdad's al-Khazra zone (Green Zone), with heavy security measure adopted in nearby streets. On Friday, thousands of human rights activists also staged a similar protest at the same square. Some media reports said the parliament's Saturday session has been postponed until further notice over security threats to the lives of lawmakers and the legislature's staff. The Iraqi parliament has witnessed a tumultuous week amid a political rift which has thrice prevented a vote on a list of new ministers proposed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. The Iraqi parliament gave Abadi a three-day deadline, which started on March 28, to present a new list of ministers or face a vote of no-confidence. Abadi met the deadline, but the legislature has so far delayed voting on the cabinet reshuffle amid stiff resistance from some parties seeking to maintain their influence in the administration. Most of those on Abadi's list were later substituted with new names on a second list distributed among lawmakers, prompting some lawmakers to launch a sit-in at the parliament building. The following day, a fistfight erupted in the parliament hall, forcing the premier to say he would make changes to the disputed names on the new list. Iraqi lawmakers also voted on April 14 to unseat Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and his deputies and appointed Adnan al-Janabi, a senior tribal leader, as the acting head of the legislature. The latest developments on Iraq's political scene come at a time that the Iraqi army troops and allied volunteer forces are conducting large-scale military operations against Daesh Takfiri terrorists controlling swathes of land in the northern and western parts of the country since 2014. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO to help Libya security if requested: Deputy chief Iran Press TV Sat Apr 16, 2016 5:10PM The NATO deputy secretary general says the military alliance is ready to help the new UN-sponsored Libyan government in building up security institutions if requested. "The progress towards the consolidation of this new government of national unity in Libya is encouraging and we stand ready to assist the government if it requests," Alexander Vershbow said on Saturday. Vershbow's remarks came as the European Union is expected to consider moving security personnel into Libya to help stabilize the crisis-stricken country. EU foreign and defense ministers are expected to agree in a Monday meeting in Luxembourg to look into police and border training missions for Libya, initially in Tripoli, where the new government is trying to establish itself. "Two years ago we were very close to implementing a program to assist the government at that time in Libya ... to develop and reform its defense institutions," Vershbow told reporters at the Globsec security conference in Bratislava. "If this new government requests NATO assistance in the same area, we stand ready to help them out," he added. Diplomats said there had yet to be a detailed discussion with the new unity government in defining what kind of assistance they wanted from the EU and that the bloc is keen to avoid the impression of moving into North African state uninvited. "It is a delicate balance," said one senior EU official involved in the plans. "We need to prepare to help Libya, but we cannot jump the gun." Libyan officials with the new unity government were not immediately available for comment on the development. Libya has been dominated by violence since a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. The oil-rich state has had two rival administrations since mid-2014, when militants overran the capital and forced the parliament to flee to the country's remote east. The two administrations reached agreement on a unity government last December, and the new government received endorsement by the United Nations. However, it has had difficulty taking over. Daesh, which is in control of some parts of Iraq and Syria, and other militants have also used the lack of security in Libya to get a foot in the door there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Man Of Modest Means? Putin Says He Made Just $133,000 In 2015 April 15, 2016 by Carl Schreck Kremlin opponents and Western officials have long accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of using his power to accrue massive wealth and lavish real estate, including a sprawling Black Sea estate widely referred to as "Putin's Palace." Officially, of course, the Russian leader's pockets are considerably shallower, as evidenced by his income disclosures released by the Kremlin on April 15 showing that he earned 8.9 million rubles ($133,900) in 2015, up from the 7.6 million rubles ($115,000) he reported last year. There was no mention of the Baroque-style seaside mansion allegedly built for him in the southern city of Gelendzhik, to which the Kremlin has denied any link. Instead, Putin declared ownership only of a 77-square-meter apartment, a 1,500-square-meter plot of land, and an 18-square-meter garage. The declaration also showed that he uses a 153-square-meter apartment. Nor did Putin declare any expensive foreign cars favored by Russia's political and financial elite. His disclosure shows that he owns two rare Soviet-made automobiles, a Russian-made Lada Niva off-road vehicle, and a boat trailer. But no sign that he owns a boat -- although a 2012 report co-authored by opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead near the Kremlin last year, said Putin has access to a fleet of four yachts, including one with a waterfall and a wine cellar. The new disclosure echoes similarly modest income declarations by Putin in previous years. But its release comes amid heightened scrutiny of Putin's wealth, including the leak of a trove of financial and legal documents detailing the offshore financial dealings of his close associates. Investigative reports based on the documents, known as the Panama Papers, show that his close friend, the cellist Sergei Roldugin, owned secretive offshore firms through which some $2 billion moved. Putin was not named in the documents, but Kremlin critics allege that Putin may be an ultimate beneficiary of this and other offshore cash -- suggestions he and the Kremlin vigorously reject. The U.S. Treasury Department has said that Putin "has investments" in Gunvor, a company formerly owned by his associate Gennady Timchenko, a Russian billionaire, and "may have access to Gunvor funds." Gunvor and the Kremlin deny these claims. Adam Szubin, the Treasury's acting secretary for terrorism and financial crimes, told the BBC in January that Putin has been amassing wealth outside the public view. "He supposedly draws a state salary of something like $110,000 a year," Szubin said. "That is not an accurate statement of the man's wealth, and he has longtime training and practices in terms of how to mask his actual wealth." Putin's 2015 income declaration shows he fared worse financially last year than other Russian officials, including his own spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. Peskov over the past year has come under withering criticism for pricey accoutrements -- most notably a wristwatch allegedly worth some $600,000 -- luxury real estate, and vacations that Kremlin foes say are far beyond the means of a civil servant. Peskov earned 36.7 million rubles ($552,500) in 2015, according to his declaration, up nearly fourfold from the 9.2 million he reported last year. His wife, 2006 Olympic ice dancing champion Tatiana Navka, earned 89 million rubles, according to the declaration. However modest Putin's official wealth may be, he does appear to have extremely rich relatives. The Russian version of Forbes magazine reported this week that Kirill Shamalov, widely reported to be Putin's son-in-law, has become Russia's youngest billionaire at the age of 34. Based on his official income, Putin also has a way to go to match the up to $2 billion that the Panama Papers tied to offshore companies held by Roldugin, reportedly a godfather to one of Putin's daughters. "He needs 17,000 years to earn as much as the cellist Roldugin did by busking in pedestrian underpasses," Russian Twitter user Sergei Guryanov quipped. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/a-man- of-modest-means-putin-says-he-made- just-133000-in-2015/27677602.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 Military Registered Eight Ceasefire Violations in Syria Sputnik News 23:23 16.04.2016(updated 23:55 16.04.2016) The Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeimim airbase registered a total of eight violations of the truce in Syria in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Two violations of the truce have been registered in Damascus, where militants of the Syrian Islamist group Jaish al-Islam carried out mortar shelling for two times, the ministry added. In total, the number of settlements participating in the ceasefire regime has reached 63, according to the bulletin. "The ceasefire regime has been observed in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. Within last 24 hours, 8 ceasefire violations have been registered," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website. Syrian Army Repels Al-Nusra Front Attacks in Aleppo Syrian army repelled two attacks on its units by the al-Nusra Front militant group in Aleppo, while the militants continue their warfare in three Syrian provinces, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. "Jabhat al-Nusra [Nusra Front] militants do not stop warfare against the government troops in the Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. Armed formations of Jabhat al-Nusra carried out two attacks against units of the government troops near Handrat (Aleppo). Units of the Syrian Armed Forces have repelled the attacks," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SHARE Earths water masters recycling By Rachel Webber Dear Dr. Universe: Do we drink the same water dinosaurs drank? Sophia, 7 Dear Sophia: Yes. The water on our Earth today is the same water that's been here for nearly 5 billion years. Only a tiny bit of it has escaped out into space. As far as we know, new water hasn't formed either. That means there's a very high chance the water in your glass is what thirsty dinosaurs were gulping about 65 million years ago. It's possible that you could drink the same water as a stegosaurus or a T-rex because of the way water circulates around our planet. A dinosaur, you and I are actually part of this water cycle, too. As water on the surface of lakes, oceans and rivers warms up, it travels into the sky as very tiny droplets, or vapor. When the water vapor gets colder, it turns back to liquid to help form clouds. When the liquid gets so heavy it can't stay in the atmosphere anymore, it falls, or "precipitates," as rain, snow, sleet, hail or, my favorite, graupel. Once the precipitation reaches the ground or lands in lakes, oceans and rivers, the cycle continues. You, a dinosaur and I drink water, and eat foods that contain this water, too. It's so refreshing to lap it up from my bowl. We get rid of some water as fluids or gases, such as the ones we let out when we breathe. That's what I found out from my friend Kent Keller who investigates the water beneath Earth's surface. He's a geologist with Washington State University's School of the Environment. He said water also moves in ways we don't always think about. Scientists have found water trapped in minerals deep within the Earth's mantle and crust, he explained. This water is even older than dinosaurs. It doesn't look like liquid water that's in your glass, but it still made of the same stuff. "We've realized there is a lot of water down there," Keller said. "There's as much water chemically speaking, more or less, as there is in the oceans. It's just in a different form." Another place we find water from dinosaur days is in organic matter. When the dinosaurs died, their bodies broke down to become part of the Earth. Over time, some of this organic matter became shale, coal and oil we use for fuel. The water dinosaurs drank is in more than just the water we drink, minerals and organic matter. It's also what we use to shower, cook and water plants for food. Right now, Keller is visiting with fellow scientists at the Global Institute for Water Security in Saskatchewan, Canada. They are curious about how we'll take care of our water for the future. "Life as we know it every cell in every plant and animal is mostly water. To say it requires water is an understatement," Keller said. The water in your glass may be the same water dinosaurs drank, but it's also the same water that's going to keep life on our planet in the years to come. Send emails to Rachel Webber at Washington State University, Dr.Universe@wsu.edu or visit her website at askdruniverse.com. SHARE Students display talents during tour By Aubree Bailey As the winter chill fades, Cornerstone Christian School opens its doors. On March 29, the faith-based school that combines God and education hosted its annual spring open house. Students from the National Honor Society guided tours around the growing campus, and prospective families conversed with teachers and current students to gain more insight on the atmosphere and purpose of the institution. In the elementary building, the Parent Teacher Fellowship put on its annual spring book fair. Based on Psalm 47:7, the theme this year was "King of Our Jungle." A vast variety of Christian titles, devotionals and Bibles filled the artfully decorated library. By far the most crowded building, though, was the gym. The second- and third-grade classes performed their Live Museum. Each student acted as a different historical or biblical figure and prepared a short monologue outlining the life and achievements of their character. Bright backdrops and elaborate costumes added an imaginative touch to the transformed gymnasium. Other classes' projects were also displayed in the space, and the building was filled with terrific examples of the students' creativity and dedication. Preparing for TAPPS Another highlight of the spring approaches as the high school students prepare to compete in the annual TAPPS competitions. TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) is similar to UIL and hosts statewide academic, music and art contests each school year. Cornerstone has had great success at these events in the past, and students have consistently placed in the top 10 in the categories of piano, writing, painting and yearbook, as well as others. This year, the school is sending representatives to vie for places in the science, math, speech, literary criticism, Spanish, spelling, music and general art divisions. The school staff anticipates seeing its students excel in these areas and prays for their safe travel throughout the semester. 3rd-quarter awards The recent Third Quarter Awards Ceremony also served as a demonstration of the students' excellence this season, and many elementary as well as secondary students received high academic marks and perfect attendance. This ceremony also served to recognize a handful of high school students on their high character and academic proficiency by presenting them with the ACSI Distinguished Christian Character Award. The Association of Christian Schools International accredits the school each year and seeks out students who show leadership and integrity as well as other traits and qualities. These students were selected by a panel of teachers and determined by the panel and association. Each quarter, the school strives to encourage students and show how proud they are of their hard work and achievements. Through out the busy spring, Cornerstone continues to be a place that fosters not only scholarly accomplishments but creativity and Christian character as well. Aubree Bailey is a student at Cornerstone Christian School. Pirelli is now edging close to finally sealing its new deal to stay in F1 beyond the end of this season. The deal with Bernie Ecclestone is already done for 2017 and beyond, but details over the next contract with the FIA have held up the rubber stamp. The biggest issues are over testing, with the Italian supplier demanding much more running in order to prepare bigger tyres for the much-faster cars of 2017. When asked how those talks are progressing, Pirelli's F1 chief Paul Hembery said in China: "I think we are moving forward. "At the beginning of next week the final decision will be taken, including a contract with the FIA." Indeed, obvious progress has been made in the Shanghai paddock, as it emerged that Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren-Honda and Williams have all put up their hands to modify 2015-spec test cars to simulate the speeds of 2017. Hembery confirmed that "five teams" have decided voluntarily to help with the 2017 tyre development, with the first test outing already tentatively pencilled in for "the end of July, around Hockenheim". And crucial wind tunnel tyres in 2017 specification have now been released to the teams, allowing design work to press ahead on the cars for next year. But that doesn't mean everyone is happy with Pirelli, with Romain Grosjean even calling the mandatory minimum tyre pressures imposed for Shanghai "ridiculous". "It's like a piece of wood, it's just not driveable," said the Haas driver. And Grosjean was not the only driver complaining, so Hembery said it is possible the mandatory pressures will be tweaked. "The process is that on Friday night we will get telemetry data from the teams, compare it with the results of computer simulation, and check to see if the prescribed pressure settings are correct," he said. (GMM) Haas, the new American team, has stepped up the tone of its rhetoric amid criticism of its close alliance with Ferrari. The team's two points finishes in Australia and Bahrain respectively have sparked controversy in the pitlane that driver Romain Grosjean brands as "jealousy". Technical boss Gunther Steiner, meanwhile, said Haas is doing nothing wrong by buying parts from Ferrari, declaring in Shanghai: "While people can express their views, I suggest everyone also reads the rules, as they are easily available." And now team founder Gene Haas has come out with an even stronger rejoinder to the critics, telling reporters in China the complaining is simply "sour grapes". "A lot of the teams at the back really don't know what competition is," he said. "They're getting maybe a little too fat and happy. "I guess there are a lot of whiners in F1 that talk about our success." Haas' final comment about "whiners" may also be a reference to none other than F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who told business journalist Christian Sylt recently that the new American squad's car is good "because it's a Ferrari". The French news agency AFP said Haas, 63, was even ready with a "sheet of paper detailing a list of parts his team makes itself". An insider told us the Californian is being very bold in facing down Ecclestone. "I've honestly never seen anything like that before and it made me think that success has gone to his head," the source told us. The source explained that the fact Haas has compiled a written list of the parts it makes for itself could be a sign he is "worried" about a potential challenge. "We never came into this (sport) to run at the back," Haas insisted. "If people don't like that then that's their problem, not my problem." (GMM) Jean Todt's predecessor says the Frenchman should put formula one back on the right track by having the current agreements challenged in court. Amid a poisonous political climate at present and fierce criticism of the sport's deadlocked governance processes and rules, current president Todt admitted in Bahrain recently that the FIA should have total control of F1. But he said Bernie Ecclestone's existing agreements with the Paris federation and the eleven competing teams do not expire until 2020. So if he behaves like a "dictator" and tears up the rules and the contracts, Todt tipped the FIA to be sued. "But I've been entrusted by 250 FIA members to be the president, so I cannot allow the FIA to be sued, and we would lose," said the Frenchman. But getting sued, argues Todt's much more brazen predecessor Max Mosley, is exactly what could steer F1 back onto the right track. "Todt is terrified of being sued," Mosley told London's Times newspaper. "But the only thing you can do is to go to litigation and arbitration. "Todt is all for peace and compromise but you have to be prepared to risk litigation or you can't do anything. You have to be prepared to go full steam ahead," he insisted. (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down speculation F1 drivers' anger at the political situation in the sport could lead to a strike. The response to the controversial letter penned recently by the drivers' association GPDA, in which the drivers hit out at F1's governance, was generally dismissive. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, for instance, called the drivers "windbags", but Vettel was quoted by the German newsmagazine Focus as playing that down. "None of us takes that too seriously as he is known for always having a quote ready on his lips," said the Ferrari driver, who along with Alex Wurz is a GPDA director. "The debate must not be reduced to a single person," Vettel told Bild newspaper. But the other GPDA director, Jenson Button, seems less impressed, describing the backlash to the letter as "catty". "Our comments were correct and in the right manner," the McLaren driver insists. "It's up to people to reply in the right manner, and so far I haven't seen any of that." 18 of the current drivers made another stir on Wednesday this week by getting together in Shanghai for an ultra-rare collective dinner. "The current problems have united us (drivers) more than was the case with previous generations," said Vettel. But he played down the notion that the drivers might make their voices heard more loudly than ever by organising a strike or race boycott. Vettel insisted: "I don't believe that is an issue in the current situation." (GMM) Ferrari may be poised in China to secure its first victory of 2016. The red cars were first and second in Friday practice at the Shanghai circuit, and fast not only over a single lap but also in the crucial 'long runs'. Mercedes, whose Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have won every grand prix since last September, say they are taking notice. "Ferrari is closer," a team engineer told Auto Motor und Sport. "On a lap it is now three tenths rather than six. And in race trim they are a real challenge." World champion Lewis Hamilton told Sky Italia: "It seems that we're going to have a bigger fight than we ever have, so it should be good for the fans." It could also be perfect timing for the Maranello team, whose demanding president Sergio Marchionne is planning to attend the Chinese grand prix on Sunday, according to Italy's Tuttosport. "We promise to earn more (money) and win in formula one," the Italian-Canadian said after a shareholders meeting in Amsterdam. "These things are sacred and non-negotiable," Marchionne insisted. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, however, moved to ease some of that pressure by describing Mercedes as "the strongest team I have seen in the last ten years". But former F1 driver David Coulthard told the Telegraph: "Ferrari don't really have any excuses. They have done their restructuring, have all the budget in the world, and still don't quite seem to be there. "Now is their chance to prove us wrong," he said. (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is on the front row of the grid in China because his Red Bull is "the best chassis" in 2016. That is the claim of the energy drink team's surly official Dr Helmut Marko, referring to Australian Ricciardo's surprise second place behind pole sitter Nico Rosberg in the damp qualifying session in Shanghai. "We didn't have it (Ricciardo's pace) on the radar," admitted Mercedes' Toto Wolff. "Ricciardo is a strong driver. And the car is also good. These conditions in particular seem to have suited them," he added. Even Marko doesn't disagree with that, admitting he would have liked the torrential conditions of morning practice to have carried over into qualifying. "Then we would have been on pole. For sure," the Austrian is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "Because we have the best chassis." Marko suggests, therefore, that only the Tag-Heuer branded Renault power unit is letting the team down, even though the mistakes of Ferrari's drivers helped with the result on Saturday. "The Ferrari drivers did not put their laps together," he admitted. (GMM) McLaren may not be Stoffel Vandoorne's only option to step up into a full-time race cockpit for 2017. The Belgian, strongly backed by the British team, made an impressive debut recently in Bahrain, where Fernando Alonso sat out the race with chest injuries. Spaniard Alonso is back in action this weekend, but 24-year-old Vandoorne, the reigning GP2 champion, made his point two weeks ago in Bahrain. "At this stage I don't think he (Vandoorne) has to prove anything more," McLaren team boss Eric Boullier said in China. "It's just a question of having an opportunity." That opportunity could come in 2017, with reports suggesting F1 veteran Jenson Button might have to switch to Williams in order to continue his long career. "This year I was already close to a permanent race seat," Vandoorne told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "Right now it's too early to talk about 2017, but the coming months will be interesting," he said. "McLaren and some other teams have already expressed their interest in me." Vandoorne's talent and potential is being mentioned in similar tones to that of Max Verstappen, who is from the Netherlands. Verstappen said it would be good for another driver from a Benelux country to shine in F1. "It would be nice if we can dominate as drivers from the Lage Landen (low countries)," the 18-year-old said, before smiling: "But with me first and Stoffel in second place." (GMM) Jose Silvano Alvarez Jr. has been sitting in a cell in the Rockingham County Jail for 236 days. Charged with two counts of first-degree murder, he has only left his cell, which is no larger than 7 feet by 12 feet 2 inches, for four brief appearances in Rockingham County Superior Court. He waits to see if Rockingham County District Attorney Craig Blitzer will pursue the death penalty in the killings of Troy and LaDonna Moseley French and when he might stand trial on those charges. A hooded intruder broke into the Frenches house in the Bethany neighborhood near Reidsville in the early morning of Feb. 4, 2012, and shot them to death while their 19-year-old daughter, Whitley, watched from the stairs above. Investigators say that Jose Alvarez Jr., her brother-in-law, fired those shots before vanishing into the night. And the Frenches and the Moseleys, two beloved families in Rockingham County, have been waiting, too. They havent escaped their confinement of this case for 1,534 days. They waited 269 days for Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page to announce that investigators had found DNA in the Frenches house and that the gun used to shoot the couple had been registered to Troy French. They waited 999 days for investigators to connect that DNA to John Alvarez, now the husband of Whitley French and Joses younger brother. They waited another 291 days before the state crime lab matched that DNA to Jose Alvarez Jr. The families continue to wait for investigators to announce publicly that five drops of blood found on and around the stairs of the house led to the arrest of a man they had known for years. They waited. They talked. They heard whispers. They heard questions. Who had killed Troy and LaDonna French? Their first real answer came on Aug. 25, 2015, when investigators knocked on the doors of several family members and said they had made an arrest. That night, Blitzer and Page stood before the cameras and told the media. Then everything would come to a halt again. Everything but the questions. The Frenches, Moseleys and Elaine and Jose Alvarez Sr. all bound close by tragedy still wanted to know: Did he do it? Why? How? Did he act alone? Where was Troy Frenchs 9-mm Hi-Point handgun? How was Whitley injured that night? Three years ago I made a promise to the families of Troy and LaDonna French that the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office would not stop until an arrest was made in connection to the murder of their loved ones, Page said in front of TV cameras that night in August. Today we made good on that promise. Page and Blitzer declined to comment on many questions: What had led to the arrest of Jose Alvarez Jr.? When had they developed him as a suspect? Did he act alone? Did he break into the house or was he let in? How long was he considered a suspect? Did his DNA match what was found at the crime scene? Did Whitley or John Alvarez know he was involved? They also declined to comment on whether to expect more arrests. We notified four different family members throughout four different locations in the state East Carolina, Greensboro and two in Rockingham County, Blitzer said. The sheriff and I, Chief Assistant District Attorney Mark Keeney and Captain (Tammy) Howell were at the Moseley address. They seemed to be relieved, had a lot of questions, like you all, which regrettably we cant answer questions in a pending case thats an ongoing investigation. Blitzer, who took over the case in January 2015 when he succeeded Phil Berger Jr. as the district attorney, did answer one key question about Alvarez Jr.s participation in the double homicide: We dont need a motive, but we have not developed a motive at this time. Page, sheriff for 18 years, also told reporters that this was a case on which he had dwelled. Each day when you get up and each night when you go to bed and youre thinking about a case and the impact it has had on a community, on the county, across the state, it feels good that someone is brought to justice on this, Page said. But again our job is not done. We still have information were going to continue to work. The case is still open until weve exhausted all other information. I would think also making an arrest today also would put some relief on the community that the person involved who lived in the community, or previously lived in the community, has been taken into custody in a serious case. I would think that there are some persons throughout the community that are relieved to know this information, too. And that was it. The lights went out. Judges sealed records. Investigators dodged questions. Witnesses and experts in various locations went mum. Officials said they would release details at the appropriate time. That time hasnt come. Page, an imposing figure known for his political ambition, his steel-handed control of law enforcement and a love for appearing on camera, is oddly quiet. His spokesman, Kevin Suthard, said the sheriff is denying all interview requests about the French homicides. Amid those many questions and dearth of answers, the fourth anniversary of one of Rockingham Countys most analyzed crimes in modern history came and went Feb. 4. Troy and LaDonna Frenchs granite gravestone is visible along Brown Road in the first row of markers at Sharon Baptist Church. Their burial site is just a mile from where she grew up on property owned for generations by members of her family. The skies were streaked with clouds much like it was the day they were killed in 2012. The sun rose and peeked through gray. This time, instead of illuminating a crime that had just taken place, it shone on the victims graves. A flock of seagulls sat in a nearby field until a light, chilly breeze sent them soaring above the churchs cemetery. Nearby a woman who lived across the street from the cemetery in the close-knit community of Bethany and who had watched LaDonna Moseley grow up looked up at the birds before turning to look at the graves. Were still waitingon closure, she said quietly. The arrest of Jose Alvarez Jr., 29, has done little to explain the unthinkable. It could be that this guy acted alone, but we just dont know, said Craig French, Troys younger brother. Were going to find out, but we dont know when. He said a hundred different theories of what might have happened and who is responsible still plague him. LaDonna Frenchs parents, Donald and Nancy Moseley, both in their 80s, she confined to a motorized cart for transportation, continue to pray that peace comes during their lifetimes. They recently placed their own tombstone next to their daughter and son-in-laws marker. Their birthdates are present, but a spot is left blank for the dates of their deaths. Shortly after 8 a.m. on the anniversary, the Moseleys drove past the cemetery and slowed but did not stop. Its something the Moseleys see every morning when they drive the 11 miles into Reidsville. On this morning an arrangement of artificial poinsettias sat in a vase that divides LaDonnas name from her husbands beneath a shared, medium-sized, gray, granite monument. The Moseleys headstone, to its left, is nearly identical, except for the words across its bottom: God is good. Thats a philosophy to which family members cling as they await their answers, a binding strength during all these years of waiting. He (God) is not caught (surprised) by anything, said Lisa French Moore, Troy Frenchs younger sister. Nothing surprises him, and that was a main staple for us to work through this. Craig French said the families are at peace knowing their loved ones are in heaven. These deaths also have left them fractured. Grandparents on both sides see their loved ones in the faces of Whitley French Alvarez and Hunter French, the children of Troy and LaDonna. Theyve watched as Hunter and Whitley have navigated their teens and early adult years without their mother or father. This is the time in life that I need advice about life and what choices to make about money and school, Whitley French said during an interview in 2012, about six months after the shootings. And there are those nagging questions: Why would Jose Alvarez Jr. want to kill Troy and LaDonna French? Who, if anyone, helped him? Some family members have been outspoken in their theories, which has caused friction between the Frenches and the Moseleys. I think everyone is on edge wanting to know why, Craig French said. Thats the biggest thing, and thats going to make your emotions run one way or another. But those differences havent kept the families apart. I wouldnt let that happen, Troys mother, Ann French-Faucette, said. In May 2015, just months before Jose Alvarez Jr.s arrest, the three families celebrated the marriage of Whitley French and John Alvarez. Her younger brother gave her away. Jose Alvarez Jr. served as a groomsman. After the arrest, members of all three families sat, wept and embraced during court hearings. Hunter Frenchs Eagle Scout Award ceremony on Nov. 8, 2015, again brought together the Moseleys, Frenches and John Alvarez at Reidsville Christian Church. They always feel Troy and LaDonna Frenchs absence at gatherings such as this one. I definitely would have wanted my dad here to see me, Hunter French, 18, said following his ceremony. I know theyre watching me now, and theyre proud of me. Hunter French, a poised high school student thrust into the spotlight by the brutal deaths of his parents, chose not to talk about the homicides, but he continues to honor both his mother and father by fulfilling wishes they had for him. Troy French never earned his Eagle Scout award. He told Hunters troop committee chairman, Tim Underwood, that he wanted to help his son and any other boys in the troop achieve that honor, which takes several years. A month before Troy was killed, father and son planned Hunters Eagle Scout project, an idea that would incorporate their love of sports and Rockingham County High School, where Troy and LaDonna had fallen in love. Hunter didnt complete his project a heated ticket booth for the baseball team at Rockingham County until he turned 18. I wanted to do something that honored my parents at Rockingham, he said. A plaque on the booth dedicates his project to his slain parents. Thank you, Troy and LaDonna, for the part you played in Hunters life, Underwood said during the presentation. You might not be with us now, but you live on with us. Hunter presented pins meant for an Eagle Scouts parents to Nancy and Donald Moseley, who helped him complete the project. Normally stoic, Donald Moseleys eyes filled with tears. I wish his mom and dad were here, he said. They would have been tickled to death. Since that ceremony, prosecutors have brought Jose Alvarez Jr. into court only twice, once for a hearing to address how investigators would handle evidence going forward, another when Blitzer sought a judges order to keep the News & Record from obtaining a copy of the 911 call from the night of the murders. Each time he has sat quietly at the defense table, next to Vincent Rabil, a longtime attorney from Winston-Salem appointed by the Capital Defenders Office to defend him. He wears a tan, jail-issued jump suit, his hands and feet shackled. Recently he has started to wear heavy black-rimmed glasses. The dark hair on his slightly balding scalp is in need of a trim. He doesnt say a word or show emotion and listens as Rabil whispers to him what is happening. In the meantime, Page and his investigators continue to compile information as Blitzer searches through evidence, looking for enough proof for a jury to find Alvarez guilty and perhaps sentence him to death. Alvarez has not entered a plea, and the case is on no specific judges docket. From what is known publicly, Blitzer, despite having stated he has no motive, has connected Alvarez to the crime scene through the blood drops gathered in the hours immediately following the shootings. Rabil said he and the prosecutor are working together to conclude the case. There has been a flow of discovery evidence between them. Neither will say whether there is a plea deal on the table. The Frenches, Moseleys and Alvarezes wait. There could be a trial that might not begin for months or even years. The transitions of life wont wait for that day. Whitley French Alvarez has declined all requests for comment about her parents deaths. French-Faucette said Whitley has trouble talking to anyone, at this point, about the double homicide she witnessed. She is reluctant to return to the house on Pinewood Road. In May she will graduate with honors from East Carolina University with a degree in nursing and plans to move, with her husband, John, to Fort Worth, Texas, where she has been hired at Cook Childrens Medical Center, a trauma hospital. A month later, Hunter French will graduate from Greensboro Day School. He plans to attend a community college in Wilmington while he decides his major. He has spent the past year living with Faye and Carl Stone, his great aunt and uncle, after moving among various family households. The Frenches and Moseleys see their pain. They hear their worries. They feel the same despair. All of them rely on their faith and love of one another to guide them through. French-Faucette married a long-time friend without her son there to see it. Craig French has had to learn to enjoy golf and movies without hearing his big brothers laugh. Hes home with the Lord, but hes not here with us, Craig French said. A Bible verse at the bottom of Troy and LaDonna Frenchs monument reminds that the separation is temporary. It reads: Thus we will always be with the Lord. The second half of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, missing from the granite, sets a meeting place for Troy and LaDonna Frenchs loved ones: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. As a U.S. citizen and taxpayer, I am the employer of Sens. Burr and Tillis and they are my employees. They are expected to perform the duties assigned to them by the job description cited above. The president has done his job by nominating a person to become the next member of the Supreme Court. Now it is incumbent on senators to perform their duty, by either denying or confirming that appointment. Burr and Tillis must insist that the Senate hold hearings on the nominee, and vote him up or down. Do not try to tell me that the people must be heard: 65 million of us already spoke when we elected Obama. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory muscled through HB 2, an inflammatory law claiming to protect North Carolina children from possible assault by transgendered people in public restrooms. Few Democrats supported the bill. The logic for the so-called Bathroom Bill rests on nothing apart from ignorance and bigotry. To my chagrin, HB 2 became front-page news for several days as I traveled out of state, and I was questioned as to why North Carolina is so regressive and disinterested in civil rights. The economic fallout of McCrorys decision has been swift and damaging. In a stroke of revealing irony, federal prosecutors soon reported that former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert abused at least four boys. If any of these conservative homophobes are interested in protecting children from sexual assault, perhaps they might begin by policing Senate restrooms and their own political role models, given the very real chance they might encounter a predator within their closest ranks. Cynthia Adams Greensboro As we live more of our lives online, the companies we trust with our digital secrets are increasingly clashing with authorities who want access to the messages, pictures, financial records and other data we accumulate in electronic form. Microsoft opened a new front in the battle over digital privacy this week, suing the Justice Department over its use of court orders requiring the company to turn over customer files stored in its computer centers often without notifying the customer involved. Its the latest in a series of legal challenges brought by Microsoft and some of its leading competitors. Apple recently fought a high-profile battle over the FBIs demand for help unlocking an encrypted iPhone in San Bernardino, Calif., and its continuing to challenge similar demands in other cases. Other companies, including Google, Facebook and Yahoo, have increased their use of encryption. Theyve also sued for the right to report how often authorities demand customer information under national security laws, after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked details of government data-gathering efforts. Privacy advocates have applauded those moves, while authorities complain they could stymie legitimate investigations. But those legal maneuvers may benefit the companies as well as their customers. In the wake of Snowdens revelations and high-profile hacking attacks, tech firms want to reassure customers their information is safe. Privacy is an economic good at this point, said Jennifer Daskal, a former Justice Department attorney who now teaches law at American University in Washington, D.C. Its good for business because consumers care about it. So the companies are competing over being privacy protective. Many tech companies make money directly from customer information, of course, by selling advertising targeted to their users interests and behavior. While some privacy advocates have criticized those practices, others note thats different from handing over information to authorities who have the power to put people in jail. In the latest case, Microsoft Corp. says the U.S. Justice Department is using a decades-old law to obtain court orders for customers data, while in some cases prohibiting the company from notifying the customer. Microsoft says those non-disclosure orders violate its constitutional right to free speech, as well as its customers protection against unreasonable searches. Microsoft is also fighting a court battle in New York over the governments demand for emails of a non-U.S. citizen that the company has stored in a data center located in Ireland. Microsoft President Brad Smith has argued the case could open the door to other governments demanding information stored in the United States. As people and businesses store more information on their electronic gadgets, or online in corporate data centers, these companies are increasingly the intermediary between the government and our own privacy, said Daskal. One former federal official was critical of Microsofts latest lawsuit. Daniel D.J. Rosenthal, a former Justice Department lawyer, said it could lead to warning child molesters, domestic abusers, violent criminals and terrorists that theyre being investigated. But authorities are required to disclose most search warrants for information stored in filing cabinets, safes or other physical locations, as Microsoft notes in its lawsuit. With more people storing data online, the company contends the government is exploiting that trend as a means of expanding its power to conduct secret investigations. The company understands the need for secrecy in some cases, Smith added in a statement. But based on the many secrecy orders we have received, we question whether these orders are grounded in specific facts that truly demand secrecy. To the contrary, it appears that the issuance of secrecy orders has become too routine. Microsofts business customers regularly convey to us their strong desire to know when the government is obtaining their data, Smith said, while adding that individual customers should have the same right. The Redmond, Wash.-based company says authorities used the 1986 law, known as the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, to demand customer information more than 5,600 times in the last 18 months. In nearly half those cases, a court ordered the company to keep the demand secret and, in about 1,750 cases, those gag orders were indefinite. In recent years, the tech industry and civil liberties groups have pressed Congress to reform several aspects of the law, which they say is outdated, but previous attempts have stalled. Hopefully this litigation will either produce a ruling or it will spur Congress to act, said Neil Richards, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Microsofts move was also praised by Aaron Levie, the CEO of online data storage company Box. In a statement, Levie said his company has been expanding its encrypted storage services to give customers more control over their data. Levie added: We also fully support Microsofts effort to require more transparency in government data requests and the governments full observance of the protections guaranteed by the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. GREENWICH Private donors have responded to funding troubles at Safe Rides, enabling the program, which provides weekend rides to Greenwich teenagers who dont have safe transportation home, to continue. So far $10,000 has been pledged to the Transportation Association of Greenwich, which operates Safe Rides, after operating funds for next year were left out of the town budget. TAG had requested an allocation of $18,000 for 2016-17. Unfortunately due to communication issues the request for money in the budget did not get transmitted, said First Selectman Peter Tesei. That left the future of the program in doubt. James Boutelle, TAGs executive director, had said it would be a major challenge to keep Safe Rides going next year without town money to pay for insurance, fuel and other expenses. It appears the program, with the help of town officials, will try to cover next years costs through private funding. Tesei donated $2,000 of his unused campaign funds left from his reelection last fall to TAG to be used for Safe Rides. Certainly the BET can appropriate up to $5,000 without going to the Representative Town Meeting but my preference is to seek out additional private funding, Tesei said. If in fact this program is going to sustain itself it will require broad citizen support and support from the community that uses it, which is our young people. Also contributing last week was former Republican Town Committee Chairman Ed Dadakis, who gave the organization $8,000 through his foundation. This is an incentive grant and we hope that this will inspire people to raise whatever other money they need however they can, Dadakis said. Dadakis Excelerate Foundation has been in place for close to 10 years. He said its goal is to give money to organizations where the grant will have a big impact even if its not a lot of money. Other local organizations that have received Excelerate Foundation grants include the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, the Boy Scouts and Community Centers Inc. Dadakis said he wanted to support Safe Rides for two reasons, the first being that it can protect Greenwich youths from making the mistake of driving when theyve been drinking. Its important for kids to have that safe haven where they can get a safe ride home and not have to worry about mom or dad, Dadakis said. You dont want there to be a situation where a teen is at a party and knows theyve had too much to drink but theyre afraid of calling their parents because they dont want to get in trouble so they get behind the wheel. Dadakis said he also supported the organization because of what it can teach Greenwichs youth. This is an organization thats for Greenwichs youth and its run by Greenwichs youth, Dadakis said. It really fosters a sense of ownership and innovation that I think serves the kids in this town very well. Peter Negrea, president of Safe Rides and a Greenwich High School student, said he was pleased to see the money coming in to keep the program going not just through the rest of the school year, especially with prom and graduation coming up, but into next year as well. Negrea and other student leaders in the organization had urged the Board of Estimate and Taxation to restore funding for Safe Rides in next years budget. When that didnt happen, they worked to publicize the problem. I think its phenomenal, Negrea said on Friday. He said he was thrilled by the response because it shows the support in place for Safe Rides. But he said he was not taking his attention off the bigger picture. Its still very important that we dont forget that we are going to need town support for this eventually, Negrea said. To close the remaining gap for next year, Tesei said he had met with Negrea and Youth Services Coordinator Jenny Byxbee about a plan to find 16 people to give $500. That would produce the remaining $8,000 needed. Maybe the students will be able to pick up one sixteenth of that with $500, Tesei said. We can resolve the issue for the year ahead. Thats not to say theres not going to be further discussions about the town contributing to it through our external entities budget but at least we will be able to sustain the program going forward. Negrea is set to graduate in June but said he is confident in the direction of the program. I have no doubt that they are going to keep pushing this forward and get this program to where it needs to be, he said. Donations earmarked for Safe Rides can be made to TAG. More information is available at http://www.ridetag.org/. kborsuk@scni.com GREENWICH School officials have scheduled a public meeting on school start times for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club. Tuesdays meeting will be the third of three forums held in the past two weeks to get community input on the eight scheduling options that school officials are considering. It will include a video replay of school officials presentation at the April 6 meeting at Central Middle School and then a public-comment section. Its important for the stakeholders to weigh in on the proposed options, and the board is appreciative of all the feedback, Board of Education Chairman Laura Erickson said. Superintendent of Schools William McKersie makes his recommendation on start times at the school boards May 12 meeting at North Street School. The Board of Education will then vote on his recommendation at their June 14 meeting at New Lebanon School. Many students and parents want later start times at Greenwich High School and the districts three middle schools because they say later schedules will help students get more sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends secondary students not start classes before 8:30 a.m. Greenwich High and the middle schools respectively begin at 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. But some of the options would involve elementary children starting as early as 7:30 a.m., a scenario that many parents have said would cut into their childrens sleep. At the same time, a number of working parents of young children said they do not want late starts around 9 a.m., for instance because such timetables would complicate their morning child-care arrangements. There are also two forums scheduled between McKersies May 12 recommendation and the boards scheduled June 16 vote on start times. Parents and other community members can also comment on school schedules at the school boards April 21 meeting at Riverside School and May 26 meeting at Western Middle School. pschott@scni.com; 203-625-4439; twitter: @paulschott While several local Republican politicians and bigwigs have expressed their intention to either outright support or consider supporting the truly horrifying con artist Donald Trump for president, not every GOPer feels the same way. And while itll be interesting to see if these supporters will pro-actively agitate for a Trump nomination at a contested convention, at least it will show us their true colors. Either they actually agree with Trumps despicable positions, or theyre simply sheep. The old canard says Democrats fall in love, but Republicans fall in line. So hopefully most Republicans in the Greenwichtocracy arent mini-Trumps themselves, but are simply doing what comes naturally, following the front-runner. But enough about Trump. Lets talk about the guy who just because hes not Trump or Ted Cruz is considered the reasonable one. Remember how the Beatles were characterized with Paul being The Cute One, John was The Smart One, George, The Quiet One. Ringo was, I believe, The Other One, but whatever. In actuality, Paul was pretty smart himself and George was never really quiet when he was passionate about something. But we have this need to pigeonhole people and give them labels that might help us understand them better. So while Trump and Cruz are the Worst One and the Worser One, John Kasich, because we desperately need to believe we have a full spectrum of candidates to choose from, is The Reasonable One. Haiti - FLASH : 7.8 Earthquake in Ecuador where about 30,000 Haitians live Saturday at 6:58 p.m. local time, a violent 7.8 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was located off the Pacific, at a depth of 20 km shaken Ecuador. According to a provisional assessment (Sunday morning) there are at least 100 victims, more than 600 injured and extensive damage in the southwest of the country, until more distant places like Guayaquil. This is the most violent earthquake that Ecuador has experienced since 1979. Recall that nearly 30,000 Haitians live in Ecuador according to the latest estimates and whose families, relatives and friends are worried in Haiti because they are without news. The Embassy of Haiti in Ecuador informs that through its crisis cell, together with local authorities it receives all important information about the safety and the situation of Haitians affected by the terrible earthquake. The Embassy of Haiti in Ecuador "asks the Haitian community to remain vigilant and observe the councils and actions of the authorities. The crisis cell ask all compatriots living in Ecuador to kindly contact us and inform us of any urgent situations regarding those affected by the earthquake. Please contact in Ecuador the : 022547565 or 0991890878" HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - DR : Development of the border, 200,000 jobs over 10 years... Friday, the Binational Economic Council Quisqueya (CEBQ) presented its development project for the Haitiaon-Dominican border at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest global development institution devoted exclusively to the private sector belonging to the Group of the World Bank. As part of the activity "Private Sector Solutions in a complex market", in which were presented several projects at an international level, Fernando Capellan and Juan Bautista Vicini, leaders of the Economic Council Binational Quisqueya on the side of Dominican Republic, explained how the border development project, simultaneously creates the conditions for progress for its inhabitants. "The decision to invest in Haiti was a logical decision based on the benefits of the Dominican Republic with respect to the Hope-Help legislation. The Industrial Development Company, currently has 8,000 employees to its workforce and we believe that for the next 10 years, we can create 200,000 jobs. Therefore, we would like the World Bank is preparing to evaluate the needs on the border and help us to face them," declared Fernando Capellan President of the CODEVI, textile manufacturing company located in Ouanaminthe and part of the project CEBQ. Juan Bautista Vicini, for his part has focused on the need to create employment opportunities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti for the next 25 years. "Population growth in both countries is a fact, investing in the border, this is the best way to create opportunities and improve the living conditions of the population of both countries. We are currently conducting a large investment project and we would like the World Bank accompanies us in this project. If the World Bank deals with issues such as health and water, us, we will do the rest," indicated the Dominican businessman. SL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2016/04/17 | Source Centre Pompidou in Paris (file photo) Advertisement Centre Pompidou in Paris, Europe's biggest modern art museum, will open a pop-up space in Seoul in March next year. The man in charge will be Seo Soon-ju, who is known for his successful planning of large-scale exhibitions of Picasso, Monet and Gauguin. "We got the proposal from the Centre Pompidou two years ago and started preparing, and we recently confirmed the opening date in March next year", Seo told the Chosun Ilbo on Sunday. "Prior to the official opening, we will hold other special exhibitions including a collection of some 100 works owned by Pompidou such as Picasso, Chagall, Kandinsky, and Matisse". "Although it is a private initiative, the matter was discussed by the French government and the president, Francois Hollande, during his visit to Korea last November, when he was accompanied by Serge Lasvignes, the head of the Pompidou", the U.K.'s Art Newspaper reported last week. Starting with the Centre Pompidou Metz in France in 2010, the museum has been active in setting up temporary exhibition spaces around the world. Malaga in Spain hosted the first Centre Pompidou outside of France last year, and will stay open for five years initially, with the possibility of an extension. "The initial plan is to run the Seoul center for five years like the one in Malaga, but we're thinking about renewing the contract already because the Centre Pompidou takes Seoul seriously as a platform for worldwide expansion", Seo said. Published on 2016/04/17 | Source Six out of 10 office workers are being inconvenienced by their bosses or colleagues because their smartphone rings constantly even when they have left work for the day. Advertisement In an online survey by the Korea Press Foundation of 1,040 salaried people between 20 and 59, some 62.3 percent said their life is being made more inconvenient by smartphones. Work-related calls from colleagues or superiors often disrupt their evenings. Only 37.7 percent said their life has been made easier by smartphones. The most inconvenient thing for 57.8 percent of the respondents was mobile messengers like KakaoTalk, followed by social media with 23.1 percent, calls and texts with 17.3 percent, and emails with two percent. Some 74.9 percent admitted they have intentionally not checked their messengers to avoid work-related hassle out of hours. In France there are efforts to draft a bill on the right to disconnect outside working hours, and a whopping 85 percent of the respondents here welcomed the idea. But over half believe that would be ineffective even if it became law. Published on 2016/04/17 | Source /Yonhap North Korea operates around 130 restaurants around the world and earns around US$40 million a year from those businesses each year, intelligence agencies estimate. Advertisement Around 90 of them are in China, nine in Russia, seven in Cambodia and four in Vietnam. Their number has increased recently as various North Korean agencies competed to raise foreign currency after Kim Jong-un came to power. Each restaurant hands over around $300,000 a year to the regime, so they are de facto fronts for the state to generate funds for the nuclear and other weapons programs. North Korean authorities usually select staff from among the children and relatives of party or military officials. They are usually young women with training in dancing and music. One high-ranking North Korean official who defected to South Korea said, "The workers are chosen among the children or relatives of families in good standing because they are believed to be less vulnerable to being influenced by the outside world". But as demand for pretty young women increased, they have been drawn from a wider pool with less emphasis on family background. They work under strict surveillance just like other North Koreans laborers abroad, living in collective accommodation and prevented from traveling freely in their host country. If they do leave their quarters they must travel in groups of three or four and are not allowed to use mobile phones. They earn anywhere between $150 and $500 a month depending on how well they can dance and play an instrument. They also get tips, so their income is relatively high by North Korean standards, which makes the positions a dream job for many young people. Published on 2016/04/17 | Source Koreans seem as addicted as ever to status symbols, bucking global market trends by snapping up luxury watches. Advertisement According to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, its exports plunged 3.3 percent last year compared to 2014 to 21.8 billion Swiss francs. Shipments to Hong Kong, the world's largest market, slumped 23 percent, and to the U.S. and China between one and five percent. Sales to Japan, the world's fifth-largest market, also fell 1.9 percent. But exports to Korea surged a whopping 18.8 percent in 2014 and another 0.2 percent last year. Lotte, Hyundai and Shinsegae department stores saw sales of luxury watches surge 20 to 30 percent last year and 30 to 40 percent in the first two months of this year on-year. One factor is the rise in the number of Chinese tourists who go shopping here, but Korean customers still accounted for 80 to 90 percent of luxury watch sales. Test Market Swiss watchmakers naturally keep a keen eye on Korea. Jaeger Le-Coultre, whose entry-level watches cost a cool W8-9 million, unveiled a W370 million watch in March and chose Hyundai Department Store as its first outlet (US$1=W1,147). And more Swiss watchmakers are setting up shop in Korea. Panerai opened a flagship store in Seoul last month and CEO Angelo Bonati visited Korea to attend the event. Breguet, which has not opened any new stores since 2010, opened one in February at Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam. Piaget and Audemars Piguet also opened new stores at Shinsegae in Gangnam, their first since 2014. Yoo Tae-young at Hyundai Department Store said, "Luxury watchmakers used to consider Europe, the U.S., China and Japan their major markets, but private consumption in China is slowing and Beijing is cracking down on corruption. As a result, Korea is emerging as a major market in Asia". Ready Cash And younger customers are increasingly keen. In 2012, 23.6 percent of luxury watch buyers at Hyundai Department Store were in their 20s and 30s, rising to 30.4 percent last year. "Younger customers usually buy entry-level brands like Tag Heuer, which cost W3-5 million, or IWC, which cost W8-10 million", said Oh Myung-hoon at Lotte Department Store. Jang Hye-jin at Shinsegae said, "The usual course of luxury brand consumption starts with high-end handbags, followed by clothes, watches and finally jewelry, and consumers in their 20s and 30s these days have few qualms about buying expensive products since they can save on other things". Statistics show 90 percent of high-end watch buyers are men, but the number of female customers is rising as well. One advantage is that luxury brand watches can be readily exchanged for cash. Kim Ji-young at Complete K, a company specializing in high-end product marketing, said, "Watches and jewelry often rise in value over time, so they're popular in a recession". Published on 2016/04/17 | Source Actress Shim Eun-ha (left) congratulates her husband Ji Sang-wook at his campaign office in Seoul early Thursday morning. /Yonhap Advertisement Candidates who brought a famous wife, child or other relative with them on the stump were not always guaranteed a win in Wednesday's general elections. For some it went well. Actress Shim Eun-ha's husband Ji Sang-wook won his seat for the Saenuri Party in Seoul's Jung district. Shim cast her ballot alongside her husband and stood by him at a party office in central Seoul as the votes were being counted, and he duly thanked her for her support. Actress Lee Young-ae canvassed for Saenuri candidate Chung Jin-seok, who won in South Chungcheong Province for the fourth time. Chung is the uncle of Lee's husband. Actress Lee Young-ae (left) visits Gongju in South Chungcheong Province to help a relative's election campaign on Monday. /Yonhap Minjoo Party lawmaker Moon Hee-sang got a campaign boost from his niece, former Miss Korea and actress Lee Hanee, who had also gone on the stump with him in the 2008 and 2012 general elections. From left, Shim Eun-ha, Lee Young-ae, Kim Kyung-ran and Song Il-kook But ex-KBS presenter Kim Kyung-ran's husband Kim Sang-min, who ran for Saenuri, lost to his rival in Suwon although she went along to her husband's rallies. And Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Eul-dong, whose son is actor Song Il-kook, lost her seat. Published on 2016/04/17 | Source The U.S. State Department in an annual human rights report Wednesday slammed Seoul's plan to force government-authored history textbooks on schools. Advertisement "A government plan to end middle and high schools' right to choose Korean history textbook raised concerns about academic freedom", the 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices note. "This would end the right of schools, since 2010, to choose from a range of textbooks approved by the ministry". The government here claims official textbooks are needed because those currently available display intolerable leftwing bias, but it has failed to convince critics that it will not replace it with rightwing bias. Other human rights concerns in Korea are "government interpretation of the National Security Law, libel laws, and other laws to limit freedom of speech and expression... and the continued jailing of conscientious objectors to military service", it says. The criticism comes after a failed attempt by prosecutors to imprison a Japanese reporter for allegedly libeling President Park Geun-hye. The report mentions endemic bullying and hazing in military barracks. It also finds fault with bureaucratic corruption and discrimination against defectors from North Korea, LGBTI persons, HIV/AIDS patients and foreigners. Read this article in Korean 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. 09:00, 23 OCT 2022 The term "breakfast nook" sounds hopelessly trapped in the 1970s, but modern homeowners are embracing the style and practicality of built-in seating in the kitchen. "The idea of the built-in, with the kids piled in it and the pillows" can bring the casual fun of a beach house or farmhouse to any home, says Massachusetts-based interior designer Kristina Crestin, featured this season on "This Old House." Maxwell Ryan, founder of ApartmentTherapy.com, says built-in kitchen seating can maximize space in smaller kitchens and highlight a great window view. It can even become the most distinctive design ele-ment in your home. "People, especially children, will gravitate toward it," Ryan says. "Who doesn't like to get a booth at the diner over a table?" Practical and Pretty For homeowners with an open-plan kitchen, built-in seating creates a cozy gathering place that functions like a formal dining room but is right in the heart of the cooking and socializing. In smaller kitchens, a nook allows the dining table to be positioned along a wall or in a corner without looking as if it were stuffed awkwardly out of the way. Built-ins also offer lots of space for storage. "The space underneath a built-in banquette is ripe with possibilities," says stylist and crafter Marianne Canada, host of the "HGTV Crafternoon" web series. Closed cabinets can be designed to match your exist-ing cabinetry, or you can add open shelving, she says, to "add texture with baskets, show off your cook-book collection, even use it to store large ceramic bowls that take up too much cabinet space." Just be sure the design of the built-in seating area matches the architecture of the rest of the house, says Crestin. Sketch out what you want and plan carefully before starting construction. If the breakfast nook will include a window, she says, consider the height of the sill and whether it will hit the backs of people seated along the wall. Also, be sure to use a pedestal table so you're not bumping into table legs when sliding into the seats. Cool Variations If you can't commit to a fully built-in breakfast area or if you worry your kitchen will look too much like a roadside diner Canada suggests adding a banquette to just one side of the kitchen dining area. "This gives you the best of both worlds," she says, "an architectural feature that provides storage and easy seating, and the opportunity to mix things up with chairs." This approach is cheaper to build and easier to remove if you want something different later. One popular option: Extend the bench the entire length of one wall, installing open or closed storage un-derneath. "A table at one end for kitchen dining, general seating for those times when everyone ends up in the kitchen, and a space near the door that serves as a landing area for shoes, backpacks and jackets," Canada says. "Add some hooks above the bench, and baskets below, and you'll find that clutter disappears effortlessly." Fabrics One big draw of built-in kitchen seating is the softness and color of the cushions and pillows. A tip from Crestin: Invest in high-quality fabric in a pattern and colors that are neutral enough you can love them for years to come. Then get really creative with fabrics for loose pillows, spending a bit less so you can swap those out seasonally for new ones when the urge strikes. To highlight the fabrics you've chosen, Ryan painting the backrest area behind the seating in a coordinating color. "You can easily swap out the fabric on the seat or the paint on the backrest anytime you want to shake up your kitchen decor," he says. And here's a secret: If you love this look but want to avoid the commitment and cost of real built-in seating, you can create a faux version. Ryan suggests installing a large upholstered bench along one wall and painting the wall around it with semi-gloss paint (easily wiped clean) to highlight the space. Add pillows and you've got a perfectly cozy space where guests can lean back and enjoy your kitchen. Passover begins at dusk on Friday, April 22. Acknowledged and celebrated worldwide by Jews for more than 3,000 years, the communal event will rise to the fore right here in Bristol. Rabbi Arthur Rutberg invites the community to attend BNai Sholom Community Seder on April 22 at Bnai Sholom Congregation in Bristol, Tennessee. Everyones invited. Jews, Christians, Muslims whomever, come one and come all to herald Gods freeing of Jewish people from the bondage of Egyptian-imposed slavery in about 1300 BCE. I do look forward to Passover, said Rutberg, the spiritual leader of Bristols century-old BNai Sholom Congregation for nearly a year. I enjoy the Seder. Recognition includes empathy relative to the Jewish Passover. Look to the Torah. The law of God as re-vealed to Moses, the Torah includes the Ten Commandments and is considered the most important text in Judaism. So imagine the exodus of Jews from slavery and Egypt to freedom. Its a commandment in the Torah, Rutberg said. We are to imagine what it was like to have been a slave, to be a foreign entity forced into slavery, building the bricks, building the bricks and getting nothing. Then to be freed. Its part of the process. Empathy coupled with imagination through acknowledgement leads to the Passover Seder. Its critical, Rutberg said. Rutberg will lead Bnail Sholom Congregations Passover Seder beginning at 7 p.m. An important aspect thereof includes the reading of the Haggadah. The Haggadah is the telling of the story of the Jews exodus from Egypt. The reading of the Haggadah at the Seder table fulfills a commandment to all Jews to pass along from generation to generation the story of Jewish liberation from the bonds of Egyptian slavery. Whoever is the leader of the Seder will tell the story of the Haggadah, Rutberg said. Everyone will have a copy. Rutberg will read from the story, but so will other people in attendance. Exactly, he said. Its a shared experience. Such aspects adhere to the fact that the Passover Seder can be either a familial or community event. Well light candles and say the first blessing over the first cup of wine, Rutberg said. Then shortly af-terward, we do a ritual dipping of parsley into salt water. Parsley, chosen from the Seder plate from which six items symbolize various aspects of the Jewish exo-dus, represents spring. Gods liberation of Jews from bondage occurred during spring. Then well do the matzo (unleavened flatbread). Ill break the matzo and hide it, Rutberg said. Some kid or kids will ask four questions, which begins the story. Attention to details of tradition run throughout the Seder. In the story, Ill tell about the 10 plagues, Rutberg said. Well use our pinky finger and take 10 drops of wine out of the cup. Again, symbolism. Were showing that were lessening our joy as the result of their suffering, Rutberg said. Music will filter through the Seder at various intervals, including after the retrieval of 10 drops of wine. Well sing a song in Hebrew that says, God, if only you took us out of Egypt, then wed have been OK with that, Rutberg said. But God gave us Jerusalem, the holy temple and more. The song, Dayenu, stands as one of the more popular Hebrew songs performed during Passover. When its done, we eat the ritual foods (herbs, matzo, etc.), Rutberg said. Shortly thereafter, the meal is served. Items on the menu include salmon, potatoes, matzo ball soup, ge-filte fish, cheese frittata, honey-glazed carrots, couscous with mushrooms and roasted tomatoes, desserts and more. Once the meal is over, Rutberg said, a child finds the hidden piece of matzo, which is the afikoman, which means it comes after the meal. For practicing Jews, Passover equates to one of the most important holidays of the year. Its family and its faith, acknowledgement of and a passing forth of the past. Its community and commandment-fulfilling all in one event. If its not the most important, then its the second most important holiday, Rutberg said. Its number two on the hit parade. It is a big deal. ABINGDON, Va. - As part of her national book tour, Lee Smith reads from her new book Dimestore: A Writers Life Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church in Abingdon, Virginia. Her visit is part of the annual Sunday with Friends series, sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County Public Library. Smith has firmly established herself as a voice of the South, and beyond, through her award winning and critically acclaimed fiction over the past 45 years. Now, in her very first work of nonfiction, Dimestore: A Writers Life, Smith looks inward to tell her own heartwarming story, from growing up in Grundy, Virginia, her inspiration and friendship with Lou Crabtree from Abingdon, to becoming a writer and raising her own family in North Carolina. "I always knew I wanted to set down some thoughts and reminiscences based around these themes about place, memory, and writing but this project got a real kick-start recently when the entire town of Grundy was demolished as part of a flood-control project," explains Smith. "Only last August, the house I grew up in was bulldozed too." The event is free of charge, and everyone is welcome. There will book sales, book signings and a reception following the event. For more information about the library system visit www.wcpl.net or call 276-676-6233. The year was 2004. And, at age 34, she learned that she had breast cancer. The diagnosis appeared just as this pastor's wife had gotten her sons settled into kindergarten and pre-school. "I was young, she said. I was a young mother." Still, she didn't stop and cry too much. She fought. And fought some more. And, later, she wrote a book about it. "I just felt like that was what I was supposed to do," said Parris, who grew up in Waynesville, North Carolina. At the time of her diagnosis, Parris was living in Grundy, Virginia, where he husband, Stan Parris, served as the pastor of Vansant Baptist Church. Today, and for the past seven years, Parris has been living at Rocky Mount, Virginia, in Franklin County, where her husband now pastors Franklin Heights Baptist Church. But she maintains contact with the greater Southwest Virginia region, working as vice president of mar-keting for the 12 locations of TruPoint Bank. "I also wanted to help other women," Parris said, still talking about why she wrote her book. "And I think my story is unique for a couple of other reasons." As a patient, Parris participated in the clinical trial of an experimental drug. "I was one of 25 women in the United States," she said. "I went outside the norm for treatment and took a risk in the clinical trial." Parris, now 45, also had to leave home, spending as much as six weeks at a time away from her husband and young sons while seeking treatment at Houston, Texas. "It was a crazy, hard time. And it was expensive," she said. "Being sick is not cheap." Parris is cancer-free, she said. And now? She's the author of the 212-page "Cancer Mom: Hearing God in an Unknown Journey" (Pointe Press, 2015). Much of the basis of this paperback comes from Parris's journal entries, written while she was sick with cancer, she said. "My goal is that my story brings people hope," Parris added. "And I hope when people read it, it gives them hope." In the cause of science, many experts who research the lives of the world's birds make use of a vast army of citizen scientists willing to observe, record and report on the activities of the birds that share the planet with us. Residents of the region can join those ranks for Virginia's Second Breeding Bird Atlas. The first season of the official event launches this spring as part of a five-year study to document the breeding status and abundance of all bird species spending their breeding season within the borders of Vir-ginia. To accomplish this, a statewide network of volunteers is being sought out for the purpose of field data collection. Steven Hopp, a professor at Emory and Henry College, is looking for volunteers to help with what is being described as a mammoth collaboration between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Society of Ornithology, local bird clubs, Master Naturalist chapters, and the citizen scientist volunteers who will help collect atlas data over the next five years. Hopp is an enthusiastic proponent of citizen science. "There are many areas of science where active citi-zen scientists make significant contributions," he said. "In astronomy, for example, many backyard observers have discovered new comets or asteroids." In the monitoring of the health of animal populations, Hopp added, reports from citizens are very im-portant. "Records from fishermen and hunters have always been useful for tracking changes in populations," he said. "For birds, the huge number of avid birdwatchers have always been a valuable part of tracking the changes in bird numbers and populations. From the over 100-year history of the Christmas Bird Count, to simple backyard feeder watches, citizen reports are a strong part of our information." This army of citizen scientists is also greatly assisted by advances in technology. "In the modern era, access to good cameras, GPS devices and internet access, even in remote locations, allows for accurate and reliable reporting of information," Hopp said. "Getting hundreds of active bird-watchers involved in projects like this is not just part of the effort; the atlas project would not be possible without them." Hopp has been a bird watcher since his college years. "I started as a young professor at Emory & Henry in the early 1980s, right when the first Virginia Bird Atlas project was started," he said. "I was asked to be the regional coordinator for the project and I readily agreed. When this new project was started, they asked me to join the team again, and I readily agreed again." Volunteers who wish to help carry out atlas surveys will be able to register on the VABBA2 website and sign up to survey one or more atlas blocks. More details about block sign-up can be found on the vabba2.org website. "If a volunteer adopts one of the priority blocks, they are asked to spend a minimum of 20 hours in that block documenting the occurrence of birds," Hopp explained. "But any records during the breeding season are useful, and people can record them as incidental observations in any area." Volunteers will watch for an array of breeding behaviors. "Just the presence of birds during the breeding season tells us theyre probably breeding, but its best to watch for behaviors that more strongly suggest or verify breeding," Hopp said. "These might include seeing a male and female pair together, or a bird carrying nesting material, seeing fledgling birds or finding an active nest." He added that a list of different indicators can be found on the Atlas web site. Hopp said there are many benefits to be reaped from the project. "Because birds are so mobile, their populations change more rapidly than most other animal popula-tions," he said. "Keeping track of which birds are present or are breeding in an area is one of the best ways to track environmental health and see how natural systems are responding to human disturbances, changes in land use or changes in climate." The project will also track species that have become less common over the years. "For uncommon species, such as loggerhead shrikes or saw-whet owls, the atlas allows us to keep track of where these species are nesting in Virginia," Hopp said. "Comparing the results from this current atlas to the results collected in the 1980s will give us important information about how these populations change." For example, Hopp noted that such documenting may shed some light on the decline of whip-poor-wills in Virginia and other locations. Hopp explained that the atlas areas are determined by using the United States Geological Survey maps. "Each map is divided into six equal areas, and the block located in the southeast corner of each topographical map are designated as the priority block," he said. "The priority blocks become the main suggested area for volunteers. If we could cover every one of the priority blocks in the state, this would give us a nice, even sample for the whole atlas." He added that the areas are not assigned, but rather each volunteer chooses their own area, and are en-couraged but not required to choose the priority block. "If a volunteer wants to be in charge of a particular block, they can do so, but they can also report obser-vations for any block. If people want to look over the blocks in the entire state, the Atlas Coordinators have put together a great fun map of Virginia showing all the block areas." The map can be viewed at https://vafwis.dgif.virginia.gov/BBA2/BlockExplorer/. Hopp hopes to hear from birders throughout Virginia and other nearby locations. "One of the great things about this atlas project is that it is all organized online, and volunteers can access downloadable maps and field data sheets, and even upload observations remotely from the field," he said. "This is the first atlas project in the United States that will be using the Cornell University eBird site for entering and tracking all the atlas data." For more information, Hopp invites interested people to explore the well-organized information on the internet at www.vabba2.org. They can also email him at shopp@ehc.edu or call 276-944-6727. Volunteers can also contact the state atlas coordinator, Ashley Peele, at ashpeele@vt.edu. It's a great way to help the cause of science while also getting outdoors this spring and looking for some birds. Kind of a drag if you miss The Buckinghams concert Wednesday The Buckinghams, a Chicago-based pop rock band that exploded onto the charts in 1967 with Kind of a Drag, are coming to the Maryland Theatre. Insider: A QB change won't save IU's season. It's already lost. IU quarterback Connor Bazelak's struggles have IU fans suggesting change, but at this point change might not make much difference. The line between demographic dividend and demographic disaster is getting dangerously thin for India. According to the National Skill Development Agency, 21 government departments and ministries trained 7.6 million people in 2014-15. At this rate, India will have trained, at best, another 40 million people by 2020, far short of the governments target to skill 500 million. The ground reality gets worse. Ninety percent of those trained undergo three months of short-term training to secure Rs 5,000-7,000 in wages. This is hardly enough to support a family. Read | Employability goes up by 40% if you speak English: Rudy A major part of the solution lies in examining the principal group that urgently needs skilling. Every year nine million graduate 12th class, of which less than half go to college. Another 15 million drop out of high school. This group of 20 million is the main target for market-driven vocational training. While vocational training can start in high-schools, leveraging the existing 13,105 industrial training institutes (ITIs) is crucial. Recognising this, the Prime Ministers Office has directed the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship to open 7,000 new ITIs in one year. As is clear, the race is against time. How can we beat the odds, ensure scale along with consistency of skills training at affordable costs? What is the physical and soft infrastructure needs? How can the ITI curriculums stay flexible to meet industry demands? We cannot wait for investments in infrastructure and therefore need to leverage existing infrastructuresay, besides ITIs, make use of existing school and college infrastructure in the evenings, introduce corporate internships and apprenticeships that provide access to laboratory infrastructure etc. Read | SSC students can opt for skill subject instead of language Second, we should make vocational skilling mandatory from Class IX and introduce a vocational-only track from Class XI for those who are not college bound. This would inspire students to not drop out of schools. This is not unlike what happens in Germany, Australia, South Korea and Scandinavian countries. Third, revamp and realign the ITIs to modern manufacturing training hubs and transform them to multi-skill institutes. To address the lack of trained faculty, leverage modern technology such as Cloud and mobile computing, video-based self-learning and Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Finally, we need to get employers sitting at the table through this process as they are the ultimate beneficiaries. This includes building networks of employers that engage in curriculum development, provide adjunct faculty, and commit to internship and apprenticeship programs incentivised through CSR funds or ready access to trained talent for their own needs. Read | Government ropes in Sachin Tendulkar for Skill India campaign If the Make in India dream is to come true, policy wonks, industry leadership and technology must be thrown into the mix with immaculate project management at the core. And if we dont, we must be prepared to witness unemployment and youth unrest on a scale we have not witnessed in India. Ajay Kela is president & CEO, Wadhwani Foundation The views expressed are personal Polling was largely peaceful in the second phase of elections in West Bengal on Sunday, barring Birbhum district, where sporadic violence and intimidation were reported. Fifty-six seats in seven districts Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda and Birbhum went to polls in the second phase. Congress-CPI(M) leaders expect big gains in this phase that saw 79.70% polling at 5pm. The BJP leadership, however, demanded cancellation of elections in all 11 assembly segments of Birbhum, alleging use of force and terror. Birbhum district was in focus for the EC because of TMC district president Anubrata Mondol, who shot to fame for his repeated intimidation of voters, prompting the poll panel to put him under surveillance. Two FIRs were also lodged against him. Violence was reported from Nanoor, Panrui, Dubrajpur, Hansan and Sainthia in the district. In Lavpur, TMC workers tried to forcibly enter a polling station and cast vote. The presiding officer called in forces that had to resort to lathi-charge when party members clashed with them. Opposition leaders of the Congress, BJP and CPI(M) alleged that their agents were driven out of the booths. BJP leaders Babul Supriyo and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi made a representation to the EC headquarters in Delhi to cancel the entire polling process in Birbhum. We have demanded that polls in all 11 assembly seats of Birbhum be cancelled. TMC has unleashed terror in the district. However, in North Bengal, polls have been more or less peaceful, said Siddharth Nath Singh, BJP national secretary. State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said, People could go out and vote, barring some stray incidents. Compared to the first phase, the Election Commission did well and fair polls were held in most areas. CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya said, We will emerge victorious despite TMC undertaking terror tactics. Voting took place in festive spirit. Malda and North Dinajpur districts also reported a few stray incidents of intimidation. India asked the World Bank on Saturday to increase its developmental fund to $100 billion a year from the existing $50-60 billion and called for enhancing the share and voice of developing nations in the management of institutions providing assistance under it. The World Bank provides developmental assistance through International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). These three institutions provide approximately $50-60 billion per annum in concessional, non-concessional and private sector resources, finance minister Arun Jaitley said in his address to the development committee of the World Bank. Within next five years, we should work to raise annual financing volumes from the World Bank Group to $100 billion a year, said Jaitley, who is in Washington to attend the annual Spring Meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This would be a kind of minimum contribution from the Bank Group for the developing countries, in their task of bringing about development and finance reconstruction, he said. Observing that the World Bank is highly capital constrained, Jaitley said the IFC has no space to invest today even at low level volumes it has been doing for some years. IBRD would not be able to maintain lending levels of even $20 billion per annum in two years time, he said. To better reflect the increasing weight of developing and transition countries (DTCs), their share and voice in the management of these institutions also needs to grow, Jaitley asserted. We should therefore plan to have a Selective Capital Increase (SCI) to raise Developing and Transition Countries (DTCs) voting share to 50% and a large general capital increase in IBRD and IFC for being able to finance $100 billion per annum going forward, he said. Jaitley stressed that the time has come for raising partnership of DTCs in the IBRD and IFC to 50%. This would require that the economic weight captured by GDP remain the primary factor in the formula, with share of purchasing power parity (PPP) based GDP of not less than 60%. IDA has enormously useful role in financing development IDA has enormously useful role in financing development in low income countries, but recognising IDA contributions in IBRD/IFC share capital has adverse impact on voting share of developing countries, he observed. Therefore, it would be more than fair if a weight of not more than 10% is given to IDA contributions in the dynamic formula, Jaitley said. Such a weight should also recognise only recent contributions to act as rightful incentive for the emerging countries to contribute in IDA and should also recognise a multiplier based on burden share and generosity, he added. The formulation we have suggested is equitable, and recognises all contributions equally in accordance with capacity of each donor. We must also not lose sight of the fact that while there may be losers or gainers today, our collective negotiating power must be deployed to ensure a fair formula rather than to minimise losses and maximise gains in the current round, Jaitley said. Once we have a fair formula, future shareholdings will automatically reflect the relative economic positions of the country in the interest of all shareholders, he said. Iran said it would boycott Sundays meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC member countries in Qatar as it did not agree with a plan to freeze oil production at the January level. We have told some OPEC and non-OPEC members like Russia that they should accept the reality of Irans return to the oil market. If Iran freezes its oil production at the February level, it means it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the oil ministrys news agency SHANA. SunEdison is in talks to sell its Indian solar assets to Finlands Fortum Group as liquidity problems globally crimp its balance sheets. Canadas solar company SkyPower is scouting for partners that can collaborate in its Indian plans, while homegrown Welspun Renewables has already initiated efforts to sell its plants, attracting a roster of marquee local and foreign players. The Indian renewable energy space has suddenly become a hotspot for large companies and investors, who want to tap the countrys potential. Renewables is set overtake coal as the largest source of electricity by early 2030s, with renewable-based generation accounting for 25% of total power generation. Renewable energy has long-term potential, said Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economic adviser, SBI Research. A megawatt (MW) capex of solar power project, which was Rs 14- 15 crore five years ago, now stands at around Rs 6-7 crore. With the cost of production falling nearly 60%, the price of renewable energy is set to equal that of thermal power in next two to three years. According to Sumant Sinha, founder of ReNew Power, one of the countrys largest renewable energy producers, there is a lot of interest from foreign players, most of whom want to build a presence in India. We are also looking at opportunities but we would look at all options. However, there are challenges. Since there are no fuel costs and operational costs are also low, availability of funds at competitive rates is key. India will need about $200 billion to build 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022. Then there is the risk from deteriorating credit profile of state electricity boards. Suzlon group chairman Tulsi Tanti pointed at land and infrastructure as another challenge. Tariff has gone under Rs 5 per unit, the sustainability of such low tariffs will have to be seen. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When you are in the bottom of a hole, leave the hole. Mistrust the ladder because the ladder is usually the ruse of those who made the hole. Dig a tunnel. This is the summary of a theory of Babasaheb Ambedkar, whose 125th birthday was recently an unprecedented news cycle partly because of the persistent human infatuation with numbers that are divisible by five, and chiefly because Indian society has transformed. Almost everybody is in a hole. Ambedkars idea that those who are born in the bottom of the Hindu caste system should not hope to reform the hole or trust the late invention of the social ladder, which is merely the aesthetics of ethics with yawning gaps between the rungs that the emaciated cannot scale, is largely perceived as a political thought. Which it is, but it also illuminates a path to dignity and happiness for everyone in the modern economic system, and not just Dalits of another time. Read | Ambedkar Jayanti brings little joy to his flock Caste is everywhere; in most places it is called hierarchy, even order. And almost everyone today is on a rung of a system rigged by the greatest beneficiaries of the system. You dont have to be in the bottom of a hole to be the oppressed anymore. People do believe that if there are rungs, they can climb them and emerge at the top, but these ladders, even in the corporate world, are designed to be perilous. There is wisdom in following Ambedkars advice and just disappearing from the hole. There would be losses, but there would be dignity. The happiest people in society are probably those who have done just that. On what is the meaning of feminism, most people, including women, claim it is about equality. This view contains the notion that the best that women can become is something that resembles successful men. That is why the writer Germaine Greer once asked, Equal to what? She scoffed at the life of the modern man and said she did not wish women to be equal to that. Women must dig their own tunnels and invent their own systems, was her message. And millions are doing just that. Men, too, of course. People are ejecting themselves from corporate rungs and starting their own enterprises; artists who waited for years to find recognition in the film industries are reinventing television; and many are relinquishing the very idea of city-life without surrendering to the ways of the Indian village, which is a deeper hole than cities. But millions are entrapped in the holes of the elite. An unknown number of writers are toiling away on the literary novel fooled by notions of high art and a reward system regulated by a global elite. The poor who pursue doctorates in liberal arts because they imagine it is a path to respectability are wasting their best years in a Brahminical academic system where the social elite, who of course say all the right things, have absolute control over the very distribution of acclaim. Such researchers, if they are digging only for respectability and not for knowledge, would be better off in the holes of journalism or even politics. Read | From Mahad to Mumbai to Hyderabad, the story of Indias caste blues Over a decade ago, on the sidelines of the Lakme Fashion Week, which was so new then that serious editors from Delhi flew to Mumbai to be in the audience, I saw a bunch of impoverished girls from the chawls of Mumbai. They wished to be fashion designers, they wished for success in an industry where it is mandatory to hail from a particular social class to have a shot at success. And, scores of ambitious youth toil in television journalism hoping to become anchors, not realising the importance of fair skin, pedigree, social contacts and accent. This columnist has earlier argued that all of Indian elite is a system where there is a hundred per cent reservation for its own genetic material. But, the poor think they can climb the rungs up the hole. A crucial observation of Ambedkar is that culture must always be viewed with suspicion because it is the relic of the upper castes that they present as the history of all. The culture of the poor is usually called folk. An important part of digging the tunnel is to relinquish the dominant culture of the hole and everything that is considered sacred. Millions of Dalits did just this when they developed a contempt for the idea of the Indian village, which Gandhi venerated. Ambedkar, a far superior and honest writer, wrote, The love of the intellectual Indian for the village community is of course infinite, if not pathetic. What is a village but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow mindedness and communalism? As we know it was not only the Dalits who profited from relinquishing culture. In fact, the first Indian middle class was a creation of rustics relinquishing culture. They relinquished not only their village origins, but also their mother tongues in favour of English. Read | Mahad relives BR Ambedkars water satyagraha for Dalits It is not easy to abandon the hole, because it is home. In fact, Ambedkars effort to convert the untouchables into Buddhism failed in his lifetime and has been largely a failure after his death. Hinduism is not an easy home to leave. Ambedkar himself took two decades to convert after he announced that he would relinquish Hinduism. And he converted days before his death. The delay was, of course, because he wanted hold out the threat as long as he could to get his way with the Indian National Congress. Also, he had to prepare his people to abandon their faith. Even so, it is possible that he himself was affected by the idea of the hole of Hinduism as home. Among all the politicians who lined up to pay their respects to Ambedkar on April 14, the most honest might have been the Hindu nationalists. They owe him a debt. When Ambedkar decided to convert he was lured, among others, by Muslims. If Ambedkar had chosen Islam it would have created an extraordinary havoc. But he did not wish to be a Muslim. He found Islam culturally alien to his being and regressive. In relinquishing one hole he did not wish to enter another. Manu Joseph is a journalist and the author of the novel, The Illicit Happiness of Other People Twitter: @manujosephsan The views expressed are personal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hours after the Delhi government hinted at fare revision and action against app-based cabs on Sunday, auto-rickshaw and taxi unions withdrew their strike call from Monday. We decided to call off our strike after an hour-long meeting with the transport minister. The minister has agreed to meet our long-pending demands. The government has promised action against the app-based taxi service providers starting Monday, Rajendra Soni office bearer of Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, which are a part of the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. Auto and taxi unions, including Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Unions had called for strike on Monday to protest against app-based cab services. According to sources, the decision to roll back the strike was taken after a meeting between the union leaders and Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday also announced action against app-based cabs. Kejriwal on Sunday tweeted, reacting to a complaint by a man, that his government will announced action against Ola/Uber. Earlier during the day, Rai had alleged political opponents of trying to fail odd even scheme by orchestrating auto and taxi strike, Gopal Rai wrote to lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, urging him to ensure enough police presence to combat any untoward incident on Monday. auto, taxi unions of RSS and BJP have announced to go on strike on April 18. Several auto union representatives who met me have distanced themselves from the strike while expressing fears of violence and sabotage by the striking unions... the letter read. Delhi BJP President Satish Uadhyay said after the letter of assurance issued by Delhi government to auto unions, the chief ministers lies stand exposed. On Saturday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had accused the RSS and the BJP of trying to fail his governments odd-even traffic scheme saying even during its first phase in January, the RSS and the BJP had orchestrated the strike by government officers. The transport minister had even hinted at a possible tariff increase during the day. The tariffs have not been revised for quite some time now. We will look into the matter in May, said Rai, who met the also met a section of auto and taxi union representatives on Sunday. We met representatives of several auto/taxi unions and they have assured us that they will not participate in the strike, said Rai. A section of auto drivers associated with the Aam Aadmi Party had told reporters on Sunday morning that they would not participate in the strike. A four-month-old girl was rescued minutes before she was to be sacrificed as part of a ritual in northeast Delhis Khajuri Khas on Sunday. The toddlers uncle, a sorcerer and his aide were arrested. Police raided the Loni cremation ground after they got information about a Mohammad Ilyas, who practices black magic, preparing for a human sacrifice. Police saved the girl while Ilyas chanted verses, preparing for the sacrifice. Tools, including a dagger, a knife and a pair of tongs along with a platform to keep the kids, were seized. According to the police, the toddlers uncle Asif who reportedly learnt black magic from Ilyas offered to sacrifice her to help the sorcerer increase his powers. The sorcerer reportedly asked Asif to arrange for a new born and initiate a human sacrifice so that he can possess supernatural powers. When the sorcerer promised to train Asif in black magic once he initiated a girls sacrifice, Asif offered his own niece. The father of the four-month-old girl came to us and complained that she was kidnapped. He told us that his brother-in-law Asif had visited the house last. He complained that the girl was in the house, but after Asif left, she also went missing. When he went to meet Asif to ask about his daughter, he was also missing. He lodged a complaint against Asif, a senior police officer said. A team was formed to trace Asif. During investigation, it was found that Asif was learning black magic from a sorcerer and the two were planning a human sacrifice. The police team went to Loni, where the sorcerer used to practise. Within six hours of the complaint, our team reached Loni and the sorcerer along with Asif and his associate Dilshad were arrested. The baby girl was rescued and reunited with her family, said deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Ajit Kumar Singla. Investigations revealed that Asif had taken Rs 40,000 from the sorcerer and his associate to bring the child for sacrifice. We have arrested the three men and are questioning them. It appears they previously indulged in human sacrifices. Investigation is on, a senior police officer said. A 26-year-old woman from Mumbai was locked in a flat in central Delhis Old Rajender Nagar, forced to drink alcohol and then allegedly gang-raped by two men on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. One of the suspects, a contractor, has been caught by the police, but the other one is still at large. The absconding accused is believed to be an executive engineer in a municipal body, police sources said. The detained contractor was known to the victim. Senior police officers, however, refused to share details about the suspects saying that would hamper their probe. Sources said the woman received injuries in her private parts and is undergoing treatment at a city hospital. She is also being counselled by an NGO. The accused had allegedly forced her to have unnatural sex with them, a police source said. A case of gang-rape has been registered at the Rajender Nagar police station. In the FIR, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times, the woman has said that she was staying at a rented accommodation in south Delhis Safdarjung with another woman. She had moved to Delhi around seven months ago. According to the womans complaint, she had met the contractor, Manish, on Facebook while she was in Mumbai. Manish befriended her and they started chatting over the social site. Soon, the two exchanged their mobile numbers. A few weeks later, Manish proposed marriage and asked her to move to Delhi, the woman said. Manish assured her that he would take care of all her expenses after which she moved to Delhi, said a police officer. On Thursday, the FIR says, Manish called the woman to his Old Rajender Nagar flat to discuss their marriage plans, as she had been putting pressure on him for the past 3-4 days. She was in a room when Manishs friend arrived and started forcing himself on her. The woman protested and told Manish about it. Manish in turn verbally abused her and they together forced her to drink alcohol. The two then took turns to rape her. The woman managed to escape from the flat and called the police control room. She was heavily drunk when a police team met her on the street, the officer said. The medical examination of the woman confirmed that she was gang-raped, the officer said. The real test for the second phase of the odd-even scheme in the national capital will be on Monday, the first working day since the road-rationing measure was rolled out in the city on April 15. All offices, schools and other institutions will reopen on Monday after the extended weekend. The second phase of the scheme was rolled out on the day of Ram Navami, a public holiday, followed by the weekend. Unlike the schemes pilot phase, in which the focus was more on awareness and voluntary compliance, the government has cracked the whip on violators this time, with over 2,300 challans issued in the first two days as against 479 during the same period in the previous phase between January 1 and 15. Read: Odd-even: Kejriwal says BJP wants plan to fail, but people dont A strike called by auto and taxi unions in the city threatened to add to the woes of commuters. However, the strike call was later withdrawn after an assurance by the government that it would look into the demands of the unions. The Aam Aadmi Party earlier alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to foil the odd-even scheme by terrorising a section of auto and taxi drivers into striking work. Under the fortnight-long scheme, private cars having odd registration numbers can ply only on odd dates and the even numbers on even dates, subject to a set of exemptions, which include VIPs, women, school going children, medical emergencies, commercial vehicles and CNG cars. During the first phase, since schools were shut, it was mostly office goers who had to make arrangements for themselves. This time, the problems are set to multiply. In order to ensure the success of the scheme, the government has set a fine of Rs 2,000 for violators. It has also deployed 2,000 traffic personnel, 580 enforcement officials and over 5,000 civil defence volunteers to implement the scheme. In the second phase from April 15 to 30, the government added into its exemption list people driving with schoolchildren in uniform. However, the government has not been able to arrive at a solution to the problem of cars returning after dropping school children or heading towards the schools in the afternoon hours to pick them up, and suggested car pooling. Delhi Police on Sunday arrested Saurabh Agarwal and Sulabh Bhardwaj for allegedly writing a threat letter to assassinate two JNU students and leaving a countrymade gun inside a DTC bus. Agarwal, police said, is the brother of Amit Jani, the self-styled leader of the group UP Navnirman Sena. In the threat letter, allegedly written by one Amit Jani, it was mentioned that the weapon was to be used on JNU students Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid were spotted on the campus. In March, Jani had threatened to kill Kanhaiya and Umar Khalid, over Kanhaiyas purported remarks on the Indian Army. The main suspect in the case, Amit Jani, was absconding, police said. On Thursday a pistol, cartridges and a letter ordering the kill was recovered from a DTC bus route number 615 which cuts inside the JNU university campus. Following the weapons recovery, police had increased security for the duo. Kanhaiya, Khalid and fellow-student Anirban Bhattacharya had been jailed recently on sedition charges following a controversial event in February at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Last month, Kanhaiya was manhandled while he was on his way to attend his classes in the evening. The Delhi police later provided police personnel in plain clothes for his protection. We had sought Agarwals police custody so that he can be questioned about his brothers plans. His associate Bhardwaj has been sent to judicial custody. During interrogation, Agarwal has revealed that the plan to murder Kanhaiya was made at a hotel in Paharganj, said a police officer. In many of our Himalayan towns, especially the ones that still have army cantonments, it is not uncommon to find the graves of British soldiers who served in the imperial army. Similarly, the graves of Indian soldiers who fought for the British during the world wars can be found in Europe and other places. The issue of dead soldiers and repatriation of the bodies is an emotive issue and so it is heartening to note that the Indian government finally gave the US clearance to carry back the excavated remains of soldiers and artefacts of a US Air Force B-24 bomber and a C-109 aircraft that had crashed in Arunachal Pradesh during World War II. These allied airmen ferried about 650,000 tonnes of fuel, munitions and equipment over the eastern Himalayas from 1942, when the Japanese cut off the main land route through Myanmar. Read | A lot to gain from a logistics pact with the US The issue of repatriation had figured in the joint statement issued last year during the visit of US President Barack Obama to India. Last week, US defence secretary Ashton Carter, who was in New Delhi on a three-day visit, oversaw the repatriation ceremony. One set of remains was recovered in Arunachal Pradesh between September 12 and November 17, 2015. Another set of remains was handed over to Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) by a third party from the same region. Over the years, the demand for the search and repatriation of the remains of the US airmen had also got support from senior Indian Army officials and several politicians. Read | India expresses displeasure to US over F-16 sale to Pakistan Sadly, the UPA had stopped the recovery of the remains following objections by China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh to be its territory. Other than conceding the long-standing demands of the families of the missing airmen on humanitarian grounds, the Modi governments decision to allow the recovery also negates Chinas dubious claims on the Indian state. The US government says that over 500 aircraft are still listed missing in the China-India-Burma theatre of World War II. Hopefully, the government will allow them to continue the search. A DPAA official said the remains found at the site could fit into a ziplock sandwich bag. But for families of US soldiers even that much will mean the world. It is almost a Pavlovian response from successive governments. Whenever one assumes office, it is bound to reorganise the boards or charters of institutions. And the NDA is no exception. Ever since it came to power two years ago, it has made a concerted effort to change the composition of the administration of many national institutions. The National Book Trust, the Planning Commission, which was abolished altogether and replaced by a new Niti Aayog, the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), the Nehru Memorial, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and now the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). Now there is nothing wrong with governments wanting to bring in fresh talent and sweep out the cobwebs in these mammoth institutions. But the change must be aimed at bringing in innovation and new ideas, not change for the sake of it. Read | Govt reconstitutes board of Indira Gandhi Centre for Arts, Cong fumes In some cases, the changes have been to the detriment of the institution. The head of the FTII, Indias premier film faculty, has been in the eye of the storm from the day his name was announced. He lacks professional expertise, has a patchy track record and has not shown much inclination to resolve things amicably. The Niti Aayog has been in existence for a while now, but whether it is better than its predecessor is a matter of debate. The same can be said of most of the other institutions that have brought in new faces. This penchant on the part of political parties to treat great institutions as parking slots for the favoured has led to excellence and professional knowledge being eroded. Read | A historians tribute to archives and archivists In the case of universities, some of the new vice-chancellors clearly lack man management skills, something which has contributed to unrest among students and the faculty. The prime minister is a great believer in merit he himself has relied on hard work and intrinsic talent to reach where he is today. The same principle should apply to institutions of excellence. The persons chosen to steer these should be the best and brightest, irrespective of their political propensities. All that must be ensured is that they dont bring their politics into these institutions. In the case of many individuals rewarded by not just this government, but by previous governments, the main criterion seems to have been loyalty to the ruling dispensation. Such individuals have either not aided in adding value to these institutions or have even damaged them in significant ways. The line of least resistance is to seek out a malleable person. The result has been the needless devaluation and politicisation of many of our great institutions. This is hardly the sign of a confident government or a mature democracy. Read | Scholars, academics question govts efforts to shift focus of NMML Padma Shri scientist Bulusu Lakshmana Deekshatulu on Saturday batted for Prime Minister Nadendra Modis Make in India and advised young engineers in Bhopal to use their technical knowhow to come up with products of local significance. Deekshatulu, who was in Bhopal for the 12th convocation ceremony of Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), urged engineering graduates to introduce new and revolutionary products to help in the socio-economic development of the country. A total 1,607 degrees were conferred upon undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students on the day. For the first time in three years the institute discontinued Gandhi caps during the convocation ceremony and students received degrees wearing the traditional gowns. Engineers should ensure that the manufacturing starts with India on the similar tracks of the Make in India project of the government of India. They should make use of their technical knowledge and come up with products according to the local society as well as the local market, he said, adding that it was important for engineers to ensure that the concept of sustainable development was not limited to political rhetoric, but is visible on the ground level. Advocating the need for significant changes in engineering institutes in India to come on par with the worlds leading institutes, he said: Engineering institutes in the country are trying to produce 21st century engineers with a 20th century curriculum. Engineering education should not be monolithic; it should achieve adequate intellectual depth and rigour across a highly diverse engineering enterprise, demanded by the changing needs of society and nation, he said. The scientist said students should be told about basic business processes. They should be taught to overcome cultural and social inhibitions in the profession and ways to improve the communication skills of engineering graduates, he said. Sultan Jahan Salik, 88, lives alone in her ground-floor flat in the Park Circus area of Kolkata. A retired teacher, active researcher and author, she has been living by herself since her husband died in 1998. She cooks, picks up groceries, visits chemists and banks, and on days when her maid doesnt show up, also does the cleaning. She travels alone to meet her daughters, who are professors and live abroad. Its difficult to live alone when you are old. My attempts to be self-reliant are really a test of my character. But there is no use complaining, says Salik, who recently returned from Dhaka where the Bangla Akademi published a book she edited, called Muslim Modernism in Bengal Selected Writings of Delawarr Hosaen Ahmed Meerza, who is a Muslim reformist of the 19th century. She finds support in her four brothers, two sisters and their spouses, who live nearby. All in their 70s and 80s, they connect over the phone at least once a day. Many, like Salik, live alone, because their children have moved away. Read: Safety not only issue for senior citizens Only one of my nephews lives nearby and, in case of emergency, he is the one to depend on, Salik says. The septuagenarian Khatris living in Sector-62 Noida in Uttar Pradesh have no such extended support, which has forced their son Shivum Khatri*, 31, to move in with them once again. An advertising professional, Khatri had moved to Gurgaon, in Haryana, to save on commute hours. But he was forced to return home after his father was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) four months ago. It meant frequent hospital visits and my parents found it difficult to negotiate long queues, paperwork and laboratories tests. I initially used to visit them every weekend, but I soon realised it wasnt sustainable for either them or me. They needed help 24x7, says Shivum. At present, there are not many facilities focusing on care of older persons, but India has started preparing for change. The worlds largest study on the elderly The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) was launched in March, to track the ageing patterns and diseases affecting Indias 103 million people over the age of 60. The study will survey 60,000 seniors across all states and union territories every two years for the next 25. With people living longer, the global share of people 60 and older has risen from 9.2% in 1990 to 11.7% in 2013 and is expected to reach 21.1% by 2050. Older people are projected to exceed the number of children for the first time ever, in 2047. With 65% of Indias population under 35, there are set to be 350 million seniors in the country by 2050. With the rapidly changing social structure, the study will provide valuable data on the health needs and issues faced by older persons, and help us draw policy tools to address these issues, says BP Sharma, secretary, Ministry of Health. Whether we need more hospitals or clinics, rehabilitation centres, hospice facilities or homes for the elderly, taking care of their specific needs, this study should help us be better informed. The rapid rise of Indias elderly population, coupled with the rise of the nuclear family and limited social support, poses pressing economic, health and social challenges for policymakers. Read: Police extends safety net to elderly in working families Population ageing threatens to topple existing insurance and pension systems and create health system overload. This therefore calls for review of existing models of healthcare, familial and social support, says Anita Agnihotri, secretary at the Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment. Currently, the 60-plus population accounts for 9% of Indians, amounting to roughly 103 million seniors, and there is still no sufficient broad national representative data on this demographic. This study is important to determine where money should go when it is allotted to older people. Society is moving fast and the healthcare system is stuck, says Dr AB Dey, head of geriatrics at Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Currently our focus is not older people; its on paediatrics and neurology. The ministry of health approved two national centres of ageing last year, one of them at AIIMS. We hope the centre at AIIMS starts functioning soon. REACHING OUT : Senior care centres Mumbai Varista: 022-26606033 Dignity Dementia Care:022-65133848 Kolkata Ananda Ashram: 93310-03123, 98302-84526 Sebayan: 99030-36803, 82729-26860 Delhi Sandhya: 011-24671273, 24103542 Aaradhana: 011-23382795 The Jungle Book released in India on April 8, a week prior to its US release (April 15). Even X-Men Apocalypse and Ice Age: Collision Course are slated to hit Indian screens in May and July, respectively, before releasing in America. But this was not always the case. In the past, Hollywood films had an international release first, and would then hit theatres in India. Indians connect strongly to stories from The Jungle Book. Today, many international production houses now think of India as a major market for their projects. Perhaps thats the reason why many Hollywood movies now release in India first. Read: The Jungle Book has earned Rs 74 crore in first week and its a big deal Talking about the trend, Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios says, We are seeing a paradigm shift in India and the rest of Asia when it comes to Hollywood films. The market for bigger movies is expanding. This is one of the reasons why many studios are now choosing to release some movies in India first. The X-Men franchise has a huge fan following in the country. Similarly, Ice Age: Collision Course is also a highly anticipated film, and it makes sense to showcase the film here before its US release. Winds of change While India is growing as a market for international films, Kamal Gianchandani of PVR Cinemas says that an increase in the number of multiplexes has been one of the biggest contributors for that development. He also adds that since moviegoers here are hooked on Indian films, releasing Hollywood movies ahead of their international opening dates is strategic. The main objective behind releasing Hollywood films earlier is to avoid clashes with big Bollywood movies, says Gianchandani. Read:Bagheera from Jungle Books like a general: Ben Kingsley Agreeing with Gianchandani, exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says, Earlier, Hollywood films wouldnt do this (release films in India first) as they were worried about piracy. But when international production houses realised that piracy did not take place on such a large scale here, they started releasing their movies earlier. India connect On the other hand, Hollywood films with a strong Indian connect also have a good chance of making it big in the country. For instance, The Jungle Book reportedly collected around Rs 75 crore in the first week of its release in India. Amrita Pandey of Disney India says, Indians have a strong connect when it comes to stories from The Jungle Book. Its rare to get a big English movie with an Indian story. So, we thought The Jungle Book deserves to release in India first. Moreover, the first week of April is when many schools across the country have summer breaks. So, the timing was perfect. A concrete slab at the under-construction metro station in Alambagh here came crashing down on Sunday morning, injuring four people and disrupting traffic on the busy Kanpur road for over nine hours. The 4,000 kg, 10x2 metre iron and concrete slab between two pillars fell after a cross-arm and the staging steel structure collapsed. Sohan Lal, a labourer, suffered serious injuries in the incident and was rushed to Awadh Hospital by passersby. He was later moved to KGMUs trauma centre, where his condition is said to be critical. The other three, two auto drivers -- Kuldeep and Hitesh Srivastava -- and a passenger Mohd Muzair, sustained minor injuries and were discharged after first aid. The incident created panic among locals and passersby as it was initially feared that several people were trapped under the debris. However, after the site was examined, district magistrate Raj Shekhar confirmed that no one else was trapped there. Shekhar informed that a team of 15 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel was also called for the rescue operation adding that compensation of around Rs two lakh would be given to Sohan Lal as per the labour laws. Besides Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) officials, senior police officials, including inspector general of police, Lucknow Zone, A Satish Ganesh, rushed to the mishap site. LMRC spokesperson Amit Kumar Srivastava said work for the cross-arm was going on since Saturday and was about to be completed when the incident took place. A probe panel has been constituted to investigate the matter, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modis home district in Gujarat was brought under curfew and internet services suspended on Sunday after more than two dozen people were wounded as Patidar pro-reservation campaigners clashed with police, demanding jailed leader Hardik Patels release. Violence revisited Mehsana, which is chief minister Anandiben Patels home district too, when thousands of members of the Patidar or Patel community took out a rally against 22-year-old Hardiks detention since October on charges of rioting and sedition. The district is the epicentre of the economically and politically influential Patels movement for reservation in education and government jobs, which they have been demanding since July 2015. The protesters under the banner of the Hardik-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and Sardar Patel Group called a statewide bandh on Monday after police charged them with sticks, fired tear gas shells and used water cannons. Angry protesters reportedly threw stones at police and set ablaze an unspecified numbers of buildings and vehicles when authorities stopped them on the way to prison where they wanted to court arrest as part of their jail bharo programme. Offices of ministers Nitin Patel and Rajnikant Patel were ransacked, a bus was set ablaze and police vehicles were damaged by the mob. Mobile internet services were blocked in Mehsana, Surat, Rajkot and Ahmedabad districts till April 19. Read: Behind bars on sedition charges, Hardik Patel turns author Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to chief minister Anandiben, who informed him about the situation in the BJP-ruled state. But at a function in Dharmpur, she said: Such agitations keep happening. Our work is to serve the people. Hardiks mentor and Sardar Patel Group leader Lalji Patel, who was wounded near Mehsana sub-jail, called the chief ministers statement irresponsible while Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela blamed the governments inaction that forced Patidars to resuscitate their stir. The police were prepared as the Mehsana administration on Saturday denied permission for the programme, calling it anti-national and illegal. Some antisocial elements started pelting stones after which clashes broke out, director general of police PP Pandey said. The violence broke out a day before a crucial meeting between Patidar leaders and the government to break the reservation deadlock. The community had submitted a 27-point charter of demands but after talks failed on April 11. Sources said the government is likely to offer two proposals reservation to the economically backward section of society and setting up a commission to address the Patidars demands. The meeting will go ahead as scheduled. What happened today is a law-and-order issue, said health minister Nitin Patel. But Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and Sardar Patel Group might boycott the meeting. The Hardik groups convener, Atul Patel, said no dialogue can take place in such an atmosphere. On one hand the government talks about negotiation, on the other they keep on opposing Hardiks bail pleas. The Patidars stir, demanding reservation benefits since July 2015, caught national attention in August when seven people were killed and public property worth Rs 40 crore damaged during clashes with police. Hardik and three of his aides were charged with sedition and put in jail in October, a move that managed to calm down the aggressive campaign. The stir is considered one of the reasons behind the ruling BJPs panchayat elections debacle in December. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a move to support budding entrepreneurs, the government will on April 21 launch Twitter Seva, a new service to address various queries of startups in a timebound manner. On April 21, we will be launching a Twitter Seva. Any startup which wants to access government irrespective of any department, they can (put their queries). The process is on. We would have a place where you can virtually contact us, tell us your issues. We have a team that will divert the things or issues to the particular ministry and then come back to you and try to reply in 24 hrs, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. Dont sit with questions. Pls give us suggestions. Let us work together - @nsitharaman #startupindia open chat pic.twitter.com/Rl2gX7mgaX Startup India (@startupindia) April 16, 2016 She announced the launch of new service during an interaction with over 70 startup firms here at a co-working place. During an hour-long interaction, the minister heard their issues and responded to their queries. On the matters related to other departments, she assured them to take that up with the concerned ministries. Sitharaman said that as part of follow-up of the action plan announced for startups by the Prime Minister in January, the ministry would be meeting with you as in what exactly is happening in the start up place. Getting a feel, get inputs from you. We want the inputs to keep coming from you. I assure you that I will go back and come with responses. We will do course correction if required. We are here as a facilitator, she added. The interaction was aimed at giving a thrust to budding entrepreneurs. Start-ups which participated in the open chat include Velmenni Lifi, Fitternity, Glance, DeliveryTrack, FoodTalk, Chakar, BabyBug Step and Marketing Masala. A schoolgirl in Jammu and Kashmirs Handwara told a magistrate that she was not molested by an army soldier, an allegation that led to five deaths as security forces fired at protesters during widespread unrest since Tuesday. Police presented the girl before a chief judicial magistrate on Saturday night after a Jammu and Kashmir high court order on a petition filed by her mother, who alleged the 16-year-old made a video statement under duress to clear the armys name. She told the magistrate that two boys assaulted her on the way from school in Handwara town of Kupwara district on April 12, police said on Sunday. The girl reiterated what she said in the video that she was not molested by a soldier. In her statement before the magistrate, she said she entered a public lavatory near the main chowk in Handwara on her way home from school with her friend, a police spokesman said. When she came out, she was assaulted and dragged by two boys and her bag was snatched. One of the boys was in school uniform. Her admission before the magistrate could be a vital evidence in court. Violent protests engulfed Handwara on Tuesday and spread throughout the Kashmir Valley following word that a soldier had molested a schoolgirl. The protesters even tried to torch an army bunker. Forces fired in retaliation, killing three people in Handwara, about 85km from Srinagar. As tension flared up, clashes broke out in other parts of the state, killing two more. A video authenticated by an army spokesperson after Tuesdays clashes in the militancy-hit state showed the girl in school uniform blaming youngsters for the trouble. The girl said she knew one of them and accused him of instigating the mob. On Saturday, the girls mother approached the high court and alleged that her daughter was being held in unlawful confinement. She said her daughters video statement was made under police pressure as no adult guardian was accompanying her. Chief minister Mehoboba Mufti, heading a coalition government with the BJP, visited Handwara on Saturday and met relatives of those killed in the shooting. She assured them justice. Kashmir limped to normality on Sunday and separatist groups did not call fresh protests. Public transport was back on the roads. Shops, fuel stations and other business establishments opened after four days in the capital city and across some other districts, an official said. Government offices and educational institutions remained shut as it was a Sunday. Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund resumed after remaining suspended since Wednesday. But authorities were yet to take a decision on resuming mobile internet services in the Valley. (With agency inputs) Read: Two men killed after soldiers fire at protesters in Kashmirs Handwara It was on a June night in 1982 that YC Pawar, then a deputy commissioner of police, first encountered the infamous bootleggers of Bombay. I was on patrol in Dharavi when my diver spotted a black car with tinted windows and informed me that it was a carrier of illicit liquor, says Pawar. I turned on the siren and gestured to the car to stop. To my surprise, it didnt. Until that year, I had been posted in small towns in Maharashtra where people feared the police. I was outraged at this behaviour and gave chase. After a 45-minute, sirens-blaring pursuit which Pawar describes as more thrilling than a Bollywood movie, the bootleggers began throwing things at the cop car. It turned out what they were throwing were tyre tubes packed with illicit liquor. Nearly 25 years of Prohibition first total, then conditional had turned the brewing and sale of illicit liquor into a booming underground business. From 1949 to 1963, all manufacture, purchase, transport and consumption of alcohol in the state of Maharashtra had been banned. Read: Facts know about Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949 Bombay had responded with its characteristic opportunism, as one-time thugs and smugglers switched livelihoods, sensing a more profitable opportunity. Most of the citys hooch units operated on their own man-made islands in what where then the far-flung, swampy suburbs of Dharavi, Goregoan and Antop Hill. The bootleggers had poured truckloads of sand into swampy patches to create tiny reclamations where they could mix and brew. For extra safety, once the brewing was done the barrels filled with fermenting hooch were hidden underground. In 1963, Prohibition was eased -- in part because implementation had failed -- and the ban on manufacture was lifted, but so few production licences were issued that supply was severely limited, while levies and prices remained high. Read: What to know before you grab that drink In mid-1960s Bombay, legal supply was scarce and the bootlegging business remained well-organised and profitable, says Pawar. I have always maintained that no illicit business can function without the polices help. So it was with this business too. By the time Pawar arrived in Bombay, a clear hierarchy had formed, with the biggest of the bootlegging operations run by one of the first underworld dons of Bombay Vardarajan Mudaliar. The massive profits from the illicit liquor trade would act as the launchpad for a parallel economy with tentacles in everything from prostitution and gambling to Bollywood and, eventually, gun-running and terror. Gangs formed and allied with one another to protect their territories. Their grip on the city, their ruthless wars and the deep inroads they made into local law enforcement would last decades. It would take a special squad, the encounter specialists, to break the back of the beast that was created as a byproduct of Prohibition. The growing lawlessness and the loss of scores of lives at a time from hooch tragedies pushed the state to alter its law and Prohibition would eventually morph into the licence raj. But it was only in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the market opened up, that the illicit trade dwindled. You still legally need a permit to get a drink in Mumbai, although this law is only rarely enforced. Bootlegging, on a small scale, still exists. Read: Are you breaking the law in your kitchen? So does inter-state smuggling. Cheap alcohol from Haryana is often smuggled in, says a senior officer from the state excise department, speaking on condition of anonymity. Around the world, and across the country, enforcement agencies have never been able to enforce complete Prohibition. TIMELINE * From 1949 to 1962, there was strict prohibition. Minimum consumption of foreign liquor was allowed on permits. Manufacture, import, export, sale and consumption of country liquor and toddy were totally prohibited. * In 1963, the law was relaxed to grant liquor permits to people over 40 if a doctor said they needed it for health reasons. It was also decided to start manufacture of liquor in the state. * In 1968, the consumption of mild liquor (beer) containing less than 5% alcohol and of toddy was allowed without permit by people over 21. The minimum age for a permit was also lowered from 40 to 30, though you needed a medical certificate. * Prohibition was further relaxed in 1972, after more than 100 people died in Khopoli after consuming hooch that was mainly an alcohol-based industrial solvent. * In 1973, permits to consume country liquor became available to people over 21. India has led the charge of several developing countries at the United Nations (UN) against clubbing refugees with migrants. The intervention by India, ably assisted by countries such as Mexico, Bangladesh and many others of the G-77 bloc that send migrants, has succeeded in ensuring the international community addresses the two as separate issues. The process of consultations on the issue, ahead of the UN general assemblys high-level meeting on September 19 to address movement of refugees and migrants, is likely to conclude on Monday. During the consultations for a draft resolution for the summit, there was a concerted effort by the European countries to redefine refugees and mix them with migrants. Faced with a large number of refugees from countries such as Syria, western nations have been advocating preventive diplomacy efforts to diffuse the situations that result in refugees which many developing countries termed intrusive in nature. Developing countries like India have argued that even if preventive measures are applied to the refugee crisis that is often triggered by political causes, the same yardstick cannot be used in the case of migration, where the reason is mostly economic. We cannot use preventive political measures to address migration because it is largely economics and demand-and-supply that govern such movement, said an Indian official when questioned about the opposition of the developing nations to such a move. Another Indian source said, In the draft that was first initiated, there was an attempt to mix refugees and migrants and address them together, thereby adversely impacting countries like ours that have no refugee issues but have a large migrant diaspora. He added, Our forthright intervention has made them agree and change this and address the two as largely separate issues. India has one of the largest migrant diasporas in the world. Any effort to club refugees with migrants would adversely impact the country that is the top remittance recipient in the world. India had received over $69 billion in remittance last year. Migrants are governed by national laws, whereas the international legal regime is applicable on refugees. The West is mainly agitated due to a fundamental principle of the legal framework that guides refugees non-refoulement. It is a principle of international law that forbids the rendering of a true victim of persecution to his or her persecutor. In other words, it means one cannot forcibly repatriate a refugee. Several western countries see the need to change this and want migrants to be equated with refugees as both end up staying in another country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh on Sunday visited Jammu and Kashmir where he met senior commanders amid fresh bouts of violence in the state that have left five civilians dead. Army spokesperson Colonel SD Goswami said the chief met commanders of the 14, 15 and 16 Corps at Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur near here to take stock of the situation in the state following deaths of civilians in alleged firing by army men in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. The general arrived on a day-long visit to the state. The Kashmir Valley has been on the boil since Tuesday after the death of at least five civilians in clashes with security forces. The trouble began after rumors that a soldier molested a college girl in Handwara of the border district. When 14-year-old Rahul Singhs parents brought him to Delhi psychiatrist Sunil Mittal last week, he was suffering from attention deficit hyperactive disorder. They were worried it would affect his performance in school. But they were not worried about the fact that Rahul often drove the family car something Dr Mittal found out quite by chance during his conversations with the boy. Rather, the parents were proud of Rahuls driving skills. The youngsters father is an engineer, who has his own business and his mother is a corporate executive. When I confronted his parents on why Rahul was driving at such an early age, they simply said he wouldnt listen to them. But they didnt think it was a serious problem, says Mittal. That underage driving could have serious consequences was made tragically clear in the national capital last week, when a 17-year-old driving a Mercedes hit 32-year-old Siddharth Sharma, killing him. In another chilling case of juvenile crime, two teenagers shot an Uber cab driver in Delhi. YOUNG OFFENDERS Anecdotal evidence showing a spurt in crimes committed by juveniles in the past few years, is backed by data collected by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which shows a substantial rise in the crime rate for juveniles between 2010 and 2014. Not everyone is comfortable accepting the NCRB data as an indicator of increasing criminality among juveniles. The population of youngsters has increased more than before. If we check what percentage of total crime is being committed by juveniles, we will find that figure has not changed alarmingly, points out author-activist Harsh Mander. But he agrees that it is an issue that needs urgent attention. SOURCE: NCRB Most conversations around juvenile crime in recent years have centred around the age of criminality and whether in cases of heinous crimes, juveniles need to be tried in adult courts or not. But activists, NGOs and psychiatrists working with juvenile offenders feel that the dialogue should focus on why youngsters are being drawn into crime and what can be done to prevent this. INTO A JUVENILES MIND Poverty has always bred resentment, a root-cause of many crimes. But over the years, a fast-changing and developing society has introduced other insecurities. Across socio-economic and educational groups children are affected by parents not spending quality time with them, and by an increasingly competitive world, says Dr Rajesh Kumar, director, Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses. According to him, there are a few factors that are specific to each group. In lower middle class families, for instance, where both parents are working, children grow up in a vacuum. In middle class families, parents have multiple expectations from the child, including high grades in school. This often makes the school environment a threatening one for the child. When children fail to cope, depression may lead to substance abuse, and then crime. In high-income families, almost every amenity is provided to the child either from a desire by parents to maintain their own status in society or to satisfy the ego of the child. Such parents are often insensitive to the moral pitfalls of over-indulgence. Dr Mittal remembers the case of a child who had come to him for counselling five years ago. Dheeraj, 12, had fired at one of his friends while they were both playing at the formers house, he says. Thankfully, nothing happened to the other child, but when his parents complained to Dheerajs parents, Dheerajs parents tried to shield him. When the school sent Dheeraj to me for counselling, I found that Dheerajs father had been teaching him how to shoot. Children are also quick to pick up on friction between adults. Explains Astha Mahajan, senior counsellor, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road , In cases of marital discord or domestic violence, kids do not reach out to their parents. They consult their friends who may not give the best advice. Or worse, the child finds refuge in the virtual world where there is an information overdose. Adults are struggling to control what the kid is getting exposed to, says Mahajan. Constant exposure to aggression verbal and physical on television news, videos and games, works on an already heightened imaginations, making it seem cool to the child at an age when he or she is seeking role models or patterns of behaviour to emulate. It either makes the child desensitised to violence or creates a curiosity to experiment with it. There have been reports of juvenile offenders confessing that they indulged in violence because they wanted to see what it felt like. The easy access to sexually charged or explicit content can have the same effect. There are MMS sex videos being made and shared, says Anuradha Sahasrabudhe, founder of Dnyana Devi, an NGO that works towards child-centred community development in Pune. Zero sex education makes them more prone to all this. IN THE DARK Often, juvenile crime can emerge out of sheer ignorance. A study done by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights in June last year found that a majority (70.3%) of the children who were serving in the detention centres were quite unaware about the consequences of their acts. It is inferred that driven by the immediate rewards and other unique characteristics such as impulsiveness, adventurism/risk taking and susceptibility to peer influence, they tend to make wrong choices. This is especially true of adolescent offenders, those who have reached puberty, says Mittal. Those in the age group of 15-18 physically resemble adults. They have strength and sexual drive. But their brains are yet to develop logic or reasoning power. THE WAY OUT The onus to ensure that children do not stray is with adults. At home and at educational institutions, they need to monitor the behaviour of children and behave like role models for youngsters. Paediatrician and Mumbai president of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics Dr Samir Dalwai feels that one solution (to avoid juvenile crime) is for parents to be held legally responsible when their teenaged children break the law. Early detection and counselling for those with criminal tendencies is important so that they do not end up as offenders, and also so that they dont influence others to do the same. This is possible only when parents are cognisant of what is wrong in the childs behaviour and alert to correcting him/her. Prevention of juvenile crime is also an important part of the juvenile justice system. But the Indian state has completely neglected this aspect, says Mumbai-based advocate Maharukh Adenwalla. There is little involvement of psychological counselling during the reform procedure, says Dr Rajat Mitra, a clinical psychologist with experience in criminal psychology. Without getting into the debate of punishment and the age of criminality, it is important to instil respect for the law. By and large in India, we do not have rule of law. And youngsters are finding out that it is easy to get away with breaking the law, says Dr Mitra. With inputs from Kanika Sharma (Names of all minors have been changed to protect their identities ) A candle light march in New Delhi to demand that juvenile offenders in cases of heinous crimes, such as rape, should be tried in an adult court. (RAJ K RAJ/Hindustan Times) CASE STUDIES: MINOR TRANSGRESSIONS I hit him with a stone, but i didnt want to kill him Sixteen-year-old Sathyas parents have a large family of four sons and one daughter. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, the family migrated to Delhi for a better life. Both his parents had had no formal education. His father worked as a casual labourer, but being an alcohol addict, spent most of his money on drink. Our parents never bothered about us. Poverty made them focus more on earning a livelihood. When the financial condition of the family worsened, I was forced to start working at the age of 10, says Sathya. Initially he worked with his father, but later got a job in a real estate office where he earned `7000 per month. I never went to school. I dont know how to write but I can read a little, he says. The office where he worked was about a kilometre away from his house. On the way I had to cross a park which was used as a hang-out by many of the anti-social people from the neighbourhood. On my way back home, an acquaintance who was always under the influence of drugs, would often stop me and demand money. Most days, I used to give him small amounts to avoid a fight. One day I had about `300 with me which I had kept to give to my mother for buying provisions. I refused to give him the money. This made him angry and he started beating me. When I couldnt take his blows any more, I picked up a stone, hit him and ran away. Later, I came to know that he succumbed to the injury, says Sathya. He was caught by the police four days later. Initially I was sent to Tihar jail. It was a nightmare. There are frequent fights between inmates. They abused me sexually and physically. Later, after confirming his age, he says he was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and transferred to an observation home. Sourced From the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights 2015 Report Why Children Commit Crimes I swore i hadnt raped her, but cops booked me Kishore, 16, from Jharkhand, was 15 when his father fell on the terrace of their house, injured his head and became mentally unstable. One day he wandered away from home and has not been traced since. Kishore had to stop studying and start working to support his mother and younger brother. He moved to Delhi on the advice of his uncle who had a roadside restaurant there, hoping to earn some decent money in the city. He had studied till class 8. I was poor in studies. Even if my father hadnt had the accident, I think I wouldve discontinued my studies, he says. In Delhi his uncle found him a job as a salesman in a grocery shop. He stayed with his uncle in a rented one-room apartment in an old two-storeyed building. The building had a common bathroom and toilets on the terrace. On the second floor lived a couple with two children (a boy and girl). Kishore and his uncle had to cross their apartment to go to the terrace. One morning Kishore says he was walking past the apartment when he found the door open and the 15-year-old girl standing by the door. The girl allegedly made some comments about him. He asked her to stop but she continued to make fun of him. He says he lost his temper and slapped her. When she ran inside, he rushed in and began hitting her. She was alone at home as her parents and brother had gone out. According to him, the girl threatened to teach him a lesson. The boy says that when her parents returned, she told them that he had tried to rape her. The girls father filed an FIR and the police caught him. Kishore says he swore that he had not raped or seduced her, but the police did not believe him. He was produced before one of the Juvenile Justice Board members and was sent to an observation home. Sourced From the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights 2015 Report Why Children Commit Crimes I will do what I want When a weeping neighbour told Vishays mother that he had sexually assaulted her seven-year-old child, she was shocked. Vishay was a troubled teen he stole money for cigarettes and had failed his Class 10 Board exams but she could never have imagined he would go this far. Trouble had been brewing for two years though, hidden in plain sight. Vishay started smoking and stealing small sums from his parents when he was 15. He responded to reprimands with outbursts of rage. He chafed at the restrictions caused by his parents poverty they were manual labourers and the family shared a single-room home in a south Mumbai slum. Vishay would often complain that he could never have new clothes and even schoolbooks had to budgeted for, says Dr Sagar Mundada of the Sir JJ group of hospitals, the psychiatrist now treating him. In a way, he adapted by becoming manipulative and opportunistic. He made friends with children whose parents were better off, and one of them gave him an old smartphone. After dropping out of school, he would spend all day with them and together they began watching porn online. Vishay was going through what we call conduct disorder when children passing through adolescence become stubborn and aggressive, says Dr Mundada. This can manifest as fights with family members, bullying of classmates or petty crimes such as stealing money from parents. At this time, it is vital that parents talk to the child, offer positive guidance, or seek therapy if things seem like they are getting out of hand. With his parents exhausted and unable to cope with his behaviour, Vishays issues escalated. Two months ago, the neighbour discovered that the 17-year-old had been sexually abusing her little girl for four or five months. Kiya maine aisa, laga mere ko karna chahiye (I did it; I felt it was what I wanted to do), Vishay said to Dr Mundada at their first meeting in March. He said he picked the girl because she was small and would be easy to control, the doctor adds. At his second session, Vishay said: Who are you to judge me? I will do what I want. Vishay will meet with the doctor once a month for counselling. That is how the families have decided to resolve the issue. Kanika Sharma All right, well see When Rakesh first walked into psychiatrist Dr Amit Desais clinic at Jaslok hospital, he was nervous, fidgety and angry. Only some of this was a result of his drug addiction. Two years earlier, the 18-year-old had been taken from the small town in UP where he grew up and deposited with an aunt and uncle in Navi Mumbai while his parents moved to the Gulf to work. In his new, unfamiliar surroundings, Rakesh was largely unsupervised, since his guardians worked long hours as accountants. His parents called occasionally, on the weekends. Desperate to fit in, Rakesh fell in with the wrong crowd and began experimenting with drugs. From marijuana, he migrated to heroin and began stealing money from his uncle, filching and pawning his aunts jewellery, even robbing small items from neighbours homes and conning people into contributing money for fake neighbourhood celebrations, in order to fund his habit. The young man was finally brought in to see Dr Desai after his uncle discovered a letter from his college stating that he would not be allowed to take his year-end exams because he had not attended classes all year. He had developed a veneer of indifference by this time, downplaying everything, seeming unconcerned. His response to most things was, Theek hai, dekha jayega (All right; well see), says Dr. Desai. By this time, Rakesh had gone from a muscular teen to a skinny young man. I worked with him for over a year, from 2013 to 2014, but he needed his parents, Dr Desai says. He had missed crucial years of love and affection. He felt orphaned, in a way. In 2014, his mother returned and took him home to UP. But there would be no happy ending. Last year I head that he had returned to the drugs and wayward ways, says Dr Desai. There is so little mental health care available outside our main cities. And so much anger and alienation in our youngsters. Everyone is aspiring to have more, be more. And when they cannot get what they aspire for, the world starts to seem hostile and they respond with aggression. Without treatment, this can become a vicious circle. Kanika Sharma MAIN POINTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT When a child alleged to be in conflict with law is apprehended by the police, he/she will be placed under the charge of the special juvenile police or the designated child welfare police officer, who shall produce the child before the Juvenile Justice Board Where a Board is satisfied on inquiry that a child irrespective of age has committed a petty offence, or a serious offence, or a child below the age of 16 years has committed a heinous offence it may (a) allow the child to go home after advice or admonition (b) direct the child to participate in group counselling and similar activities; (c) order the child to perform community service; (d) order the child or parents of the child to pay a fine (e) direct the child to be released on probation of good conduct (f) direct the child to be sent to a special home for a period not exceeding three years In case of a heinous offence alleged to have been committed by a child, who has completed or is above the age of 16 years, the Board may say that there is a need for trial of the child as an adult No child in conflict with law shall be sentenced to death or for life imprisonment without the possibility of release Read: Rise in Juvenile Crime Read: Sorry State of Reform Homes As the Narendra Modi government works on several measures to take forward the outreach to Canadas Sikh community and support for Khalistan dwindles, a counter-movement by separatist groups may be taking root. A troubling aspect of the situation is the link of Pakistani officials to elements attempting to whip up support for Khalistan. Our neighbour has been fishing in troubled waters, is the view of this development among Indian officials. Pakistans consul general in Toronto, Asghar Ali Golo, was photographed with Sukhminder Singh Hansra, president of Shiromani Akali DalAmritsars Canada East unit, at a pro-Khalistan event a couple of months after Prime Minister Modis visit to Canada in April last year. In an interview, Hansra said Golo wasnt at an event held by the Shiromani Akali DalAmritsar. Golo, he said, was at a nagar kirtan at which he appeared and they didnt talk. An emailed request to the Pakistani consulate for an interview with Golo didnt receive a response. Among the strategies deployed by New Delhi to sabotage support for extremism in Canada are culling the blacklist of Sikhs banned from travelling to India, exploring the possibility of giving visas to those who came to Canada as political refugees fleeing alleged persecution in India in the 1980s, and back channel talks. A pro-Khalistan rally in the Greater Toronto Area. (HT Photo) Meanwhile, those espousing Sikh sovereignty have fired several salvos a 2020 referendum for Khalistan, boycotting Air India, and what an Indian official described as indoctrination of children. This has been done, say officials, to overcome changing demographics and distance from the events of 1984, including Operation Bluestar or the storming of the Golden Temple by the army. Read: ISI using Sikh extremists in Canada for pro-Khalistan activities Contests have been held for children in gurdwaras, with some artwork lauding the assassins of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was gunned down months after she ordered Operation Bluestar. Children have been posed with toy guns. Photographs of leaders such as Talwinder Singh Parmar, chief of the banned Babbar Khalsa terror group, have been placed on display at some gurdwaras in the suburbs of Vancouver and Toronto. An invitation calling for participation of children in competitions to mark Operation Bluestar. (HT Photo) The Indian governments initiative for talks with separatist groups through a London-based interlocutor too garnered a swift response. In a statement emailed to Hindustan Times, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the New York-based legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, said: We are campaigning for referendum and with the backing of majority Sikh community, there is no dialogue with Indian government except on referendum. His group is planning the 2020 Punjab Independence Referendum among the Sikh diaspora in several countries, including Canada. However, Surrey-based Harjit Singh Atwal, one of those associated with the dialogue process and on the blacklist for his views on Khalistan, said, As long as there are fair talks, people will support it. He added, You cannot make 100% people happy. Five or 10% people may have a different view on it. Among those differing is Hansra, who hosted the World Sikh Organisations February convention to move forward with the struggle for Khalistan. He said, Khalistan movement has always been live and vibrant because it makes sense. Only those who try to exploit it is Indian media, trying to link it to terrorism and extremism. Clearly, the Indian governments attempts at reconciliation will meet its share of challenges. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A witness to the disputed Murthal gangrapes in February was allegedly attacked by two unidentified men while he was driving from Chandigarh to Delhi on Saturday night. Bobby Joshi, a resident of Delhi, said two men threw a stone at his Swift Dzire car along the Karnal-Panipat stretch breaking its windows. The Punjab and Haryana high court has taken suo motu notice of media reports that some women, who were commuting on the Delhi-Ambala Highway, were stripped and raped by rioters during the Jat agitation for reservations in February this year. Joshi is one of the witnesses in the case, which the Haryana government has dismissed as a complete fabrication. Describing his ordeal, Joshi told HT: I stopped at a shop to buy water when two men started saying: Yahi hain jo jaton ki baat kar raha hain Murthal maamle mein. (This is the man whos talking about Jats in the Murthal case). I ignored them and got into my car, but they broke my cars rear window with a big stone. As I was alone, I fled from the spot without looking back. When asked why he had not alerted the police, Joshi said, As I was to get security at Panipat toll, I thought I could directly relate the incident to them. Everything happened so fast that calling 100 did not occur to me. Read: Possibility of rapes in Murthal during Jat protests: Haryana tells HC Inspector general Mamta Singh, SIT in-charge in the Murthal gangrape case, said that Joshi did not take the initiative of approaching the police. I called Joshi on Sunday morning to ask when he could join the investigation. That was when he told me that he was attacked the previous night. I forwarded the complaint to the Karnal superintendent of police, and he is looking into the matter, Singh said. The matter would have been much easier to resolve if the witness had informed the police immediately after the incident, she added. Earlier, an unknown caller had allegedly threatened Joshi with dire consequences for talking too much. I received a threat call. The caller said: You are speaking too much. We will see you. Following this, I complained to the IGP, Joshi said, adding that he could not view the callers number because it was made through an internet-based system. Read: Another FIR lodged against alleged gang rapes by Jat agitators Joshi told HT that his family members were concerned about his safety and didnt want him to pursue it any further. My mother is a little worried right now, but I will join the investigation soon. Kisi se darta nain hun (Im not scared of anyone), he told HT. Earlier this week, the Haryana government had told the high court that a section of gangrape had been added to the FIR on the basis of a complaint filed by Joshi on March 30. During the Jat agitation, I saw some rogue elements creating a ruckus and misbehaving with women near Sukhdev Dhaba in Murthal. I am not scared of any threat. Besides me, there was a woman who saw everything that occurred then, Joshi was quoted as saying by ANI. Around 30 shops were set ablaze on Sunday when riots broke out in Jharkhands Hazaribagh that had been on the edge for the past two days after a Ram Navami procession by Hindus passing through a Muslim-dominated area sparked violence. Hazaribagh, roughly a two-hour drive from state capital Ranchi, was put under curfew as shop owners from both communities were targeted in the arson. Around 200 people arrived at the district hospital with injuries from the stone-pelting at the procession that led to a stampede. Deputy commissioner Mukesh Kumar said trouble started when objectionable recorded slogans were played at a Ram Navami procession triggering clash between two groups of people at the nearby Kud Rewali village near Hazaribagh railway station, according to news agency PTI. Stones were pelted at police when they tried to control the situation and in the process several policemen were injured, he said. An unspecified number of people were arrested, Kumar said, according to PTI. (With PTI inputs) An AIADMK worker was allegedly hacked to death by a gang at a village in Sivaganga district, police said on Sunday. The victim, Kathiresan (55), a farmer, had some dispute with one Pandi of Kallupatti village, police said. He was herding his cattle back to his house, along with his wife, when he was waylaid and attacked by the gang on Saturday evening. Kathiresan died on the spot, police said. Victims wife, who was injured in the attack, has been admitted to a hospital where her condition is stated to be stable. A case has been registered and a hunt is on for the assailants, police added. Two Indian citizen stuck in Bhutan managed to cross over to India following a flurry of tweets from them and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alerted authorities. Border guarding force SSB came to help the two Ahmedabad residents after they got stuck in Bhutan when the border was sealed for the ongoing assembly polls in West Bengal. The travails of Deep Shah and Parth Trivedi began on April 15 when they were told in Bhutan, while packing their luggage for the journey back home, that they cannot cross the Indo-Bhutan International Border as it has been sealed in view of the polls. The duo said they checked with the Indian embassy in Bhutan but the phone operator was helpless as to how to help them. They found the only way out by taking a flight was expensive. Shah then took to Twitter and wrote about his plight and tagged numerous official handles of the government like those of Prime Ministers Office, the MEA and Sushma Swaraj, MoS Gen VK Singh, Railway ministry, Rail minister Suresh Prabhu and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee with the plea that they be allowed inside India as they had a train to catch from Hasimara in West Bengal the same evening. Mam, we are in Bhutan, we heard that border gate to India is sealed due to election. V have train to catch at @5pm. wouldnt we allowed to enter our own country? #stuckinbhutan, Shah tweeted to the WB CMs handle. Getting restless after there was no response to his tweets in the early hours of April 15, Shah then tagged Congress leader Shashi Tharoors handle seeking help. Sir, v r in Bhutan, border gate sealed due 2 election in WB, we need to get back to our country. Pls help, he wrote to Tharoor. Tharoor, who was awake, responded: Attn @SushmaSwaraj this young Indian says hes #stuckinBhutan bcos border gates closed due to elections in Bengal? Attn @SushmaSwaraj this young Indian says he's #stuckinBhutan bcos border gates closed due to elections in Bengal? https://t.co/VaqvW4hqPG Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 15, 2016 The tweet was soon noticed by Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) inspector general Renuka Mishra, at its headquarters, on her personal ID and she acknowledged that it Pays to stay up late Happy to help. Mishra, who also manages the forces Twitter handle @DGSSB, responded to Shah asking Where exactly are you right now and what is your contact number. Saw your tweet to @ShashiTharoor #stuckinbhutan. Pays to stay up late :) Happy to help. Thank you for the thank you :) https://t.co/jvptcXUHZr renuka mishra (@renukamishra67) April 16, 2016 Mishra told PTI that she soon got in touch with the forces commanders on the Indo-Bhutan border on the eastern frontier. She was told that the gates have been closed and additional vigil mounted in the wake of administrations instructions to seal the borders before the polling day today. Soon after, the SSB area commander got in touch with his Bhutanese counterpart and Shah and his friend were asked to report at an official crossing point at the border. They were allowed to cross over after due verification of their documents at about 3pm on Saturday. I along with my friend @parthlyright have safely crossed border. Thanks, Shah tweeted with photographs he took along with his friend and SSB company commander Ranjit Baidya. The SSB responded with a short tweet in response: Glad to be of help. SSB officials said they later facilitated many other Indians cross over the border following this for their onward journey into India. The border sealing directions are in place till Sunday evening, they said. Later, Tharoor complimented the SSB and IG Mishra for ensuring prompt help to the youngsters. Well done @DGSSB! Such episodes reinforce my belief that social media can do good & in our Govt& securitry services, he tweeted. Glad you're back home and all is well. Social media works! https://t.co/BjU83Pnox5 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 16, 2016 Vijay Mallya invested nearly half of a Rs 950-crore loan from IDBI bank in properties outside India, investigators probing allegations of money laundering by the embattled liquor baron told a special court on Saturday. The court is hearing a plea by the Enforcement Directorate, an agency that investigates financial crimes, seeking a non-bailable arrest warrant and a red-corner notice against the Rajya Sabha MP who owes Rs 9,400 crores to several banks in India. The court reserved its order until Monday. ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar told the court that Mallya siphoned off Rs 430 crore from the IDBI bank loan under heads such as aircraft lease rent, import of spare parts and aircraft maintenance services. The loan was given to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The EDs remarks before the court are the first specific charges against Mallya, who left the country in March amidst mounting pressure from banks to pay up. Read | Order reserved on ED plea for non-bailable warrant against Mallya The agency has approached several countries, including Britain, France and the United States over Kingfisher Airlines transactions. Some ED officials suspect that money might have been parked in overseas tax havens, sources said. We have stumbled upon the money trail and found that of the money he borrowed, a portion had been used to buy a property outside India, Venegaonkar said adding that major recipients of the amount have been identified, along with their bank details. Payments of various amounts to companies apparently unrelated to the business were made, he said. He said the agency has approached countries such as Ireland, UK and France to verify the transactions by Kingfisher Airlines which ceased operations in 2012. Read | Vijay Mallyas passport suspended for 4 weeks, govt seeks response The 60-year-old businessman -- once known as the king of good times for his flamboyant lifestyle -- owns several properties outside the country, including in the US, South Africa, UK and France. Mallya, believed to be in UK, ignored three summons by ED to appear for questioning in the case but claims he is not on the run and will abide by the law. The ED counsel told the court that Mallya offered to answer its questions through video-conferencing or mail but that was not acceptable as investigations cannot proceed as per the convenience of the accused. Venegaonkar said Mallya could tamper with evidence or dispose of key evidence. Read Govt had nothing to do with Vijay Mallyas case, says FM Arun Jaitley Earlier, a consortium of banks rejected Mallyas offer to pay Rs 4,000 crore by September towards settlement of his loan. The banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) have demanded that Mallya be personally present at the next hearing of the case in Supreme Court on April 26. The top court has also asked Mallya to disclose all assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad by April 21. (With PTI inputs) A week of high-level interactions between India and China including meetings between visiting defence minister Manohar Parrikar and Chinese military officials starting Monday is set to bring back bilateral focus on issues dogging the relationship between the two giant neighbours. Discussions are likely to focus on Chinas recent veto on Pakistani terror suspect, Masood Azhar, the festering border dispute with recurring incursions by border patrols, Beijings disquiet over New Delhis increasing military engagement with the US, subsequent joint statements and reports on joint patrolling of the South China Sea (SCS). The modalities to open a sixth meeting point for military personnel along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) could also come up for discussion. In 2015, two new meeting points were opened at Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh and Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh. The other three points are Spanngur Gap in Ladakh, Bum-La in Arunachal Pradesh and Nathu-La in Sikkim. Parrikar is landing in Beijing Sunday evening after spending a day in Shanghai where he met the Indian diaspora. His delegation includes Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, FOC-in C, Western Naval Command and Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, DGMO. Over the next couple of days he is expected to meet Premier Li Keqiang and top officials from Chinas powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), which is headed by President Xi Jinping. A visit to the Chengdu military command headquarters is on the cards. External Affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj will meet Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the annual foreign ministers meeting of the Russia, India and China (RIC) grouping in Moscow. And, back in Beijing, national security adviser, AK Doval will hold border talks with Councilor Yang Jiechi; both are the designated Special Representatives (SR) and will hold the 19th round of talks to resolve the border dispute under the SR mechanism. The last round was held more than a year ago in March in New Delhi. During Parrikars meetings, he is likely to be asked about Indias position on the South China sea disputes that China has with several countries in the region. Beijing might want to know why India has in the recent past has talked about the freedom of navigation in the South China sea echoing US and Japans opinions. Azhar will loom large over the meetings with Beijing using technical jargon to defend its decision to oppose the move to ban him much to Indias indignation. In order to reach international consensus on counter terrorism, China encourage all parties to fully leverage the leading and coordinating role played by the UN and the Security Council and forge international synergy on counter-terrorism, the Chinese foreign ministry told PTI. On the border, the two countries are probably not any closer to resolving the dispute any time soon. The discussions between Doval and Yang will focus more on the mechanisms that have been put in place to tackle situations like incursions and stand-offs between the two militaries; and whether those mechanisms have been effective in defusing tension along the border. When Madhur Saluja ordered biryani at a Bangalore cafe in December, he was surprised to find the cutlery that came with it was edible. It was actually really tasty, says the 40-year-old IT manager, laughing. The spoon hed been served was jowar cutlery made by Hyderabad-based Narayan Peesapaty, a former scientist with the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). As a scientist, Peesapaty says, he had become increasingly concerned about the ease with which Indians used, and discarded, plastic spoons. Plastic is a petroleum derivative and contains toxic chemicals, he says. Its not just bad for the environment, its bad for us too. Peesapaty isnt the only one stepping up. Amid growing concerns over global warming, mounting garbage and rising pollution levels, three companies have begun to offer edible or even biodegradable cutlery and even dinnerware over the past two years. While Peesapatys Bakeys offers edible spoons, soup spoons, forks, sporks and chopsticks in three flavours plain, sweet and spicy, 18-month-old Shunya Alternatives offers bowls, plates, meal trays and takeaway boxes made from wheat-straw and sugarcane fibre. And month-old Anahata founded by former copywriter Alok Banerjee, 28, makes dinnerware (including soup bowls, plates, and spoons) from areca leaves. Anahata, a month-old company set up by former Mumbai copywriter Alok Banerjee, 28, makes dinnerware (including soup bowls, plates, and spoons) from areca leaves. We first thought of creating an alternative when we were at Mumbais Juhu beach three years ago and saw the waves of plastic and Styrofoam littering the sand, says Yash Maniar, 24, who set up Shunya with his sister Sachi, 27, in Mumbai, incubating the idea at Germanys Do School. We picked wheat and sugarcane because both crops are grown across the country and we can use the chaff that otherwise goes to waste. Since areca leaf and the chaff have high heat-resistance, the products made by Shunya and Anahata are microwavable, in addition to being freezer-friendly and water-resistant. Back to basics The aim, say Peesapaty, Banerjee and the Maniars, is to steer people away from non-biodegradable options and back towards traditional alternatives that produce near-zero waste. Bakeys, for instance, is a take on the Indian tradition of lifting food with a chapatti or a sukha puri. And Anahata draws on the leaf-based platters and pudis of coastal Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Even if Saluja had wanted to throw away his spoon rather than eat it, for instance, he could have done so without any guilt, because it would have been devoured by insects, dog or birds, or as with the products on offer by Anahata and Shunya broken down into its natural components in a matter of days. Scale and distribution are something all three companies are still working on. At Shunya and Anahata, the minimum order is 25 pieces, with prices per piece starting at Rs 80 and Rs 125 respectively. Bakeys was launched in December 2013 offering limited delivery for bulk orders only, but scaled up in March and now has a minimum order of 100 pieces (which costs Rs 275) and delivers across India. Bakeys edible spoons do not droop or melt in liquids. They come in three flavours plain, sweet and spicy. Optional add-on flavours include onion and tomato, garlic, and ginger. Already, in the last case, the benefits of scaling up are showing. Where Peesapathy had 20 clients before March, he has since had over 2,700 orders for cutlery worth Rs 5.5 lakh. We mortgaged our family house to fund the initiative, says Peesapaty, whose operation consists of his wife and 10 workers. But we knew it was an idea that would work, and we are now seeing interest from investors too. Meanwhile, as retail orders trickle in, the largest customer base for all three product lines is cafe and restaurant chains, wedding caterers, and event planners. Bakeys spoons are made from wheat, jowar and rice flour, which is packed into moulds and baked. In Mumbai, for instance, the trendy Kala Ghoda Cafe is among Shunyas 40 hospitality clients across 12 cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Goa and Indore. We decided to turn fully organic in December and went looking for eco-friendly cutlery at various exhibitions, says cafe manager Sayeed Shaikh. Thats when Yash got in touch with us and we have since bought 1,000 forks and spoons and 500 takeaway containers from him every month. All our takeaway orders now feature Shunya. In Hyderabad, event management company Royal Treat Hospitality Services has used Bakeys cutlery at 20 events since April 2013. Weve used the spoons and forks at weddings, cocktail parties and business conferences. I love the concept and so do my clients, says Krishna Jakka, 52, owner of Real Treat. Retail customers are snapping them up too, encouraged by their durability and uniqueness. Read: SC worried over littered plastic time bomb I ordered 50 Anahata plates for my daughters birthday party on April 7 and I am amazed by how sturdy they are, says Pallavi Ajmera, 38, a chartered accountant from Mumbai. Friends at the party were asking where I got them. These are great initiatives and have the potential to reduce the use of plastic, says Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general at the independent Delhi-based thinktank Centre for Science and Environment. Though there is pressure to reduce the use of plastic bags, not much is being done about plastic cutlery, whose use is growing at a phenomenal rate. We must do everything to reduce its use. Watch | Now, eat your food and the cutlery too The Thane anti-narcotics cell and crime branch have seized Rs2,000 crore worth of ephedrine, a recreational drug, at Solapur in the past week. Last Sunday, Okhay Sipren Chinnas, 30, from Nigeria, was arrested from Vartak Nagar for possession of half a kilogram of ephedrine worth Rs12.50 lakh. After two days, two Raigad residents were arrested by cops from the Thane crime branch unit-3 and Thane anti-narcotics cell at Shildaighar. A total of 2kg of ephedrine worth Rs80 lakh was seized from the duo. The two accused were identified as Sagar Powale, 28, who works for a private company and Mayur Sukhdare, 25, who works with a pharmaceutical company in Navi Mumbai. The duo revealed the place from where they used to get the drug in Solapur. Amol Walzade, sub-inspector, anti-narcotics cell said, We then made two teams and sent them to the place. The accused also told us from whom they used to buy it. When we reached the place at Solapur a day before yesterday [Thursday], we found the dealer, Dhaneshwar Rajaram Swami, 28, a resident of Solapur. When we arrested him, he told us about a manager of a pharmaceutical company at Chincholi, MIDC in Solapur who was involved. We then traced and arrested the manager, Rajendra Jagdamba Prasad Dimbri, 48, Walzade added. Walzade said a pharmaceutical company, Avon Life sciences limited, where Rajendra used to work was the main centre for producing the drugs. We investigated the factory and seized the drugs, said Walzade. The cops seized 18.5 tonnes of the drug which costs around Rs2,000 crore. The drugs will be brought back to Thane. Prambir Singh, Thane commissioner said, The five arrested were produced in court and they have been remanded in police custody till April 20. This drug has a market in Europe and Poland and we came to know that these drugs were exported to there. We are trying to find out if more people are involved. This one of the biggest drug hauls in history, said Prambir Singh, police commissioner. Meanwhile, the Gujarat police crime branch asked Thane police for more information about the drug as they are looking to bust a smuggling racket. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four more scrap dealers were arrested for the fires at Deonar, taking the total number of arrests to 13. The police have recovered metal pieces from them. The names of those arrested are Firoz Rais Khan, 33, Vijaykumar Krishnakumar Gupta, 32, Kalam Iqbal Shaikh, 44, and Sayeda alias Lallu Hafijulla Shah, 46. All the accused are scrap dealers and we have recovered the metal pieces they got from the Deonar dumping ground, said Sangramsinh Nishandar, deputy commissioner of police, Zone 6. Sources said more arrests are likely in the case, including the kingpin involved in sending ragpickers to the dumping ground to ignite the fire. Investigations revealed fires make it easy for ragpickers to dig out exposed metal from the scrap. The police have already arrested Mohammad Shaikh, Shamim Khan, Sohail Shaikh, Jayprakash Yadav, Hussain Shaikh, Alibaba Shaikh, Shoaib Shaikh, Umarghani Khan and Rajesh Mahadik (all in their thirties) for orchestrating the fire. The officials said the arrests were conducted on the basis the statements of more than 25 ragpickers, who have been made a witness in the case. Officials said despite three fires at the Deonar dump, with the last major one reported on March 20, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to close several ruptured walls, which serve as illegal entry points. Most of them are located at the Rafiq Nagar slums in Tilak Nagar. Several letters have been sent by the local police to the BMC. The fires resulted in thick toxic smoke engulfing parts of the eastern suburbs and central Mumbai, including Govandi, Deonar, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Wadala, Antop Hill and Sion. A man who was injured after a BMW ran over him in Noida on Saturday afternoon has died. The car, allegedly being driven by a resident of Mayur Vihar in East Delhi identified as Vinod, knocked down four people. The driver is on the run. The incident once again puts the spotlight on rash driving in Delhi and the NCR area. About two weeks ago, a 32-year-old student was killed by a Mercedes in North Delhis Civil Lines. Police said the BMW hit another car near Noidas Adobe crossing in sector-22/24, before it hit two people on a bike. Out of control, the BMW hit the wall of a nearby house and came to a halt. Gulfam and Anwar, both aged around 20, were returning from work on a bike when the accident took place. Two others, Prem Kumar and Jogendra Bhandari, were also injured. Gulfam, who suffered head injuries, died at night at a hospital. Police called four people for questioning. We will soon arrest Vinod, who was driving the car, Neeraj Kumar Singh, SHO of Noida Sector 24, was quoted by news agency ANI as saying. Picture of Noida Hit & Run case victim Gulfam, who succumbed to his injuries last night. pic.twitter.com/HhSTm3r5Ug ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 17, 2016 The driver fled, leaving the car behind. We have seized the car and registered a case under proper IPC sections at Sector 24 police station. During the initial investigation, it has come to light that the BMW was being driven by a gym owner who operates the facility at Sector 22. However, the information is yet to be verified, said Dr Gaurav Grover, Noida assistant superintendent of police (city). Speculations were rife that a race between two BMW cars led to the accident. After the incident, the driver allegedly took out a pistol and escaped in the second car. These theories have come to light but are yet to be verified. We do not have confirmation on whether there were two BMW cars. We are trying to ascertain the sequence of events from the footage of nearby CCTV cameras. So far, we have not found any CCTV footage that can confirm the same, Grover added. The car was reportedly registered in the name of a woman from Haryana. Clarifying his partys stand on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur on Saturday said the AAP supported Punjabs cause. During his visit here, Chhotepur said that owing to a technical error the Delhi government had mistakenly submitted the affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting Haryana. The AAP will file a rectified affidavit supporting Punjab, he claimed, adding that the earlier affidavit was prepared by the previous Congress government of Delhi. The statement by the AAP Punjab convener assumes significance as opposition leaders, including Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, had cornered the AAP in Punjab after party national convener Arvind Kejriwals no politics on water comment and his support for his native state Haryana. Chhotepur asked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to clear his stand on the issue. The Congress is raising fingers at Kejriwal but Rahul has not spoken a word to support Punjab; he must clear his stand, he said. Taking a dig at the Congress for calling the AAP a party of outsiders, he said Amarinder had accepted the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, who is a foreigner, whereas Kejriwal is a loyal Indian. SAD leader joins AAP Senior SAD leader and former chairman of SBS Nagar District Planning Board, Resham Singh Thiara, who once was close to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, joined the AAP on Saturday in the presence of Chhotepur. Thiara was virtually sidelined by the SAD in SBS Nagar after Markfed chairman Jarnail Singh Wahid is being projected as the SADs candidate from SBS Nagar for the coming assembly election. He was denied ticket in the 2007 and 2012 assembly elections after he had lost the election on a SAD ticket in the 2002 elections. Dr Manjit Singh, former chief medical officer of Amritsar, also joined the party. In a bid to make health services better, the civil surgeons will also oversee the functioning of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals in their respective districts. The ESI hospitals at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Phagwara and Mandi Gobindgarh are being managed by medical superintendents. The state also has 70 ESIC dispensaries. Director health (ESI) Dr Gulshan Rai said the decision has been taken for better coordination between the ESI and general hospitals. The civil surgeon can take the staff from the ESI hospitals if he needs to depute in general hospitals and similarly, he can depute staff of other hospitals in ESI hospitals, Rai added. He said the civil surgeons would also promote the scheme of treatment or health check-up of the general patients or non-ESIC card holders in the ESI hospitals. The civil surgeons have also ordered to install flex boards in the city for the publicity of the scheme. The scheme was getting a lukewarm response since it was launched in August 2015. At present, the primary and subsidiary health hospitals in the districts are under the direct supervision of the civil surgeon and four civil hospitals in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Ludhiana are being headed by medical superintendents. The government stated that the decision would help in reducing the workload of the other government health institutions, especially civil hospital. Moreover, it will also lead to optimum utilisation of facilities and infrastructure at the ESIC hospitals that remained unutilised most of the time in the year. Jalandhar has a 100-bedded ESIC hospital. Around 350 patients visit the OPD per day. The 400-bedded Shaheed Babu Labh Singh civil hospital, which is adjacent to the ESIC hospital is visited by 1,300 patients per day. Patients have to stand in long queues for hours at the civil hospital to get themselves examined. It has around 45 specialists, including four senior medical officers and 80 staff nurses, working at the civil hospital. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 21-year-old engineering student was killed, while his friends, including two girls, suffered injuries, after their Maruti Swift car collided with a private bus at Dholewala Chowk in phase-1, SAS Nagar in wee hours on Sunday. Investigating officer, Jaspal Singh said, the deceased identified as Gursimrat Singh, was coming from phase-1 and was on his way to Zirakpur at around 2.15 am, when their car collided with a private bus bearing Jammu and Kashmir registration number. The injured were rushed to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), where their condition is stated to be critical. Gursimrat Singh was driving the car and his friend Ashish Kumar was sitting next to him, while the girls-Shabnam and Anjana- were seated on the backseat. All occupants of the cars were engineering students of Rayat and Bahra University in Kharar. Gursimrat Singh, who was also rushed to PGIMER, was declared brought dead. Gursimrat, a native of Jethi Nagar of Khanna in Ludhiana district, was staying at a rented accommodation in Zirakpur. The deceaseds father Avatar Singh, in his statement to the police, said he was only the son and had two sisters, who are married. He was good in studies and was pursuing civil engineering (first year) from the university. We had high hopes from him, the father said. Soon, after the incident, the bus driver fled from the scene leaving the bus. We have registered a case against the bus driver under Section 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of Indian Penal (Code IPC). After the postmortem, the body has been handed over, said the IO. Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Sunday accused Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of refusing to support Punjab on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal even as the state unit of his party had supported the bill withdrawing the land acquisition order for the canal, besides passing a resolution not to allow construction of the canal. Why has he developed cold feet over the SYL issue? Harsimrat asked Rahul in a statement here, citing his assertions during his visit to Zirakpur on Saturday. It is unfortunate that the Congress vice-president had offered the lame excuse that he could not react on the matter because it was sub judice when no bar had been put by the apex court on speaking on the issue, she said. Rahuls refusal to speak up and be counted on the side of Punjabi farmers has negated the support extended to the issue by the Punjab Congress, she said. Read: AAP mere hype, the contest is with Akalis in Punjab: Rahul Gandhi The Congress has a policy to taking different stands on any issue in Punjab and Haryana. Since Rahul was in Zirakpur near Chandigarh, the joint capital of both the states, he chose to clam up rather than to be exposed, she added. As traders from across the border have reached Amritsar to take part in Indo-Pak International Expo-2016 at the Trillium Mall here, activists of Shiv Sena and other Hindu bodies staged a protests in different parts of the city, including the one outside the venue. Shiv Sena (Sher-e-Punjab) activists held a protest outside the venue and burnt the Pakistani flag. Also, members of another faction of the Shiv Sena, held a protest on Jhabhal Road. Though police managed to restrict the protesters are different locations, one group managed to reach outside Trillium Mall. They raised antiPakistan slogans and demanded that the organisers should ask the traders from other side of the border to leave. Despite the fact that Pakistan sponsors terror attacks in India, Indian government allows traders from across the border to make money here. This very money they spend against our country, said Sachin Behal, president of Shiv Sena (Rashtrawadi). Om Parkash, convener of Shiv Sena (Sher-e-Punjab) said, Pakistani-hand had been proved in Dinanagar and Pathankot attacks; Kirpal Singh was killed in a Pak jail. Such exhibitions and shows of traders from Pakistan cant be tolerated. The Shiv Sainiks were reportedly detained by the police at some places.Police commissioner Amar Singh Chahal said the police had not detained anyone. We only stopped the Shiv Sena activists from going near the expo venue, he said. Congress on Sunday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal of spending Delhi taxpayers money for advertisements in Punjab and vowed to expose him ahead of the assembly elections next year. We will expose Arvind Kejriwal and his outfit. We will run expose AAP campaign to reveal the many faces of Kejriwal who has been caught lying on the SYL issue, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh said, adding the Delhi chief minister has different yardsticks on issues in every state. He claimed AAPs Lok Sabha upsurge is now history and the situation is changing rapidly, as he questioned Kejriwals multi-crore spending on advertisements in Punjab. Kejriwal is using Delhi taxpayers money to market himself in Punjab. Tomorrow where will he spend Punjabs money...in Tamil Nadu? he said. Captain said people of Delhi should demand an answer from Kejriwal as to how he can use their hard-earned money for marketing himself and for doing his politics. He claimed AAP will disintegrate in the next six months and its people will start joining Congress. Capt said the ruling Akali Dal will suffer the same fate. AAPs position has gone down very much since the last elections. One should have a credible face in Punjab and they have no credibility, he said. He said Punjab, which has been pushed behind many years due to the over two decades of militancy, cannot afford to be pushed behind further as the Delhi chief minister has no solutions to offer to solve the problems of farmers in the state and is resorting to mere theatrics and gimmicks to woo the gullible Punjab voters. Dismissing suggestions that AAP was gaining ground in Punjab, he said the 2014 AAP euphoria had already fizzled out and it was suffering a progressive decline in Punjab since then. It contested two by-elections after 2014 and forfeited security in both and then did not dare to contest again, he pointed out. He said Kejriwal had been exposed over double speak on Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) by supporting Punjab while in Punjab and then backing out the moment he landed in Delhi. And to top it all, he submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting Haryanas case on SYL, he said. Singh claimed the ruling SAD will completely disintegrate before 2017 assembly polls. There is a subtle and simmering discontent prevailing within the Akali Dal and I guarantee you it will explode at the right time ahead of polls, he said. The Punjab Congress chief also claimed Akalis were very much in touch with us and will join the party by the end of the year. Right now they (the Akali leaders and workers) are lying low as they do not want to be implicated in false cases, he said, adding, the moment the Akalis lose control over the administration after the model code of conduct comes into effect, they will resign and join us (the Congress). Singh also warned about serious law and order problem in the state as the farmers may not receive the money for their produce since the state government was unlikely to get the credit limit due to Rs 12,000 crore alleged wheat scam, unearthed recently. Inspired by an African proverb, If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation, Hariom Jindal, an advocate by profession, has started educating women in a slum area in the city. After an effort that lasted for a month, Jindal has been able to convince eight women to study at the school run by him at a shanty in the slum on Hambran Road. Jindal said, This will encourage slum children to come to school on a regular-basis. In one month, these women have learnt to write their names in English and Hindi. Now they can even read hoardings and signboards and are ecstatic over their achievement, he said. Jindal has appointed a teacher to teach them and provides free stationery and books to them. Manika, who is a regular student at the school, said Initially, I hesitated to join the school, but Jindal ji and schoolteacher convinced me. I am learning a lot here. I can write my name in English, which is an achievement for me. As I have understood the importance of education in our lives, I have decided to send my children to school regularly, so that they can make their future better, she added. Hariom Jindal said, It was a tough job to bring women to school, as they were reluctant. But I never gave up and succeeded in bringing them to school. Savita, another woman, said, Apart from reading and writing, we are being taught about our administrative system. I know what my rights as a citizen are. Saroj, who is teaching the slum women, said, I started from teaching them alphabets, and then making words from them. These women are learning fast. NO SCHOOLS NEAR HAMBRAN ROAD SLUM Jindal said, Many NGOs visited this slum to enroll children to school. But, they failed to persuade children as well as their parents, as the school was situated far away from the area. So, I started the school in the shanty itself two years ago. At present, 30 students study here. They no more beg on the streets and took pledge to go to school for further education, he added. He said, Students were not coming to the school regularly, so I decided to bring their mothers to school. This has helped in improving the attendance at school. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Slum children, whose labour-class parents have no choice but to leave them unattended as they head for work in Ludhiana, are increasingly becoming victims of sexual crime. In the underbelly of Punjabs industrial city alone, 11 sexual assaults on minors have come to light in the past month. The perpetrators of the crime are young neighbours and relatives, who the victims trusted. For instance, on March 14, a local girl had her throat slit in a rape attempt. Left for dead, she bled copiously but survived. She is just 2, the assaulter only 14. In 10 days, another child, barely 4, was raped in Ludhiana. The accused, her 23-year-old cousin, had lured her with the promise of a chocolate. Here is an account of four of the 11 victims and their families who have been living with the trauma as they struggle to make ends meet and lead a life of dignity. Railway quarters adjoining the Ferozepur line Teenager tried to rape, kill two-year-old (HT Representative Photo) Adjoining the railway tracks in the small, dingy, railway quarters, two children a girl, 2, and a boy, 5, are engrossed in play. The girl, who has just returned from school, has a deep scar around the neck, where the stitches are now healing. She is in a tattered frock, playing in filth. Her chewing gum drops out of her mouth repeatedly. Every time she picks it up from the dusty surface and puts it back into her mouth, unaware of the risk to her health. Asked how she got the wound, she is quick to name the boy who did it. Her brother volunteers to narrate the incident: He picked her up from here, locked her in a room, and gagged her with his hand, he goes, putting his hand over his mouth. Looking for her, we heard her cries from a room. When we broke open the door, there she was, with blood all over, he narrates in a single breath what he has overheard elders say umpteen times in the recent days. The incident On March 13, a neighbourhood boy, 14, whom she called Bhaiya (brother) fondly, kidnapped her. At vacant quarters in the area later, he attempted to first rape her and then kill her using a kitchen knife. Saved in time, she spent a week in hospital, where she survived after a difficult surgery and four days of being on ventilator. The mental scar Her wind pipe was damaged 95%, Doctors said it was a tough surgery, says the victims father, a juice vendor from Bihar, staying in the city for the past 15 years. Her mother works as a domestic help. We have to make ends meet. There is no one to look after the children once we go off to work, he says. My daughter started going to school only today. She used to be cheerful but now she gets scared outside and clings to her mother all the time. The boy who tried to kill her was drunk, he adds. Accused a porn addict The accused boy told police he had been carrying a kitchen knife all the time only to kill the child after raping her on first opportunity. The school dropout who took to selling vegetables said he was addicted to watching porn videos on the mobile phones of his friends. He is in a juvenile home now. EWS Colony Danger lurks in neighbourhood Let without support, the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) Colony girl, 9, was crying even two days after a neighbour had made an alleged rape attempt on her. She moved to Ludhiana only a month ago, to assist her ailing aunt in chores. Her parents and three siblings remain at Saharsa in Bihar. Her house, with a dark entrance and corridors wide enough for only one person, is piled up with garbage. Flies hover over the area, where the last sanitation campaign was four months ago. The incident She was raped on the evening of April 6.The accused, brother-in-law of her familys tenant, lives only a few metres from the cramped quarters. No woman to turn to after being raped, she could not share her pain with anyone that night. Only the next morning she could telephone her aunt in Bihar. The neighbour came in that evening and locked me up in my fathers room. Drunk, he pinned me to the bed and shut my mouth to not let me scream. He then raped me, and I have been in pain since, says the girl. Victim in depression The girl continues to be in deep shock after the incident. She cant reach her parents in Bihar and her uncle is the only support she has here; but hes too busy making a living. Alone all day in the one-room tenement in a crowded locality, she has sunk into depression. I will send her back to her village. It was a mistake to bring her to Ludhiana. At least, she was safe there. The neighbours beat up accused Jai Parkash, who is in judicial custody now, said her uncle. Uneducated, of course Accused Jai Parkash, 19, a bachelor from Bihar, is a school dropout. He works as a labourer and was reportedly inebriated when he committed the crime. Dholewal What safety when the monster is in the family While the one-room tenement at Dholewal, where a girl, 4, was raped by her cousin, is empty, her father is found ironing clothes nearby. His daughter soon returns from school. Asked what had happened to her, she puts her hand on her mouth and points to her private parts. Her expression changes and she hides behind her mother and clings to her. The claw marks are still visible on the face. The incident It was Holi (March 24). Her father was sharing drinks in his one-room quarters at Dholewal with relatives, including the accused, his nephew Santosh, 23. The child was playing nearby. The accused passed her a Rs 50 note and told her he would get her a chocolate. She followed him outside to the storeroom. He was about to strangle her after rape when another relative raised the alarm. Neighbours gathered and thrashed Santosh before handing him over to police. The girl was left bleeding. Cannot trust relatives now I cannot trust my relatives now. I will never leave her alone, says the childs father, while her mother describes how their daughter wakes up horrified at night. I have to keep her close all the time, she says. The devil in drink Police say accused Santosh of Bihar is a drunkard who works in a local factory. He is a bachelor who switches jobs frequently. Jeevan Nagar Forced into silence Sitting in her mothers lap at Jeevan Nagar locality of Ludhianas Moti Nagar area, the girl (7) runs away on seeing the HT team. Her mother is reluctant to talk about the incident. There is no use, she says. The incident (HT representational image) Neighbour Mohan Ji Kesri, 30, police say, is the man who tried to rape the girl on March 30 after picking her up when she was playing. Her father says he heard her screams from a room, which was bolted from inside. The people who broke open the door found the accused trying to disrobe the child. They beat him up and called police. Fear factor Feeling humiliated and threatened, the family, which includes the victims three older siblings, doesnt want to pursue the case. We fear the man will come out of jail and threaten us, says the victims mother. The accused has two sons, aged 8 and 6. His wife has now left him and taken the children with her to Bihar. Violent man Unemployed, school dropout, and known to be violent, the accused, say neighbours, has been involved in frequent fights in the colony. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar on Sunday condemned the gurdwara blast in the German city of Essen and sought the arrest of those involved. The blast that occurred on Saturday left three persons, including a granthi, injured. In a release, Makkar has called upon the German law-enforcement agencies to investigate the matter in detail to come out with the truth. The SGPC chief wished the injured a speedy recovery, while stating that Sikhs were a peace-loving community that had contributed to the progress and development of countries where they have settled after migrating from India. Read: Germany gurdwara explosion leaves 3 injured; Indian authorities express concern Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh, meanwhile, has written to German Chancellor Angela Merkel seeking a thorough investigation into the incident to restore confidence and ensure safety of Sikhs living in the European nation. A German policeman stands guard at a gurdwara in the western city of Essen. (German Media) The SGPC has so far refrained from terming the incident a case of hate crime. Since the 9/11 terror strikes in the United States, Sikhs have become targets of hate crime in the West, as they are often mistaken as Muslims due to the turban. Incidents of gurdwaras being attacked and vandalised have also been reported. Sukhbir calls for campaign to sensitise people about Sikhism Condemning the incident, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday appealed to all Sikhs, especially gurdwara management committees in Indian and abroad, to launch a campaign to sensitise people across the world about Sikhism and its concepts of peace and universal brotherhood. The deputy chief minister said he has also urged the Union minister for external affairs to take up the issue of safety of Sikhs and their religious places with the German government besides helping the injured and working with the local community to rebuild the shrine. It was about a fortnight ago that I had posted on Facebook seeking volunteers who could talk about robotics at a school in my native Hoshiarpur. This request was not an outcome of any curiosity to see humanoid robots cooking midday meals, but the result of intense conversations with leading thinkers who felt that if Punjab was to turn around its fate, the first step would be to consider introducing robotics and coding in schools. Other than bringing the youth closer to new-age technology, the latter could also democratise computer science across the state. These thinkers, while talking about why Punjab was missing out on every technological revolution that had taken place, stressed that until the political set-up backed a narrative which focused on investing in research and creating a scientific and tech savvy temper, Punjab would keep plummeting further in the unproductive rhetoric it finds itself in. Vivek Wadhwa, a researcher, thinker, writer and Fellow at Stanford Law School, said these two subjects prepare the youth for a future in which they will be working with robots and writing apps. It gives them an advantage in being able to gain jobs in new fields and to build new technologies. It lets them be on par with the best students in the West - with whom they will be competing. In other words, the Punjab politician has to make a significant leap from its present uncreative and barren narrative of setting up memorials, memorial gates, religious festivals, political rallies, self aggrandisement towards STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and other skill-imparting courses. Having said this, one is acutely aware that all this is easier said than done because one keeps facing ridicule each time this topic is broached with political people or at social gatherings. Ojhi thuanu nahi pata log kiddan dey ney (This is drawing room talk). To which my usual response is, Well, arent they like that because you the politician has ensured that they remain like that? At this point, I know Im hitting a a dead wall. Give them education and then see if they stay the same. Provide them with a progressive narrative and see them chak de phattey. Punjabis surprise in both ways. They outperform when given ideal circumstances (West is an example) and become non-performers without stimuli. No, I was also not taking myself seriously and neither was I under this delusion that one Facebook status could spark a coup where robots took over from the politician. I am not a dream merchant, but a robot programmed to lead the state without a selfish agenda isnt a bad idea either. Let us move on to the subsequent part which is the response to my Facebook request. After many young folks volunteered to conduct the session, I narrowed down to one Akshay Ahuja, who runs a start-up under the name Robo Champs. Akshay volunteered to hold the workshop free of cost, after which we fixed up a date in consultation with the school teachers. That the government schools are in a pitiable condition is a topic for some other day, but what struck me was the glee and inquisitiveness on the faces of these kids when the Robo Champs team arrived at their school. Sir, you will be surprised to see their response to the workshop. They have no precondition to learning and have this immense quest to acquire more knowledge, said Akshay. Even though the pathetic level of education in government-run schools was clearly visible making me feel silly that what on earth I was trying to prove, what kept my hope alive were the jubilant kids. Their shout of joy at every successful attempt made my belief stronger that they were ripe for this revolution, if only someone held their hand. The future of these children lies not in poisoning their minds by making them join political youth organisations like SOI, YAD, Youth Congress, NSUI or the ABVP but in enriching their lives with quality education. To all those influential people in villages, I have only one plea. Rise above your sarpanchi election mindset and promote intellectual activity in your pind dey schools. And to the politician, I have a word of caution. Turn your narrative into something worthwhile, otherwise, a coup by robots cannot be ruled out. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government for giving up on the long-delayed Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform, saying, now the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) doesnt want GST anymore. Speaking to select journalists here, Gandhi said, We will give them GST in five minutes if the government accepts the Congress preconditions. GST, a key indirect tax reform aimed at creating uniform tax rate across the country, has been mired in a political and parliamentary stand-off between the ruling NDA and the opposition Congress. Gandhi made the GST remark while aggressively panning the Modi governments performance on both domestic and foreign policy fronts. He charged prime minister with practicing an event management-type polity.People get taken in by his hype and the government gets away with it, he said. Things they (the NDA rule) are very good at is catching eyeballs by managing events he said, mockingly labelling Modis flagship initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Stand up India, Make in India as false promises but well-executed events. Gandhi, however, accepted, in a serious tone, that the Congress was also learning from the BJPs idea of politics as an event and marketing exercise. Unfortunately, thats what politics has become even in the US, and to certain extent it works he said. To buttress his point, Gandhi quoted the example of the Aadhaar scheme: We laid the policy foundation, but couldnt market it. Accusing the Modi government of moving from one event to another without delivering results, he said the prime ministers foreign policy on Pakistan was an example of short-sightedness. One knows well the Punjabi phrase Vehrha shaguna da which in spontaneous translation would be a courtyard of festivities. The reference is towards the wedding celebrations in the central courtyard of old-style havelis where sweets and savouries would be cooked and women would sit together singing happy songs. The men folk would make it to the terrace or some room to drink their fill. Such scenes by and large have vanished, but for Punjab-centric movies high on a nostalgic trip maujan hi maujan style. The well-packaged Punjabi nuptial extravaganza today has moved to resorts, five-stars, farm houses and of course marriage palaces. But the phrase Vehrha shaguna da persists for old times sake. However, I came across a curious coinage recently: Theka khushian da. Now a theka or a liquor vend in the Chandigarh-Punjab context has hardly had a joyous outcome, yet it continues to be a subject of celebratory songs like Theka pind wala and others. A tragic-comic song was penned by a young colleague in Punjabi magazine that I worked for. It was quite desolate because his wife had moved for some time to her parents home and he had penned an unusual song. It went thus Tu baih gayi peke ja ke, main theke bahinda haan! Well the end was quite happy because she came back and so destination Theka was abandoned. But what interested me in this song was that the peka-theka rhyme was something new. Theka continues to be a popular word in the Punjabi psyche even though its meaning in English is as prosaic like contract or tender. Of late a young entrepreneur has built a whole range of Punju souvenirs with this brand name, including ceramic beer mugs stating: I am not drunk, I am just Ghaint, Talli nai hundey; Awesome ho jaaida or Drink Responsibly - means Dullan na Deyo! Then there are hundreds of theka jokes, even though some may be irked at the habit of poking fun at Punjabis, particularly the Sikhs. However, most of these jokes are actually Made in Punjab. So here is a theka joke for the road of the inter-state variety: Bengali: My grandfather lived to be 96 but he never used glasses. Punjabi: True, some of my folks too drink straight from the bottle. The menace has been simmering for years, but came to a boil in Patiala last week, and is now set to reach the Prime Minister and President how much fee is too much at private schools? Thats the burning question being asked across Punjab as parents take to the streets, fight battles in court, and wait for the government to do something. The school staff did not let us go out to have water, and even switched off the fans, alleged Kiranpreet Kaur, a student of Patialas Budha Dal Public School whose staff detained nearly 40 students of various classes in the library for two hours over non-payment of an annual fee component. Police had to intervene, inquiries were ordered, even as the annual capitation fee of Rs 11,000 to Rs 13,000 each remains the subject of a court battle between the parents association and the private schools management. This is not an isolated case. The row over payment of such fees at private schools across Punjab has brought parents onto the roads across the state over the past few weeks, carrying out protests, resorting to hunger strikes. Disappointed over the lack of regulation of these annual fee hikes and the arbitrary style of functioning of private institutes, members of various associations in the state feel the government has left them with no option but mass agitation. Annual fee, maintenance charges, smart-class fee, or, simply, miscellaneous charges the names vary but the problem is the same. NO OPTION A woman and child shaken after a Patiala school detained students for non-payment of a disputed fee. There was a long-drawn manifestation of this in Ludhiana too, where parents held a three-week agitation in March-April against hike in fees and an alleged nexus of schools with bookshop owners. The deputy commissioner had even directed the schools to reduce development charges by 30% and limit to 5% the hike in tuition fee; but to no avail. Nearly 300 members from the Ludhiana parents association sat on a day-long hunger strike on February 8 last. Despite being asked by a high court-appointed fee committee to refund over `3 crore to students of Bal Bharati School, Ludhiana, the school authorities failed to pay heed, thereby intensifying the protests. In Jalandhar, too, members of Punjab Parents Association have been holding regular protests and even submitted a complaint against 154 schools to the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) accusing them of commercialising education by charging hefty annual fee besides levying maintenance charges, tuition fee and charges for books. There is no respite in the smaller towns either. Parents in Batala and Tarn Taran have been staging similar protests. In Bathinda, about 1,000 parents sat on a hunger strike for six days. The DC had to intervene when the secretary of the association started a fast unto death earlier this month. To the day, protests continue. POLL PROMISE TOO The matter could even become a poll issue, as parents on Friday raised it with state Congress president and former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, he assured to put a check on the working of private schools and make sure that fee was not arbitrarily increased. I have got several representations from parents from different areas and if voted to power, it will be my priority to deal with this issue timely, he said, speaking at the Coffee with Captain programme at Yadvindra Public School in Patiala. AUTONOMY OR AUTOCRACY? Private schools feel they have the autonomy to do anything. Besides ignoring norms of the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), they have failed to implement the DCs orders too, said Arvind Sangaral, member of the Patiala Parents Association. District president of the Ludhiana Parents Association, Rajinder Ghai has similar views: We have done all we could, but, despite the HC committee directing a local school to refund fee, the management refuses to act. Now the government needs to take action against schools not adhering to the DCs order; otherwise nothing will change. In Jalandhar, a parent whose child studies in a leading public school said he `1,000 was the charge for an identity card alone. In Batala, the protest is led by the district women wing president of the ruling Shiroamni Akali Dal (SAD), Geeta Sharma, who said, Parents are being forced to buy books only from school premises. An NCERT book worth ` 220 is sold a thrice the price by the school authorities or by private publishers with whom schools have a nexus. President of NGO Bathinda Welfare Association, Gurvinder Sharma added, Schools keep citing a Supreme Court judgement saying they can increase fee by 10% every year; but the annual fee hike is over 20% actually. GOVT A MUTE SPECTATOR The government, however, either prefers to be a mute spectator or passes the buck to the HC-appointed committee. Education minister DS Cheema said his department was in the process of forming a state-level regulatory body. There is a thin line between autonomy and government interference in case of private institutions. He went onto blame mindset of parents: There are some great educational societies and also good government schools in Punjab, but parents dont get out of the mindset of sending their children to private schools, where they are then not able to bear the fee burden. He noted that the HC-appointed committee had recommended action in case of certain schools. PANEL TOO SLOW That said, not much has come of the high courts formulation of a committee in 2012 to address the issue. A panel for private unaided schools of Punjab under the chairmanship of Justice Amar Dutt (retired) was to look into the aspects as to how much fee increase was required by each individual school on the examination of records and accounts of these schools and taking into consideration the funds available, etc. Of the almost 4,000 schools in Punjab whose data was received by this panel, members have submitted the report of only 152 schools, which is less than 4% of the institutions in four years. TOMORROW : WHATS THE HC-FORMED COMMITTEE DOING? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two months after the merger of Manpreet Singh Badal-led Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) with the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) --- a constituent of the Sanjha Morcha stitched by Manpreet ahead of 2012 polls --- too merged into the grand old party on Sunday. The merger was announced jointly at a press conference at the New Delhi residence of Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh in the presence of AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmad and campaign committee chairperson Ambika Soni and SAD (Longowal) president Surjit Kaur Barnala, secretary general Baldev Singh Mann, and Barnalas son Gaganjit Barnala and grandson, Simranjit Barnala. Like Manpreets PPP, which merged with the Congress at New Delhi a day after the Maghi rally in Muktsar, the Congress kept the SAD (Longowal) merger after its rally at Talwandi Sabo on Wednesday and party vice-president Rahul Gandhis visit to the state on Saturday. On why was the merger not announced at Talwandi Sabo or during Rahuls Punjab visit, Gaganjit said the decision was taken by the Congress. Keen on mergers, Cong not nagging allies As it faces a triangular contest, the Congress is not willing to forge alliances with smaller parties but asking them to merge. With AAP now emerging as a third contender in Punjabs pollscape, the splinter group of the SAD opted to merge and secure some seats for family and loyalists than be pushed into political oblivion. Though it has little political standing, the SAD (Longowal) enjoys panthic appeal among a section of Sikhs. Though the Barnalas has initiated talks with Ahmad in January at Delhi, Ganganjit said they had no demands on seats and the merger was unconditional and in the interest of the Panth and Punjab. The SAD is no more a Panthic party but a gang of Badals. I too could have been deputy CM like Sukhbir Badal when my father was CM. But our partys ideology is against dynastic politics. We are giving up our identity as a seperate party as Amarinder is a good Sikh and has Panthic appeal, Ganganjit said. On how would their party contest the SGPC elections after merging into the Congress, he said they out throw out corrupt mahants controlling the SGPC by supporting right candidates of other parties. Read: Rahul steers clear of declaring Amarinder as CM candidate, but will declare candidates early Thousands attended the Baisakhi parade in Vancouver on Saturday. Organised under the banner of Khalsa Diwan Society, the oldest Sikh body in Canada, the annual parade attracted people from across North America. What added to the enthusiasm of the Sikhs was the presence of defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, who is an MP from Vancouver South. He is the first turbaned Sikh to be appointed as defence minister of Canada. His posters greeted visitors from different spots. The celebration followed the recent announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the official apology for Komagata Maru episode coming next month. Significantly, Sajjan had previously led the regiment that was responsible for forcing the Komagata Maru ship to return in 1914. Also in attendance was Raj Singh Toor, whose grandfather was aboard the ship. Encouraged by the upcoming official apology, the members of the East Indian Defence Committee also displayed a banner along the parade route seeking recognition of Mewa Singh as a Canadian hero. Mewa Singh was hung in 1915 for assassinating a controversial immigration inspector William Hopkinson who was instrumental behind Komagata Maru episode. Already, a petition has been launched to get Mewa Singh recognised as martyr for standing up against racism. Meanwhile, in the light of forthcoming assembly election in Punjab next year, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had pitched a tent to raise awareness among the NRIs on the occasion. Notably, the BC is also headed for assembly election next year. Not only the BC Premier Christy Clark and her cabinet colleagues paid obeisance at the Ross Street Sikh temple before the parade started, the opposition NDP caucus team was also present. Clark emphasised that Baisakhi was no more a South Asian festival, but it has rather become a Canadian festival. It is pertinent to mention that baisakhi was also recently celebrated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. A significant number of Chinese and Caucasians also participated in the parade. A float also carried a portrait of Bhim Rao Ambedkar to mark his 125th birth anniversary. Fearing protest by parents, a local school in Jalandhar has deployed police outside its premises citing security reasons. Students of Shiv Jyoti Public School were surprised to see cops outside the school. Around 50 parents had gathered on the school premises on April 12 and protested against imposition of readmission fee, building charges and expensive books and asked the school management to stop the illegal practice. School principal Ravi Suta said: We have deployed police due to security reasons. Its hard to maintain discipline at the school due to frequent protests. Even the students are suffering because of the ongoing protest and we can never compromise with their studies. The school is dedicated to its students, she added. Suta said she had already asked the parents to keep calm as she would hold meeting with the management on April 30 regarding the issues raised by them. Protest outside CT Public School On Saturday, around 15 parents along with the Punjab Parents Association held a protest outside CT Public School. Parents said the school had increased tuition fee and was charging re-admission fee, besides taking hefty charges for school books, in contravention to the high court orders. The parents were not allowed to enter the school following which president of the association talked to chairman of the CT Group of Institutions Charanjit Singh Channi on phone. He alleged that the chairman asked him to stop protesting otherwise action would be taken against them. Channi, however, denied the allegations and said he did not want the studies of students to suffer. The parents can approach the district-level committee if they have some issues. Ajay Sharma, a parent whose child studies in Class 4 at CT Public School, said the school was taking building fund of `2,000 every year and `1,000 for an identity card along with other charges. Deputy commissioner, Muktsar, has asked private schools to give details of infrastructure, area of the school, educational qualification of teachers and their salary, name of publishers of books being given to the students, admission fees being taken from the students. In Fazilka, the deputy commissioner, after getting complaints from the parents has ordered to form committees at sub-divisional level that will solve the problems regarding the admission fee taken by the private schools. The DC has asked the schools to ask the parent members in their management committee before hiking the fee. He has also ordered all schools to follow the CBSE orders which say: No capitation fee or voluntary donations for gaining admission in the school or for any other purpose be charged or collected in the name of the school. The premises of the school should not be used for any commercial activity and no commercial shops for the sale of books, uniforms be operated within the school campus. Bokaro city and Pandu village in Hazaribagh on Saturday remained peaceful with things returning to normalcy a day after clashes between two communities during the Ram Navmi festival. Bokaro administration said curfew under four police stations would be relaxed from 5 am to 11 am on Sunday. The administration deputed around 600 police personnel from the district police, JAP and the Jharkhand Jaguar to ensure peace in the area. There were violent clashes between members of two communities in Siwandih suburb of Bokaro steel city when a Ram Navami procession was stopped and pelted with stones. The mob also burnt several vehicles of the administration. The administration imposed curfew in Maraphari, Sector 12, city centre and the Balidih police station areas. The situation in Bokaro and Hazaribag is peaceful. The local administration would assess the situation in Bokaro and decide to lift the curfew, said DIG Upendra Prasad. We reviewed the situation and found that normalcy has returned to the area. The administration would relax the curfew from 5am to 11am on Sunday. Police have arrested 25 persons from both the communities for stone pelting and arson, said Bokaro deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray. Senior police officials including DIG, DC and SP YS Ramesh conducted a flag march in Siwandih on Saturday. The situation was peaceful but tense in Pandu. People of two communities had clashed over the slow movement of a Ram Navmi procession at Pandu chowk on Friday. District administration conducted a meeting with the representatives of both the communities on Saturday morning and asked them to maintain peace and harmony. Police and para military forces camped in the village. Legislator Nirmala Devi and representative of MP Jayant Sinha visited the spot and met the injured persons. Hazaribagh SP Akhilesh Jha said the police was keeping a close watch on anti-social elements so that no mishap takes place again. Twelve people were and 11 injured in a fire at a chemical plant in Saudi Arabias east, a state-run news agency said on Saturday. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the fire in al-Jubail happened around 11.40 am on Saturday at the Jubail United Petrochemical Co. The news agency quoted the company as saying the fire began during maintenance at the plant. The company also said the fire caused thick black smoke. The victims suffocated from fumes of burning chemicals, he said. Another 11 employees were injured, six of them left in serious state. The website for Sabic, a chemical conglomerate based in Riyadh, says the firm holds a 75% stake in al-Jubail United Petrochemical Co. Sabic did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Pope Francis spoke emotionally on Sunday of his meeting a day earlier with migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos, which culminated with him taking 12 Syrians -- all Muslims -- from three families back to the Vatican. Addressing worshippers at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peters Square, the 79-year-old pontiff, who is himself the son of Italian immigrants in Argentina, related his visit to a migrant processing centre where around 3,000 people are being held. We greeted around 300 of them, one by one, said Francis, who was accompanied on his visit by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens. There were so many children. Some of these children witnessed their parents and friends dying, drowned at sea. I saw such suffering, he said, visibly moved. Pope Francis caresses a child as he meets migrants at the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. (AP) The Roman Catholic leader then went on to tell of one particular case, that of a young man, who was not even 40. I met him yesterday with his two sons. He was Muslim and told me he had married a Christian, (and that) they loved and respected each other. But the woman fell victim to Islamist radicals, he said. She had her throat slit by terrorists because she would not renounce Christ and abandon her faith, said Francis, calling her a martyr. As for her grieving spouse, he said sorrowfully, this man was crying so much. The popes visit to Lesbos, one of the main ports of arrival for people fleeing war, poverty and persecution in the Middle East and Asia, was seen as a lesson in solidarity for Europe, where the doors to migrants are progressively being slammed shut. Declaring we are all migrants, Francis used his trip to emphasise that the arrivals were not mere numbers, but people with faces, names and individual stories. This handout picture released by the Vatican press office shows Pope Francis (C), Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the worlds Orthodox Christians (L) and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos II (R) throwing wreaths of flowers in the port of Mytilene in memory of the migrants who died at sea trying to reach Europe. (AFP) All refugees are children of God, Francis said on the flight back to Rome referring to their religion, adding that though his gesture was a drop in the ocean he hoped the ocean will never be the same again. Last year, the pope had appealed to every Catholic diocese in Europe to take in a refugee family -- an appeal that fell on deaf ears in most parts of the continent. Migrant arrivals in Greece have drastically fallen since Turkey agreed to take back all irregular migrants landing on the Greek islands in return for billions in EU cash and other concessions. Over 1.1 million people have crossed clandestinely from Turkey to Greece since the start of 2015, with hundreds drowning en route. Speaking for the first time, the mother of a 19-year-old British boy, who reportedly joined the Islamic State, has said she is completely shocked at the loss of her intelligent son to the dreaded terrorist group. Muhammad Rajas mother told The Sunday Times about her son on condition of anonymity after the newspaper showed her a leaked ISIS recruitment file in which Raja was named. Im completely shocked. Hes such an intelligent boy. He got grade As at GCSE (Board exams) and was loved by his teachers. We need to find out how this happened, she said. She last saw her son at Heathrow airport as he left on holiday to Turkey. But days after arriving in Istanbul, the boy, mysteriously vanished. For almost the past two years his mother has been searching for news of his whereabouts and hoping he might still call her. His ISIS recruitment file states that after flying to Istanbul, Raja took a 21-hour bus journey to Sanliurfa, near Turkeys border with Syria. The leaked document, passed to the newspaper by Zaman al-Wasl, an independent Syrian news organisation opposed to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and to ISIS, states that Raja crossed into Syria on July 10, 2015. Under a section that asks for his ISIS sponsor, Raja says that someone called Abu Hamza from Twitter helped to put him in touch with the terrorist organisation. The file also states that Raja left his British passport with an ISIS operative called Abu al-Walid in Turkey in effect leaving him trapped in Syria. Someone with the same alias has been identified by experts as one of ISIS most prolific propagandists on social media. He has resurfaced on Twitter at least 464 times after having his account suspended, the newspaper found. Raja, now 21, is an expert in computing and web design and his recruitment file emphasises this point. When most foreigners are simply asked if they want to be a fighter or a suicide bomber, Rajas entry lists his knowledge of graphics-related programmes, including Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. British police have searched Rajas possessions a couple of times and have advised his mother to alert them should her son make contact. The US government has advised its citizens to avoid one of Islamabads most prominent hotels on fears of a terror attack. The embassy is aware of a general but uncorroborated threat against the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, said a travel warning posted on the US embassys website on Saturday. US citizens are advised to avoid the area for the next several days to allow time to assess the situation, it said. The Marriott hotel was targeted in a suicide truck bombing on September 20, 2008 which killed more than 54 people and injured dozens. Several Americans were among the dead but most casualties were Pakistanis. The embassy reminded US citizens that there was an active travel warning for Pakistan issued on April 7, 2016 and a worldwide travel alert issued on November 23, 2015. US citizens are urged to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. US citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures, the statement said. The Mission reminds those US citizens considering travel to or remaining in Pakistan despite this warning to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrolment Program, keep a trusted friend informed of your movements in country, maintain vigilant situational awareness, avoid large crowds, keep a low profile, and avoid visiting locations frequented by Westerners, it added. The message pointed out that official US Mission personnel and visitors were not allowed to use public transportation and were not authorised to stay overnight in hotels in Pakistan. US citizens should exercise caution when travelling in the country, keeping in mind the high security threat level, the advisory said. US travellers were also asked to vary their times and routes when travelling anywhere in Pakistan. A mountain in North Korea may be at risk of eruption. Scientists have taken a closer look at Mount Paektu, a volcano with a violent past, and have found that it may just be at risk of experiencing another eruption. Mount Paektu can be found hundreds of kilometers west of the Ring of Fire, which is actually nicknamed due to the fact that many of the world's monster volcanoes are forged from the collision of tectonic plates in this area. In this case, though, it appears as if this volcano has turned up in a rather abnormal location. This volcano was actually the source of one of the largest modern eruptions on our planet. More specifically, an eruption in 946 C.E. occurred that helped change the landscape forever. Since then, the volcano has quieted down, until recently. Swarms of tiny earthquakes occurred at the volcano between 2002 and 2005. While this was somewhat worrying, researchers believed that they could have been due to magma rising toward the surface. With that said, the volcano itself today is inactive, which raised the question of whether it was preparing to become active once more. In this latest study, the researchers stationed six broadband seismometers in an array extending east from Paektu in 2013. This allowed then to collect data over the course of two years as they looked at seismic waves from distant earthquakes rippling through the crust beneath the volcano. When researchers want to learn what's going on beneath the crust of our planet's surface, seismic waves can tell them a lot. Depending on how fast they move, researchers can tell what material they're moving through. This, in turn, shows researchers what composition lies beneath Earth's crust. So, what did the researchers find by studying the seismic waves? It turns out that alterations in wave energy and form revealed softer, and possibly melted, rock. This confirms that the volcano is actually active rather than dormant. With that said, the researchers still don't know whether this material could actually cause an eruption. It will take a bit more research before scientists can definitively say whether the mountain will erupt any time soon. The findings are published in the April 15 issue of the journal Science Advances. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Houston Education Foundation is participating in the Give Ozarks 24-hour day of giving on Tuesday, May 3. The organization will raise online donations from midnight to midnight that day as part of Give Ozarks Day. HEF plans to purchase 30 Chromebook computers and a charging station for the Houston Elementary School. In 2015, HEF raised funds for 90 Chromebooks for the new media/library center in the high school and 30 Chromebooks for the upper elementary. HEF wants to extend the opportunity for access to the Chromebook computers to more elementary students and will use funds donated on Give Ozarks 2016 to purchase them. A rally will take place 3 to 5 p.m. May 3 at the Lone Star Plaza pavilion. Persons can come by and make an online donation there or go to giveozarks.org at home. Cash donations can also be dropped off. How it works: Making a secure donation is simple. For 24 hours on May 3, donors can log onto giveozarks.org and enter Houston Education Foundation to complete a basic credit card donation. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the IRS. This is the second year for Give Ozarks. In 2015, the first region-wide online giving day raised more than $1 million for about 150 non-profit agencies. HEF raised $10,000 for its endowment fund by participating in a dollar-for-dollar matching grant by Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Four local banks The Bank of Houston, Progressive Ozark Bank, Landmark Bank, Community Bank and the Durham Co. all donated $1,000 to help meet the match in 2015. Online and cash donations purchased the Chromebook computers. For more information about Houston Education Foundation, visit here. May 3 is Give Local America Day, where community foundations across the country will hold similar online fundraising events to boost resources for their local non-profits, encourage new donors and raise awareness of philanthropy in general. Online giving days, a growing movement in the philanthropy field, has raised millions of dollars for non-profit organizations in recent years. The Houston Education Foundation is a non-profit partner of Community Foundation of the Ozarks, which is hosting Give Ozarks. CFO is a regional public charitable foundation founded in 1973, which includes 49 affiliate foundations and about 600 non-profit partners and schools. Local sponsors for HEF for the 2016 Give Ozarks campaign are: Bob Burch, a Houston alumnus; Corner Express, Brad Rees; VIP Properties, Jan Watson; The Durham Co. and Susan and Dick Steckler, Edward Jones Investments. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. 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SHARE By Associated Press They're often pegged as the civic-minded, do-gooding generation. But while they're still optimistic about their own personal prospects, a new study finds that today's youth are often more skeptical of the country's institutions than the young generations that preceded them. The Millennials also are as mistrusting of other people as the gloomy "slackers" of Generation X were 20 years ago or even more so. Jean Twenge, lead author of the study that will be published early this month in the online edition of the journal Psychological Science, says the current atmosphere fed by the Great Recession, mass shootings, and everything from church sex abuse scandals and racial strife to the endless parade of publicly shamed politicians, athletes and celebrities may help explain why this young generation's trust levels hit an all-time low in 2012, the most recent data available. In the mid-1970s, when baby boomers were coming of age, about a third of high school seniors agreed that "most people can be trusted." That dropped to 18 percent in the early 1990s for Gen Xers and then, in 2012, to just 16 percent of Millennials. The researchers also found that Millennials' approval of major institutions from Congress and corporations to the news media and educational and religious institutions dropped more sharply than other generations in the decade that followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "Young people today feel disconnected and alienated," says Twenge, a psychologist and professor at San Diego State University, who wrote a book on Millennials called "Generation Me." She finds these outcomes "especially distressing" for a generation that had been expected to be more trusting of government. Young people, even those from differing backgrounds, say the findings ring true. "I do not trust the government as far I can throw a car, which is not very far at all," says Steve McGlinchey, a 21-year-old who lives in Burton, Michigan, outside Flint, and works for a company that installs industrial furnaces for auto companies and other businesses. Like a lot of young people, he says he's been disappointed by people in positions of power who've abused that power or seem to have forgotten about the little guy. That includes Wall Street. "All they think about is making their own wallets bigger," he says, noting that he doesn't trust other people to handle his money, "especially people who don't know my name." Erin Nwachukwu, a 16-year-old high school student who lives on Chicago's South Side, says she's felt mistrustful of authority figures, too, including the police. She also has doubts about her city's leaders, having watched them close dozens of public schools in low-income neighborhoods, even as they pour millions of dollars into flashy downtown parks and other projects. "They don't seem like they have our best interest at heart," Nwachukwu says. "It seems like it's about the money." Twenge and her co-authors at the University of Georgia based their study's findings on data from two major long-standing surveys of Americans the General Social Survey and the University of Michigan's annual "Monitoring the Future" survey of 12th graders, with nearly 140,000 participants in total. While Americans of all ages had growing trust issues in recent years, the researchers found that young people's trust dropped more steeply in several categories. For instance, in 2000-2002, 49 percent of 12th graders who were surveyed said Congress was doing a "good" or "very good" job, compared with just 22 percent who said the same in 2010-12. Thirty percent of young boomers were approving in the mid-1970s, and 33 percent of Gen Xers in early 1990s. The researchers used these figures in three-year blocks to assure they were comparing consistent trends. The margin of error is plus or minus 1 percentage point. In 2000-2002, 54 percent of 12th graders approved of the job large corporations were doing. That fell to 33 percent by 2010-12. Forty percent of boomers approved in the mid-1970s, and 48 percent of Gen Xers in the early 1990s. During that decade, Millennials also had notable drops in approval of colleges and universities, the news media, public schools and religious institutions. Because the study found that people of all age groups have trust and confidence issues, Twenge notes that the results are more likely tied to current events than the generation itself. Last year, an AP-GfK poll also found that only a third of all Americans said they trusted most people, compared with about half who said the same the early 1970s, according to the General Social Survey. But the survey also showed that each generation has started off adulthood less trusting than the previous one, a trend that would likely have to be reversed for the nation's overall mistrust to change. Katherine Vining, a 25-year-old graduate student in San Francisco, says that may be difficult to do in an age when news and information are readily accessible at any hour. "The more information you have, the more opportunity there is to be disappointed and disillusioned by the people and institutions in the world that are repeatedly acting unethically and taking advantage of individuals and communities," says Vining, who's studying sustainable management at the Presidio Graduate School. But, she adds, being more connected also makes it easier to find others "who are equally disheartened with the status quo." And with that, she and others say, comes empowerment to do something about it. That's what some experts find so interesting about this generation. They may be disillusioned by the powers that be. Yet so far, they've continued to vote in larger percentages than previous young generations, even after some concede that they've failed to see the "change" that President Barack Obama first promised in 2008. And despite their skepticism, they also continue to be a largely optimistic lot. A Pew Research Center survey done in 2012 found that 73 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds were optimistic that they would eventually achieve their life goals, or had already achieved them. Jon Rogowski, a political scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, has worried that, given these findings about trust, some young people will tire and "turn inwards" and away from civic engagement. He's particularly concerned about black youth. A recent survey by the University of Chicago's Black Youth Project, to which Rogowski contributes, found that nearly 46 percent of black youth believe everyone has an equal chance to succeed in the United States, compared with 51 percent of white youth and about 58 percent of Hispanic youth. Nwachukwu, the 16-year-old Chicagoan, who is African-American, understands that concern, yet still feels hopeful. "Maybe it's my faith in other kids my age to step up to the challenge and change our system," says Nwachukwu, who traveled this summer to the Middle East to meet young people there with the nonprofit Qatar Foundation International. She says it was the type of experience that helps bolster her faith in people and her future. Gary Rudman, a California consultant who tracks youth trends, also suspects that this generation's personal optimism comes from their upbringing and the "you do anything" mantra. "Perhaps we have set them up for ultimate failure, or maybe they will make the situation work for them," Rudman says. "Only time will tell." Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas is visiting Bangladesh from 17 to 19 April, 2016. The visit is aimed at following up on the ambitious agenda set between India and Bangladesh during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June, 2015. is visiting Bangladesh from 17 to 19 April, 2016. The visit is aimed at following up on the ambitious agenda set between India and Bangladesh during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June, 2015. On arrival in Dhaka, Pradhan called on Prime Minister Ms Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. He conveyed that the India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has become pragmatic and mature over the last few years. He discussed all bilateral issues pertaining to hydrocarbon sector between the two countries. Pradhan referred to the supply of 2200 MT High Speed Diesel (HSD) to Bangladesh from Siliguri Marketing Terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur Depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Bangladesh, and said that India was planning to continue supply of HSD in a sustainable manner. He noted the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services. Sh Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Sheik Hasina for the encouraging support received from her government. He shared the details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides. Sh Pradhan also discussed the Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline and called it as an important project for both countries. During his stay in Bangladesh, Pradhan will meet Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Adviser on Energy, Power and Mineral Resources to the Prime Minister and Mr Nasrul Hamid, Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh. On 18th April, Sh Pradhan will witness signing of an MoU on broad aspects of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and BPC. He will also visit Chittagong on 19th April to witness award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited (EIL) as Project Management and Consultant for its 3 MMTPA refinery expansion project. Pradhan is accompanied by CEOs of major Public Sector oil and gas companies and senior officials of his Ministry. There are very few filmmakers in Bollywood who have the courage to break the clutter of normalcy and present some bold stories on the silver screen. The success of Kapoor & Sons is a proof that audience has surely matured and is ready to accept stories that revolve around the idea of homosexuality. Dharma Productions Even though Fawad Khan managed to do justice to his role and he shined on the big screen as Rahul Kapoor, recent reports state than approximately six Bollywood stars had turned down the role of Rahul. In an interview with Bombay times, Head Honcho of Dharma Productions, Karan Johar revealed: "Kapoor and Sons' (Since 1921) was a tough film to cast. There was a point when we almost didn't make it. We kept it on the backburner for over a year. No one was willing to do Fawad Khan's role. We went to six actors and after six rejections, I told Shakun that we should drop the idea and he started developing another screenplay. Later, in a flash of thought Fawad came to my mind. I sent him the script, he loved it and said he would do it." According to Film-Critic Rajeev Masand, six actors who turned down the role include Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, and Aditya Roy Kapoor. Indiatoday Im not a petty guy with a narrow-minded mentality. Im very liberal in my views and can look beyond things. Itd be amazing to have a gay character as one of the roles in my portfolio and I look forward to playing one. Its got nothing to do with being perceived as an alpha male, like your article argued, as I dont think I have a particularly macho image. At the time when Kapoor and Sons was offered to me, I didn't feel it was the right project for me to get into. Even though none of the actors have clearly stated their reasons, we can sense a slight hint of homophobia here for sure. Its rather sad, isnt it? The MP town rings with the legend of a 19th-century wolf boy whose tale inspired Kipling. Sunday Times goes searching in the jungle of The Jungle Book In Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, Mowgli the man-cub is said to be reared in 'Seeonee hills' by a pack of wolves. Now a burgeoning township in Madhya Pradesh, replete with schools, banks and markets, present-day Seoni bears no semblance of a jungle. Around 122 years ago when the book first came out, it's said, the area was part of one big forest. That has now been reduced to the Kanha and Pench sanctuaries connected by a fast depleting forest corridor. the hindu While Kipling's classic was a work of fiction, it's said to have been heavily inspired by Sir William Henry Sleeman's pamphlet, 'An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens', and book, 'Rambles and Recollections of an Indian official', which describe a wolf-boy captured in Seoni in 1831. Sleeman was a British soldier and administrator and is known for his work in suppressing thuggery in the area. Lieutenant John Moor is said to have camped for almost a month to capture the feral boy "who was caught eating human flesh with his pack". It is an intriguing story, one that inspires a trek to Mowgli-land, made even more famous by Disney's latest take on the classic. While Mowgli is a pervasive theme in the district from his caricatures on bus stands to an annual Mowgli Mahotsav and even a dedicated statue at the collector's office, few know of the wolf-boy's legend. The only clue is talk about a cave on the outskirts of Kanhiwada, a village that finds mention in the original tale. Sure enough, 3km from Kanhiwada, in a village called Chhui, there's an inconspicuous forest department board that points towards "Amodagadh, the karmasthali of the wolf-child Mowgli". Twelve kilometres of dirt track lie ahead. No wonder nobody bothers to find this "tourist spot". The track twists and turns amid fields, and ends up running straight into the forest corridor. bccl The search now feels like a Hardy Boys' unravelling of a mystery shrouded in urban legend. The road poetically ends in a fork. The path to the right, leads to the top of a hillock. A closer inspection reveals the jungle in The Jungle Book. "A hilltop covered with stones and boulders where a hundred wolves could hide," Kipling wrote. We've reached Council Rock the meeting place of the wolf pack that adopted Mowgli. In the Jon Favreau film, Neel Sethi is not considered 'wolf' enough to join the meetings though he tries hard to be as fast and agile as the other cubs. Looking down from the spot where Akela held court, the Wainganga seems to split the mountain in two. Smooth rocks some the size of cars dot the ravine trapped between two almost-vertical cliff walls. Look closely, and one can see why Shere Khan couldn't escape the rampaging buffalo herd led by Mowgli that trampled him to death (in the book). This could be the gorge where it all ended. Could it also be the real wolf boy's den? Local legend says so, and PRO of Seoni, Babita Mishra, agrees fervently. "That's the spot where Mowgli was captured," she says, referring to the 1831 incident. Why wasn't it developed as a tourist spot then? There was a plan but it got caught in red tape, she says. bccl Although Kipling never visited Seoni, his book borrowed heavily from Robert Armitage Strendale's books Seonee, Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon, and Denizens of the Jungle. Subharanjan Sen, field director of Pench tiger reserve, believes the Amodagadh story is pure conjecture. In The Jungle Book, Mowgli may have been the target of Shere Khan, but today the tigers of Pench are the ones in danger. Ten tiger deaths have been reported in the past eight months, the last one as recent as March-end when a tigress and her two cubs were found poisoned to death. "Karakal has almost disappeared from this area; about 50 wild buffalo must be left, most of them in Naxal-controlled areas; a concerted effort has helped Barasingha numbers pick up in certain areas of Kanha since the 1960s, when they stooped to a mere 65," says Sen. Moreover, the corridor is thinning. A comparison of forest cover maps from a 1913-26 survey and recent years shows clear signs of deforestation, especially significant around the western edge of Kanha national park. We head back to the fork and take the left this time, 45 gigantic stone steps down to the river bank. Questions about Mowgli's den to the handful of people bathing there draw blanks. "But there is a cave of a Batekhari Baba here," says a fisherman. The famed Mowgli cave is now occupied by a self-proclaimed godman, who has covered the cliff walls with his preachings. He's been meditating there since 1977, the graffiti declares. Dressed in all-black, a white mask and goggles, this ascetic is keen to tell stories of his chardham yatra on foot, but the moment I ask him about the wolf boy, his 'inner peace' disappears. The choicest of expletives are used to describe Kipling's saga. "There never was a Mowgli," he spits. Whatever the baba's view, somewhere down the river bend, the legend of Mowgli rustles on the jungle floor. Some stories are so surreal that you have to pinch yourself often to check if you haven't slipped into a Bollywood-ish daydream on a slow work day. Jyotsna Dhawle's is one such. Spanning over 21 years, it begins with a tragedy at the age of 8, when she falls asleep on a train and wakes up in a strange city, all alone. Mercifully, it also ends with a reunion. Jyotsna told Mirror she left her home in Datta Nagar locality of Maharashtra's Chandrapur, about 1000 km from Bengaluru, when she was eight years old. She fell asleep inside a train while playing. bccl After a 20-hour journey, the little girl woke up in Mumbai. She boarded another train for home but de-boarded in Secunderabad."I realised I was nowhere near home. I begged for help to reach Chandrapur, but nobody had heard of the place," she recalls. She went to a small eatery asking for food. "The owner took pity on me and I worked as a domestic help till I was beaten and thrown out a year later," she said. Yet another attempt to return home landed her in Bangalore where a woman constable admitted her to a hospital and put her in a home for abandoned children. bangaloremirror Eventually, Jyotsna married a screen painting artist and had two children but never lost her hope of reaching Chandrapur. One day, she was able to get in touch with the Chandrapur police helpline where she spoke to woman constable Mamata Mandvi. Mandvi said: "On March 16 I received a call from Jyotsna," following which, Chandrapur district SP Sandip Diwan formed a team to help hunt her parents down and were able to locate her autorickshaw father through an old missing complaint report. She came to Chandrapur with her husband and children, and met her parents after two decades. Needless to say, it was an emotional reunion. The iconic Times Square got a taste of Sikh culture as thousands of community members flocked here to celebrate Vaisakhi, also educating fellow Americans about Sikhism. This, despite growing incidents of hate crimes and discrimination against the Sikh community in the US. twitter Legendary Indian sportsman Milkha Singh addressed one of the largest such celebrations in the US, calling on the Sikh community to educate the young generation about the significance of the Sikh culture. Hundreds of excited tourists and children queued up at the popular city destination to get turbans tied on their heads in bright colours by members of the Sikh community and took pictures and selfies wearing them as 'Turban Day' was also celebrated at the event. The participants jostled to get a picture clicked with the elderly 'Flying Sikh', who had travelled from Canada for the event. "Today if the Sikhs have a name, are known around the world, it is because of the turban. Milkha Singh is called a 'Flying Sikh' because I have the turban on my head and the beard on my face. My beard and turban are the reasons for the respect and recognition that I have across the world," Singh told. Non-profit organisation Sikhs of New York and New Jersey and the event's organisers Bobby Sidana, Kawaldeep Sahni, Chanpreet Singh and Gurmeet Sodhi said the event aimed at not only celebrating the festival marking the spring harvest but also educating Americans and thousands of tourists about the Sikh culture. They said it would also make them aware of the significance of the Sikh articles of faith like turban and beard and to address the misinformation about Sikhism that leads to profiling and backlash against members of the community, particularly after the 9/11 attack. twitter Lauding the organisers for putting together the event, Milkha Singh said such a celebration of Sikh culture will inspire and educate people across the city and country about Sikhism and its rich history. "People here should know that Sikhs are warriors, they have fought for other people and will do everything to help others. The event will inspire people here and educate them about the Sikh culture, they will get to know who Sikhs are," he said. In his message to the gathering, Singh said he would like to see "one more Milkha Singh" from the Sikh community spread across the US and the world. Lamenting that Sikh articles of faith such as the turban and beard are often still misconstrued and associated with terrorism, the organisers invited passers-by and those at the event to get a turban tied on their heads and to ask about the Sikh culture. First time I'm finding it hard to fit my experience in 140 words. Picture says it all! #TurbanDay #TimesSquare #NYC pic.twitter.com/Ymvqd5vU3q Jaswinder Pal Singh (@Jaswinder18688) 16 April 2016 The Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane is set to resume its record-breaking flight around the globe next month. It will leave from Hawaii under suitable weather conditions, a spokeswoman told AFP on Thursday. She added that location of the first stop on the US mainland is yet to be decided. Reuters In July last year, this experimental aircraft was grounded as its solar-powered batteries were facing problems only halfway through its 35,000-kilometer trip. It took the French crew several months to fix the damage from high tropical temperatures during the flight's final Pacific stage, which was a record journey of 5 days and 5 nights between Nagoya, Japan and Hawaii. It was in late February when the plane conducted its first successful test flight after the repairs. The next leg, which should take four days, may end in Los Angeles, San Francisco or Phoenix, Arizona, the spokeswoman said. The destinations in US mainland have not been confirmed yet and will be dependent on weather conditions. We know from experience that crossing the United States is challenging in terms of weather, she said. She added that the aim is to reach New York's JFK Airport before crossing the Atlantic, she added. Reuters In March, last year, Solar Impulse 2 left Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and since then has travelled almost 18,000 kilometres. Interestingly, its wings are covered with more than 17,000 photovoltaic cells that charge the batteries when the sun is shining during the day. Two Pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg are taking alternating turns flying at each stage because the aircraft can accommodate one at a time. Dubbed the paper plane, Solar Impulse 2 has a wingspan of 72 meters, larger than a Boeing 747's, and a weight of 2.3 tonnes, approximately that of a van. It flies at a maximum altitude of 8,634 meters and must withstand high temperature fluctuations, with the pilots using oxygen tanks to breathe inside the tiny cockpit. The project aims to demonstrate the possibilities of renewable solar energy. Watch the video here. (with inputs from AFP) Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga will not take part in this edition of the Indian Premier League as he has been ruled out due to a knee injury. AFP Mumbai Indians' medical team deemed him unfit for at least another four months. The bone bruise to his left knee is also expected to keep Malinga out of Sri Lanka's forthcoming tour of England, as well as the Caribbean Premier League. Doctors back home will now see if the fast bowler needs to undergo surgery. BCCI No replacement has been named yet, but it is a big blow to Mumbai as Malinga has been the mainstay of their attack in previous seasons. Malinga has played much of his career with a similar problem in his right knee. That injury - sustained in 2008 - kept him out of the national team for 16 months, and forced him to quit Tests at the age of 27. Poor G7 Just Cannot Disarm Yet! By Andre Vltchek April 17, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Counterpunch "- - They met in Hiroshima, Japan, in the first city on Earth that had been subjected to nuclear genocide. They were representing some of the mightiest nations on Earth: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States the so-called Group of Seven (G7). And at the end of their encounter, they called for a world without nuclear weapons. I am talking about the foreign ministers of seven countries with the largest economies on Earth. Read carefully the names of these countries, one by one! For decades and centuries, the world has been trembling imagining their armed forces and corporations. Lashes administered by their colonial rulers have scarred entire continents, tens of millions were enslaved, and hundreds of millions killed, billions robbed. Even now, if we all listen carefully, we can clearly hear the victims screaming, in agony: the native people of Canada and United States, the colonized people of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For centuries, the entire world has been in shackles, on its knees, humiliated, plundered and destroyed. G7! How many billions of victims from all corners of the world, made those countries so grand? To ensure that the pillage could continue uninterrupted, the West together with those honorary whites (a term that the South African apartheid regime invented exclusively for the Japanese people) created several aggressive and belligerent pacts, including NATO, calling them, of course, defensive alliances. It came as no surprise: remember that in the lexicon of the Empire of Lies, war is called peace, while aggression is always defined as defense. But this I have already described in detail, in my 820-page book Exposing Lies of the Empire. Now foreign policy tsars of the G7 were standing shoulder to shoulder again, in Hiroshima, of all places, and only a few days after the 71st anniversary of the nuclear blast. Making predictable declarations and self-glorifying speeches. The weather was good, partly sunny, with excellent visibility. But was the world really able to see through the thick fog of Machiavellian cynicism and lies, dispersed all over the Planet by those grinning rulers of the world? On April 11, 2016, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) issued a written declaration on nuclear disarmament: We reaffirm our commitment to seeking a safer world for all and to creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons in a way that promotes international stability. Seriously? No one around those ministers fell; nobody was seen to be rolling on the floor, shaking from uncontrollable laughter. Obviously, a joke repeated thousands of times loses its luster. But that was not all. The text of the declaration continued: This task is made more complex by the deteriorating security environment in a number of regions, such as Syria and Ukraine, and, in particular by North Koreas repeated provocations. What exactly were we reading? What was between the lines? Were we being told that the United States needs all of its 6,970 nuclear weapons to antagonize Syria and North Korea, while sustaining the fascist regime in Ukraine? Just to put things into perspective: two Communist countries with nuclear capability have really negligible stockpiles of nuclear weapons, compared to the West and G7. China has 260 and North Korea (DPRK) approximately 15. In comparison, France has 300 and the U.K., 215. In 2016, the population of China stands at 1.382 million, while that of France is less than 65 million. China has more than 21 times more people to defend, but despite that, France has more nuclear weapons. The comparison gets even more ridiculous between North Korea and the U.K. The figures quoted above are the latest official statistics, taken from the World Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Report, updated as recently as on March 2, 2016. It would also be appropriate to recall that North Korea has never invaded any foreign country. Also China (PRC), apart from two brief border clashes, has never been involved in any large-scale military conflict. Not once has it colonized or destroyed a foreign land. Both France and the U.K. have been plundering on all of the planets continents, for centuries. Later, in the 20th Century, the United States took over the reigns of imperialism from the old and traditional European colonialist empires. One statement is actually correct: there is that deteriorating security environment in a number of regions, but only due to the covert as well as direct aggressions of NATO and the G7 countries. But it would be even more honest to declare: We are sorry, we really cannot disarm, because if we would, it would become much more difficult to loot and to control the world. Before dispersing, the G7 party did what its members enjoy doing the most: lashing at China. As Reuters reported: Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies said they strongly opposed provocation in the East and South China Seas, where China is locked in territorial disputes with nations including the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan Earlier on Monday, the G7 foreign ministers said after meeting in the Japanese city of Hiroshima that they opposed any intimidating coercive or provocative unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions. The US is habitually implementing that good old British divide and rule strategy. In Asia, it uses its client states, particularly the Philippines, Japan and South Korea to isolate and provoke both China and DPRK. This policy is so dangerous that many here believe that it could eventually trigger the Third World War. This time, China has fired back, almost immediately. At a news briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang declared: If the G7 wants to continue playing a major role in the world, it should take an attitude of seeking truth from the facts to handle the issues the international community is most concerned with at the moment. The Western military build-up in the Asia Pacific region, the military maneuvers conducted jointly by the US and South Korea, as well as the continuous militarization of Japan, are definitely some of the topics that are making most of the Asian continent both concerned and frightened. Predictably, the DPRK remained the main punch bag of the G7. The ministers never explained exactly why the world should be petrified of North Korea. Such fear should apparently be taken for granted, especially after the long decades of intensive and vicious Western and South Korean propaganda. But back to the statement of the ministers: We condemn in the strongest terms the nuclear test on January 6 and the launch using ballistic missile technology on February 7, March 10 and March 18 conducted by North Korea. It is profoundly deplorable that North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests in the 21st century. Of course, building defenses against the combined NATO and G7 aggressions is one of the most deplorable crimes, it calls for capital punishment! Shamelessly, after spreading verbal toxins, all seven ministers went to the grounds of the monument and museum dedicated to the victims of Hiroshima A-bomb. The Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida led the pack. Under the bizarre leadership of his government, Japan has been doing its absolute best to betray Asia, and to antagonize its neighbors. In the most servile and shameful way, it has fully accepted the Western dictates, increased the volume of its own hysterical propaganda campaign against China and DPRK, and has begun to bolster its military. Why? Just to please its masters, those noble and superior Westerners! By now, Japan is not even what its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants the world to believe that it is: a conservative nation governed by a nationalist government. Japan has no spine, just as it has no foreign policy. It fully takes orders from the United States. And as I was told repeatedly by one of the employees of the NHK: No major media outlet in Japan would dare to broadcast anything important, related to international affairs, that hasnt appeared previously on at least one of the major US networks. Looking at Japans past, conservative nationalists used to be, for instance, some of the greatest writers like Yukio Mishima, a man who ended his life in 1970 by committing a ritual suicide, protesting Japans unabashed submission to the West. Japans Prime Minister Abe is definitely a conservative, but is he really a Japanese nationalist? He is defending the interests of Washington much more than those of his own country. Perhaps, honorary white and one of G7 leaders would be the most fitting term to define him. Now, according to the official NATO website: Japan is the longest-standing of NATOs partners across the globe. It is also one of the nations that are shamelessly plundering the world through its brutal corporations. *** And so they stood there seven ministers from some of the most aggressive countries on Earth. They stood on the turf that was, more than 70 years ago, burned to ashes, in just a few seconds after the nuclear explosion. They said again and again how much they would like to disarm, how much they would like to see the world free of nuclear weapons. What they didnt say was that they never would disarm, voluntarily. And they never clarified how they actually made it to that exclusive G7 club: because of the unbridled plunder during their colonial history, and because of the modern-day global corporate pillage, as well as their mining and oil investments. And of course because of the world order, imposed by force and all sorts of weapons, nuclear and conventional, on the rest of the Planet. Instead of Group of Seven, this pack should be simply called GS the Group of Shame. The ministers stood for some time in front of the flame burning at the monument to Hiroshima A-bomb victims. They posed for the cameras. Then they went away, sat down at some table, and wrote the official declaration on nuclear disarmament, explaining why they cannot abandon their tools of coercion. And that declaration turned out to be nothing more than yet another monumental pile of lies! 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 his Twitter. Trump and Clinton: Censoring The Unpalatable By John Pilger April 17, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - A virulent if familiar censorship is about to descend on the US election campaign. As the cartoon brute, Donald Trump, seems almost certain to win the Republican Party's nomination, Hillary Clinton is being ordained both as the "women's candidate" and the champion of American liberalism in its heroic struggle with the Evil One. This is drivel, of course; Hillary Clinton leaves a trail of blood and suffering around the world and a clear record of exploitation and greed in her own country. To say so, however, is becoming intolerable in the land of free speech. The 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama should have alerted even the most dewy-eyed. Obama based his "hope" campaign almost entirely on the fact of an African-American aspiring to lead the land of slavery. He was also "anti-war". Obama was never anti-war. On the contrary, like all American presidents, he was pro-war. He had voted for George W. Bush's funding of the slaughter in Iraq and he was planning to escalate the invasion of Afghanistan. In the weeks before he took the presidential oath, he secretly approved an Israeli assault on Gaza, the massacre known as Operation Cast Lead. He promised to close the concentration camp at Guantanamo and did not. He pledged to help make the world "free from nuclear weapons" and did the opposite. As a new kind of marketing manager for the status quo, the unctuous Obama was an inspired choice. Even at the end of his blood-spattered presidency, with his signature drones spreading infinitely more terror and death around the world than that ignited by jihadists in Paris and Brussels, Obama is fawned on as "cool" (the Guardian). On March 23, Counterpunch published my article, "A World War has Begun: Break the Silence". As has been my practice for years, I then syndicated the piece across an international network, including Truthout.com, the liberal American website. Truthout publishes some important journalism, not least Dahr Jamail's outstanding corporate exposes. Truthout rejected the piece because, said an editor, it had appeared on Counterpunch and had broken "guidelines". I replied that this had never been a problem over many years and I knew of no guidelines. My recalcitrance was then given another meaning. The article was reprieved provided I submitted to a "review" and agreed to changes and deletions made by Truthout's "editorial committee". The result was the softening and censoring of my criticism of Hillary Clinton, and the distancing of her from Trump. The following was cut: Trump is a media hate figure. That alone should arouse our scepticism. Trump's views on migration are grotesque, but no more grotesque than David Cameron. It is not Trump who is the Great Deporter from the United States, but the Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama ... The danger to the rest of us is not Trump, but Hillary Clinton. She is no maverick. She embodies the resilience and violence of a system... As presidential election day draws near, Clinton will be hailed as the first female president, regardless of her crimes and lies - just as Barack Obama was lauded as the first black president and liberals swallowed his nonsense about "hope". The "editorial committee" clearly wanted me to water down my argument that Clinton represented a proven extreme danger to the world. Like all censorship, this was unacceptable. Maya Schenwar, who runs Truthout, wrote to me that my unwillingness to submit my work to a "process of revision" meant she had to take it off her "publication docket". Such is the gatekeeper's way with words. At the root of this episode is an enduring unsayable. This is the need, the compulsion, of many liberals in the United States to embrace a leader from within a system that is demonstrably imperial and violent. Like Obama's "hope", Clinton's gender is no more than a suitable facade. This is an historical urge. In his 1859 essay On Liberty, to which modern liberals seem to pay unflagging homage, John Stuart Mill described the power of empire. "Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians," he wrote, "provided the end be their improvement, and the means justified by actually effecting that end." The "barbarians" were large sections of humanity of whom "implicit obedience" was required. "It's a nice and convenient myth that liberals are the peacemakers and conservatives the warmongers," wrote the British historian Hywel Williams in 2001, "but the imperialism of the liberal way may be more dangerous because of its open ended nature - its conviction that it represents a superior form of life [while denying its] self righteous fanaticism." He had in mind a speech by Tony Blair in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, in which Blair promised to "reorder this world around us" according to his "moral values". The carnage of a million dead in Iraq was the result. Blair's crimes are not unusual. Since 1945, some 69 countries - more than a third of the membership of the United Nations - have suffered some or all of the following. They have been invaded, their governments overthrown, their popular movements suppressed, their elections subverted and their people bombed. The historian Mark Curtis estimates the death toll in the millions. With the demise of the European empires, this has been the project of the liberal flame carrier, the "exceptional" United States, whose celebrated "progressive" president, John F Kennedy, according to new research, authorised the bombing of Moscow during the Cuban crisis in 1962. "If we have to use force," said Madeleine Albright, US secretary of state in the liberal administration of Bill Clinton and today a passionate campaigner for his wife, "it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future." One of Hillary Clinton's most searing crimes was the destruction of Libya in 2011. At her urging, and with American logistical support, NATO, launched 9,700 "strike sorties" against Libya, according to its own records, of which more than a third were aimed at civilian targets. They included missiles with uranium warheads. See the photographs of the rubble of Misurata and Sirte, and the mass graves identified by the Red Cross. Read the UNICEF report on the children killed, "most [of them] under the age of ten". In Anglo-American scholarship, followed slavishly by the liberal media on both sides of the Atlantic, influential theorists known as "liberal realists" have long taught that liberal imperialists - a term they never use - are the world's peace brokers and crisis managers, rather than the cause of a crisis. They have taken the humanity out of the study of nations and congealed it with a jargon that serves warmongering power. Laying out whole nations for autopsy, they have identified "failed states" (nations difficult to exploit) and "rogue states" (nations resistant to western dominance). Whether or not the targeted regime is a democracy or dictatorship is irrelevant. In the Middle East, western liberalism's collaborators have long been extremist Islamists, lately al-Qaeda, while cynical notions of democracy and human rights serve as rhetorical cover for conquest and mayhem - as in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Haiti, Honduras. See the public record of those good liberals Bill and Hillary Clinton. Theirs is a standard to which Trump can only aspire. Follow John Pilger on Twitter @johnpilger and on Facebook A World War Has Begun. Break the Silence. By John Pilger April 17, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - I have been filming in the Marshall Islands, which lie north of Australia, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Whenever I tell people where I have been, they ask, "Where is that?" If I offer a clue by referring to "Bikini", they say, "You mean the swimsuit." Few seem aware that the bikini swimsuit was named to celebrate the nuclear explosions that destroyed Bikini island. Sixty-six nuclear devices were exploded by the United States in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958 -- the equivalent of 1.6 Hiroshima bombs every day for twelve years. Bikini is silent today, mutated and contaminated. Palm trees grow in a strange grid formation. Nothing moves. There are no birds. The headstones in the old cemetery are alive with radiation. My shoes registered "unsafe" on a Geiger counter. Standing on the beach, I watched the emerald green of the Pacific fall away into a vast black hole. This was the crater left by the hydrogen bomb they called "Bravo". The explosion poisoned people and their environment for hundreds of miles, perhaps forever. On my return journey, I stopped at Honolulu airport and noticed an American magazine called Women's Health. On the cover was a smiling woman in a bikini swimsuit, and the headline: "You, too, can have a bikini body." A few days earlier, in the Marshall Islands, I had interviewed women who had very different "bikini bodies"; each had suffered thyroid cancer and other life-threatening cancers. Unlike the smiling woman in the magazine, all of them were impoverished: the victims and guinea pigs of a rapacious superpower that is today more dangerous than ever. I relate this experience as a warning and to interrupt a distraction that has consumed so many of us. The founder of modern propaganda, Edward Bernays , described this phenomenon as "the conscious and intelligent manipulation of the habits and opinions" of democratic societies. He called it an "invisible government". How many people are aware that a world war has begun? At present, it is a war of propaganda, of lies and distraction, but this can change instantaneously with the first mistaken order, the first missile. In 2009, President Obama stood before an adoring crowd in the centre of Prague, in the heart of Europe. He pledged himself to make "the world free from nuclear weapons". People cheered and some cried. A torrent of platitudes flowed from the media. Obama was subsequently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It was all fake. He was lying. The Obama administration has built more nuclear weapons, more nuclear warheads, more nuclear delivery systems, more nuclear factories. Nuclear warhead spending alone rose higher under Obama than under any American president. The cost over thirty years is more than $1 trillion. A mini nuclear bomb is planned. It is known as the B61 Model 12. There has never been anything like it. General James Cartwright, a former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said, "Going smaller [makes using this nuclear] weapon more thinkable." In the last eighteen months, the greatest build-up of military forces since World War Two -- led by the United States -- is taking place along Russia's western frontier. Not since Hitler invaded the Soviet Union have foreign troops presented such a demonstrable threat to Russia. Ukraine - once part of the Soviet Union - has become a CIA theme park. Having orchestrated a coup in Kiev, Washington effectively controls a regime that is next door and hostile to Russia: a regime rotten with Nazis, literally. Prominent parliamentary figures in Ukraine are the political descendants of the notorious OUN and UPA fascists. They openly praise Hitler and call for the persecution and expulsion of the Russian speaking minority. This is seldom news in the West, or it is inverted to suppress the truth. In Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia -- next door to Russia - the US military is deploying combat troops, tanks, heavy weapons. This extreme provocation of the world's second nuclear power is met with silence in the West. What makes the prospect of nuclear war even more dangerous is a parallel campaign against China. Seldom a day passes when China is not elevated to the status of a "threat". According to Admiral Harry Harris, the US Pacific commander, China is "building a great wall of sand in the South China Sea". What he is referring to is China building airstrips in the Spratly Islands, which are the subject of a dispute with the Philippines - a dispute without priority until Washington pressured and bribed the government in Manila and the Pentagon launched a propaganda campaign called "freedom of navigation". What does this really mean? It means freedom for American warships to patrol and dominate the coastal waters of China. Try to imagine the American reaction if Chinese warships did the same off the coast of California. I made a film called The War You Don't See , in which I interviewed distinguished journalists in America and Britain: reporters such as Dan Rather of CBS, Rageh Omar of the BBC, David Rose of the Observer. The War You Don't See from John Pilger on Vimeo. All of them said that had journalists and broadcasters done their job and questioned the propaganda that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction; had the lies of George W. Bush and Tony Blair not been amplified and echoed by journalists, the 2003 invasion of Iraq might not have happened, and hundreds of thousands of men, women and children would be alive today. The propaganda laying the ground for a war against Russia and/or China is no different in principle. To my knowledge, no journalist in the Western "mainstream" -- a Dan Rather equivalent, say --asks why China is building airstrips in the South China Sea. The answer ought to be glaringly obvious. The United States is encircling China with a network of bases, with ballistic missiles, battle groups, nuclear -armed bombers. This lethal arc extends from Australia to the islands of the Pacific, the Marianas and the Marshalls and Guam, to the Philippines, Thailand, Okinawa, Korea and across Eurasia to Afghanistan and India. America has hung a noose around the neck of China. This is not news. Silence by media; war by media. In 2015, in high secrecy, the US and Australia staged the biggest single air-sea military exercise in recent history, known as Talisman Sabre. Its aim was to rehearse an Air-Sea Battle Plan, blocking sea lanes, such as the Straits of Malacca and the Lombok Straits, that cut off China's access to oil, gas and other vital raw materials from the Middle East and Africa. In the circus known as the American presidential campaign, Donald Trump is being presented as a lunatic, a fascist. He is certainly odious; but he is also a media hate figure. That alone should arouse our scepticism. Trump's views on migration are grotesque, but no more grotesque than those of David Cameron. It is not Trump who is the Great Deporter from the United States, but the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Barack Obama. According to one prodigious liberal commentator, Trump is "unleashing the dark forces of violence" in the United States. Unleashing them? This is the country where toddlers shoot their mothers and the police wage a murderous war against black Americans. This is the country that has attacked and sought to overthrow more than 50 governments, many of them democracies, and bombed from Asia to the Middle East, causing the deaths and dispossession of millions of people. No country can equal this systemic record of violence. Most of America's wars (almost all of them against defenceless countries) have been launched not by Republican presidents but by liberal Democrats: Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Clinton, Obama. In 1947, a series of National Security Council directives described the paramount aim of American foreign policy as "a world substantially made over in [America's] own image". The ideology was messianic Americanism. We were all Americans. Or else. Heretics would be converted, subverted, bribed, smeared or crushed. Donald Trump is a symptom of this, but he is also a maverick. He says the invasion of Iraq was a crime; he doesn't want to go to war with Russia and China. The danger to the rest of us is not Trump, but Hillary Clinton. She is no maverick. She embodies the resilience and violence of a system whose vaunted "exceptionalism" is totalitarian with an occasional liberal face. As presidential election day draws near, Clinton will be hailed as the first female president, regardless of her crimes and lies - just as Barack Obama was lauded as the first black president and liberals swallowed his nonsense about "hope". And the drool goes on. Described by the Guardian columnist Owen Jones as "funny, charming, with a coolness that eludes practically every other politician", Obama the other day sent drones to slaughter 150 people in Somalia. He kills people usually on Tuesdays, according to the New York Times, when he is handed a list of candidates for death by drone. So cool. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton threatened to "totally obliterate" Iran with nuclear weapons. As Secretary of State under Obama, she participated in the overthrow of the democratic government of Honduras. Her contribution to the destruction of Libya in 2011 was almost gleeful. When the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, was publicly sodomised with a knife - a murder made possible by American logistics - Clinton gloated over his death: "We came, we saw, he died." One of Clinton's closest allies is Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of State, who has attacked young women for not supporting "Hillary". This is the same Madeleine Albright who infamously celebrated on TV the death of half a million Iraqi children as "worth it". Among Clinton's biggest backers are the Israel lobby and the arms companies that fuel the violence in the Middle East. She and her husband have received a fortune from Wall Street. And yet, she is about to be ordained the women's candidate, to see off the evil Trump, the official demon. Her supporters include distinguished feminists: the likes of Gloria Steinem in the US and Anne Summers in Australia. A generation ago, a post-modern cult now known as "identity politics" stopped many intelligent, liberal-minded people examining the causes and individuals they supported -- such as the fakery of Obama and Clinton; such as bogus progressive movements like Syriza in Greece, which betrayed the people of that country and allied with their enemies. Self absorption, a kind of "me-ism", became the new zeitgeist in privileged western societies and signaled the demise of great collective movements against war, social injustice, inequality, racism and sexism. Today, the long sleep may be over. The young are stirring again. Gradually. The thousands in Britain who supported Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader are part of this awakening - as are those who rallied to support Senator Bernie Sanders. In Britain last week, Jeremy Corbyn's closest ally, his shadow treasurer John McDonnell, committed a Labour government to pay off the debts of piratical banks and, in effect, to continue so-called austerity. In the US, Bernie Sanders has promised to support Clinton if or when she's nominated. He, too, has voted for America's use of violence against countries when he thinks it's "right". He says Obama has done "a great job". In Australia, there is a kind of mortuary politics, in which tedious parliamentary games are played out in the media while refugees and Indigenous people are persecuted and inequality grows, along with the danger of war. The government of Malcolm Turnbull has just announced a so-called defence budget of $195 billion that is a drive to war. There was no debate. Silence. What has happened to the great tradition of popular direct action, unfettered to parties? Where is the courage, imagination and commitment required to begin the long journey to a better, just and peaceful world? Where are the dissidents in art, film, the theatre, literature? Where are those who will shatter the silence? Or do we wait until the first nuclear missile is fired? This is an edited version of an address by John Pilger at the University of Sydney, entitled A World War Has Begun. Follow John Pilger on Twitter @johnpilger US War Crimes in Iraq Fallujah Residents Starving, Murdered, Besieged by US Backed Government Forces and ISIS By Felicity Arbuthnot April 17, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " GR "- It is hard to imagine that anything worse could befall Fallujah after the war crimes and criminal assaults by the US military in 2004. At the time, one correspondent wrote: There has been nothing like the attack on Fallujah since the Nazi invasion and occupation of much of the European continent the shelling and bombing of Warsaw in September 1939, the terror bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940. (1) Seventy percent of houses and shops were reported destroyed, with those still standing damaged. Iraqi doctor, Ali Fadhil, described a city: completely devastated, destruction everywhere. It looked like a city of ghosts. Fallujah used to be a modern city, now there was nothing. We spent the day going through the rubble that had been the centre of the city; I didnt see a single building that was functioning.(City of Ghosts, The Guardian, January 11, 2005.) Nicholas J. Davies, author of Blood on our Hands the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq, has written: The Fallujah Compensation Committee reported in March 2005 that the assault destroyed 36,000 homes, 9,000 shops, 65 mosques, 60 schools, both train stations, one of the two bridges, two power stations, three water treatment plants and the citys entire sanitation and telephone systems. Now, Human Rights Watch has written a Report (2) indicating that near unbelievably, twelve years on, all has deteriorated to the extent that: Residents of the besieged city of Fallujah are starving. Iraqi government forces should urgently allow aid to enter the city, and the extremist group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, which captured the city in early 2014, should allow civilians to leave. Fallujah is now under siege by the US imposed Iraqi puppet government and ISIS as people demonstrate in thousands in protest at yet another American backed administration which has brought nothing but misery to the population. Incredibly US Vice President Joe Biden and Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani have come together: to make clear that no attempt should be made to unseat the current Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi. (US, Iran Keep Iraqi PM in Place, Reuters, 6 April 2016.) The people of Fallujah are besieged by the government, trapped by ISIS, and are starving, states HRW Deputy Middle East Director, Joe Stork. Since government forces recaptured nearby Ramadi, the capital of Anbar governorate, in late December 2015, and the al-Jazira desert area north of Fallujah in March 2016, they have cut off supply routes into the city, three Iraqi officials said. Tens of thousands of civilians from an original population of more than 300,000 remain inside the city. HRW obtained a list of one hundred and forty people, including young children, said to have died in the last few months from lack of food and medicine. The names have been withheld for fear that ISIS, which forbids the population making contact outside the city would punish the relatives of the dead. Residents are reported to be eating bread made from flour from ground date stones and soup made from grass. Food still available is sold at staggering prices. A 50-kilogram sack of flour goes for US$750, and a bag of sugar for $500. In Baghdad, just seventy kilometres away: the same amount of flour costs $15 and of sugar $40 each day starving children arrive at the local hospital most foodstuffs are no longer available at any price the hospital has run out of baby food. The World Food Programme has stated weakly that it is concerned about the food situation. In the annals of shamefully pathetic UN responses to tragedies of enormity this may be this 2016s winner. Sources told HRW that both Iraqi government troops and the Popular Mobilization Force, one of about forty militia forces under the Ministry of the Interior are preventing food and essential goods from reaching the city. Those trying to leave the city are in danger of being murdered by ISIS. On 22nd March, one man who went to one of their checkpoints saying he had to leave, he could not take the situation any longer, was taken back into the city and executed. In late February a family trying to leave were also killed. On 30th March it was reported that thirty five people trying to leave had also been executed. Moreover: Government aircraft and artillery have carried out numerous attacks, which Fallujah residents say have killed many civilians. Aircraft and artillery supplied by the US. Neighbors reported to one former resident that on November 27, 2015, bombings killed 12 people in his neighborhood, including nine children. On August 13 (2015) aerial bombs struck Fallujahs childrens hospital, killing several people A medical source in the city, whose information Human Rights Watch could not confirm, said that since January 2014, 5,769 combatants and civilians have been injured and 3,455 killed, roughly one-fourth of them women and children. It seems it is Iraqs plight to be starved and bombed as a result of US-UK policies. Thirteen years of the most draconian embargo ever administered by the UN, driven by the US and UK, with the UK heading the Sanctions Committee, the 1991 bombing, twelve subsequent years also of illegal US-UK bombing. Under Saddam there was a rationing system, ironically, commended by the UN for its efficiency although hugely restricted by the UN for lack of imports. Since liberation Fallujah is another symbol of the sheer Western driven wickedness and iniquity that has befallen Iraq since 2003. Perhaps it is time Tony Blair whose officials authored the dodgy dossiers that gave the excuse for the illegal invasion lived up to the farcical Global Legacy Award presented to him by Save the Children in November 2014 and pitched up in Fallujah with desperately needed aid from his multi-million charity and from his own multi million pocket. It would be trivial amends, but it would be a start. Perhaps Save the Children could also atone for awarding a man who many eminent legal minds argue should be accounting for himself at the International Criminal Court in The Hague by doing the same. I feel a petition coming on. Notes: http://www.globalresearch.ca/fallujah-us-marines-further-allegations-of-war-crimes-surface/5366163 https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/04/07/iraq-fallujah-siege-starving-population The original source of this article is Global Research Copyright Felicity Arbuthnot, Global Research, 2016 Three years after it was closed due to the activities of Boko Harm Terrorists, the Damaturu-Biu road has been re-opened by the Nigeria Army. The 132km stretch of road is a major link between Yobe and southern Borno State, where most agricultural and economic activities in the area take place. It also connects Yobe, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa states. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the event at Buni Yadi, one of the towns recaptured from Boko Haram, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, said the road was re-opened due to improved security in the area, and its socio-economic importance to Yobe and Borno States. Buratai also said the road re-opening is another milestone in their collective resolve to end insurgency and fast-track the return of normalcy to the area. Few weeks ago, the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road was re-opened. Road re-opening will continue in all other affected areas to ensure that law-abiding citizens go about their legitimate businesses while encouraging socio-economic activities to go on unhindered in this axis without fear of molestation or harm. The road is vital to the economy of Yobe and Borno, considering the large scale economic activities taking place in the southern part of the state, he said. He said the Army will continue to protect lives and property of all law-abiding citizens plying the road, while urging returnees to provide timely information on Boko Haram elements to security agents. The army chief hailed the troops for their courage and untiring efforts towards securing the communities and nation even as he charged the state government to call on contractors handling the road project to resume work. Also speaking at the ceremony, Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who was represented by his Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Mohammed Surajo Wakil, assured that the state government would mobilize the contractors back to work, while seeking collaboration with Army engineers to complete the road project. The governor was full of praise for the army for its commitment in ensuring that peace was restored in the area. He, however, noted that the state government is awaiting final clearance from the military to return IDPs back to their communities. Boko Haram Terrorists have been degraded to the extent that they can no longer seize and hold on to any territory in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. This is just as he said government forces had taken over all the territories hitherto under the control of the insurgents, and destroyed their camps. The president made these assertions in a speech delivered on his behalf at the 13th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey by Education Minister, Adamu Adamu. According to Buhari, most Boko Haram leaders have been arrested while many others had surrendered to government forces. He commended Nigerias neighbours: Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin and the international community for their support in the fight against insurgency in the country. President Buhari also commended the OIC for its efforts in ensuring peace worldwide. On the theme of the summit: Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace, the Nigerian leader described the current precarious situation in the Muslim world as a source of great concern. A multiplicity of crises and conflicts litter the entire landscape of the Muslim World from West and North Africa through Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent; from Jammu and Kashmir to Jakarta, he said. And from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East to the Balkans; many member-states are embroiled in conflicts threatening their very existence and taking an unacceptable toll in human lives and destruction of critical infrastructure. Muslim minorities in non-member-states like Myammar, Philippines, Thailand and China; and Muslim migrants in the West are still facing serious political, cultural and economic challenges or outright persecution. President Buhari, therefore, called on member-states of the organization to rededicate themselves to the struggle for peace and justice for Palestinians. He said that Nigeria stood in full solidarity with the Palestinians in their legitimate quest for an independent state. The situation in Palestine remains bleak; the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism remains unabated. The drums of Islamaphobia, especially in the countries with minority or migrant Muslims, are being beaten to achieve mischievous political objectives. Nigeria identifies with and fully supports the just struggle of the people of Palestine against the unjust occupation of their land and the oppression of their people by Israel, he said. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has blamed the nations economic woes on the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which 16 years reign he said, pauperized Nigerians. Ngige said it was the alleged massive plundering of the nations commonwealth by the PDP that forced President Muhammadu Buhari to resort to seeking foreign loans. He said This is because the Peoples Democratic Party, for 16 years, looted the nations treasury and pauperized Nigerians. The PDP during the oil windfall did not bother to save any kobo for this country. All (the money) they got, they squandered. That is why Nigerians are pauperized this way today. Whatever money we borrow today is not going to be used for recurrent expenditure. It is going to be invested in railroads, power, roads, providing infrastructure for agriculture and solid minerals. Wont you want to see the construction of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway? The minister made the assertion weekend during a programme organised by the National Directorate of Employment in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. While justifying the Buhari administrations decision to seek foreign loans to finance part of the 2016 budget deficit, Mr. Ngige said the only option under the circumstance is to look for loans to give Nigerians good governance because Section 14 of our Constitution says the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. He also promised that the All Progressives Congress-led federal government through agencies like the NDE, will make jobs available in the country. In the next two months, the second phase of this exercise would have been carried out and I want to assure you that over 2, 800 new businesses would have been generated across the country through the Resettlement Scheme of the NDE, Ngige said. Earlier, the Acting Director General of NDE, Kunle Obayan, said apart from the 30 persons that were empowered at the programme, 220 other persons previously trained in the state but not empowered were given lifelines from the Federal Government through the NDE, under the Artisans Resettlement and Mentoring Scheme. The bill seeking the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal by the Senate has been dismissed as an exercise in futility by Senator Kabiru Marafa. The senator representing Zamfara Central on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday described the move by some of his colleagues as dead on arrival. The bill sponsored by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP/Delta North), tagged, a bill for an Act to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15,LFN,2004; and other related matters, passed through first and second reading in 48 hours. In an interview, Marafa described the move to amend the Act as a display of crass ignorance of legislative work and a waste of tax payers money. I am not surprised at all, I cautioned Nigerians against this. You can also recall my comments on DPO, Juicy Check Points and posting and lately my call on the leadership of the Senate to respect the ranking rules (order 3 (2 i-iv)) the chickens are now coming home to roost. What happened in the Senate last week was a combination of all of the above propelled by blind naked ambition! Why most senators walked out or refused to oppose the bill(s) is hinged on two factors; [Ike] Ekweremadu presiding and many senators didnt want to waste their time arguing none issues! All the three proposed bills fall under constitutional amendment and not act of the National Assembly, he said. According to the senator, an outspoken critic of the embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, plans are also afoot to amend Section 308 which deals with immunity for public office holders of the constitution through a bill. The third bill is contemplating to enlarge the immunity clause. Section 308 (3) is very clear! So let no Nigerian lose sleep over this issue, it is dead on arrival, even though its unfortunate that an issue like this can even be listed and given accelerated hearing in the hallowed chamber presided over by a senior lawyer, he said. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday called on politicians to seek power from God only, as any political scheme to attain leadership position outside divine arrangement will not succeed. Politicians, he stressed, should rather put their trust in God because power comes from God, victory comes from God, no one, no matter how powerful he/she is, can give you power. Mr. Dogara said Nigerians have the burden to change their attitudes and re-orient themselves for the country to make progress. He spoke during a thanksgiving service organised by Rep Jagaba Adams Jagaba in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state. While Nigerians expect leaders to be role models, the followers must also know that leaders are recruited from among them, Dogara said in a statement by his media aide, Turaki Hassan. This nation can only make progress when all citizens resolve that in their daily undertakings they will maintain the best of standards, he said. Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has shut down the clinic at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, and redeployed its medical personnel to public hospitals. In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, the governor explained that the decision to close the Government House clinic and redeploy its personnel to public hospitals was aimed at boosting the healthcare system in the state. The statement said all the drugs and medical equipment in the clinic have been moved to the Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, Tudun Wada, Kaduna while Government House staff, who require medical services have also been directed to use the hospital or any other public healthcare facility closest to them. The statement reads in part: There are not yet enough doctors in the public health system in Kaduna State. Therefore it is not prudent to assign doctors, nurses and other medical staff to serve Government House alone. It is clearly more beneficial to the wider society if the services of these medical personnel were made available to the public in a general hospital. In addition, it is better that everyone working in the Government House uses the same health facilities as the general public. Medical personnel from the Government House Clinic have been redeployed to public hospitals in the state. All drugs and medical equipment in the Government House Clinic have also been evacuated and are being put to use at the Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital. From now on, all Government House staff requiring medical services will proceed to the nearest public hospital to the Government House like other citizens of the State. The governor expressed optimism that the management of the public hospitals will make good use of the medical personnel, drugs and equipment donated to them. Confirming receipt of the drugs and equipment, the medical director of the Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, Dr. Muhammad Bello Armayau, thanked Mr. El-Rufai for the gesture, promising that the hospital will make judicious use of the extra capacity it has received. Gunmen from South Sudan have killed at least 140 civilians, including women and children, in a raid in Ethiopias Gambela region, the Ethiopian government has said. Getachew Reda, Ethiopias communications minister, said on Saturday that Fridays attack had been carried out by members of South Sudans Murle tribe. He added that Ethiopian forces have killed 60 of the assailants and may cross into neighbouring South Sudan to pursue them. They havent crossed the border [yet], but they will if thats what it takes, he told Al Jazeera. The minister, who said the latest attack is much larger than past skirmishes, also said that a number of children have been abducted from Ethiopia and taken into South Sudan, according to an Associated Press news agency report. The attack happened in Gambelas Jakawa area which straddles the Ethiopian-South Sudanese border, in a region that alongside a neighbouring province hosts more than 284,000 refugees from South Sudan who fled conflict in the worlds youngest nation. The attackers had no relation to South Sudans army or rebel forces who fought the government in Juba in a civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people, a statement from the government communications office said. David Shinn, a professor of International Relations at George Washington University and former US ambassador to Ethiopia, said the region has a long history of ethnic conflict originating on both sides of the Ethiopia-South Sudan border. The border is porous and movement back and forth between South Sudan and Ethiopia is common, he told Al Jazeera. The conflict in South Sudan has resulted in refugees moving into Ethiopia. Rebel groups can also move across Gambela region. It is not surprising there are occasional local outbreaks of violence in this area. Aljazeera. Protesters have taken to the streets in Baghdad to demand a new government, after the Iraqi parliament cancelled its third session in a week to discuss political reforms. Saturdays session was scrapped because parliament couldnt be secured by security forces, said a statement from the office of the speaker, Salim al-Jabouri, whose position is under threat as some legislators are seeking to replace him. The political crisis centres around divisions over a plan by Haider al-Abadi, the prime minister, to bring technocrats into cabinet in a bid to check corruption. On March 31, Abadi presented a list of independent professionals who he hoped could free ministries from the grip of dominant political groups. But under pressure from leading politicians, he drafted a second list this week based on party links. The modified list, which Abadi had planned to present for a vote, prompted a sit-in by MPs who say it will allow corruption to continue to flourish. Al Jazeeras Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said if the reforms are actually put in place, it will be the most significant development in Iraqi politics since 2003. The political system created after Saddam Hussein was toppled distributed power among Shia, Sunni and Kurdish political blocs. It has created a government that many Iraqis feel serves politicians but not the people, she said. The dissenting MPs, who accuse the speaker, Jabouri, of blocking reforms, said they would meet on Monday to elect a new assembly leader. The protesters include followers of influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Saturday issued a statement asking all the ministers to immediately resign, and even Abadis Dawa party. Your Excellency, Im convinced the time has come to write you this letter despite the fact that I have some measure of access to you. I decided to do this in order to tackle the mischief makers who believe Im your very close friend and as such must be a rabid supporter of yours. I have been accused of all sorts of garbage including being paid heavy sums of money from your bottomless pocket. Im aware that most of these guys can never believe that anyone could stand up for principle without pecuniary gains. But before I go into the meat of this letter, I need to state my background briefly as Im sure you dont even know me well enough to understand and appreciate my socio-political trajectory. I have read all sorts about you and I and it is necessary sometimes to put the records straight for the sake of doubting Thomases who can never see anything good in others. You were a Governor for eight years and I cant remember ever meeting you one on one. The only time I believe we exchanged physical pleasantries would have been at the 70th birthday dinner hosted in honour of your mother-in-law, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora at The Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos some years back. I remember seeing and greeting you and a few of the former and current Governors present including Olusegun Osoba, James Ibori, Babatunde Fashola and others. I would later see one of the pictures I took at the party and read many years after that I was busy drinking champagne with James Ibori who was being wanted for several cases of corruption and so on. I could not believe my eyes because the picture showed clearly that I was chatting with Chief Olusegun Osoba while Ibori minding his business behind me but someone needed to rubbish me for reasons I could never fathom. Not just that, Ibori was still a Governor and would I run away from a function or refuse to greet people so as not to be accused of hobnobbing with corrupt leaders? The next time I interfaced with you was after you employed Mr Bamikole Omishore who was my American campaign coordinator in Washington DC, when I joined the Presidential race from 2010-2011. I was happy that you got such a brilliant young man to manage your social media. But you and I got closer for only one reason in the past one year plus because we both campaigned vigorously for Major General Muhammadu Buhari and you and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi were the best of pals and he has been my friend long before he became Governor of Rivers State. I loved the way you, Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Wamako, Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar, and others took the bold decision that would change the course of Nigerian history for better or for worse when you abandoned PDP despite threats and harassments. I must have met you about twice in your Lagos home to strategise and was particularly impressed with your ability to rally the likes of Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Wale Tinubu and others who ordinarily would have felt a need to support the government in power. I was informed you were able to raise some stupendous amount of money during and after the APC primaries. We talked more on phone and you assured me constantly that everything was on course. The rest is history. However trouble started as soon as victory came. I knew you had only one ambition and that was to become the Senate President. I thought that was a legitimate dream but did not envisage that it would turn out to be your albatross. Politics in Africa, and probably elsewhere, is a deadly game. Youve fought several battles in your life but I doubt if you ever bargained for this one. It all started like a joke. Your party apparatchik was obviously opposed to your candidacy. You were equally determined to realise your life ambition. One of the rumours then was that you could not be trusted with power and that in the next four years you would have become unstoppable if you decide to go headlong for the Presidency. Im not a member of your party so I could not understand what the hullabaloo was all about. The manner you emerged caught everyone unawares. The biggest problem was the fact that you sought and got the unequivocal support of members of the PDP in the Senate and even did a deal that made it possible for one of them to become your deputy. That was the hara-kiri you committed and your enemies would never forgive you for that. One thing led to another, and things fell apart and the centre could no longer hold. You probably underestimated the resolve of your enemies to cut you down to size. The next we saw were allegations of impropriety levelled against you at the Code of Conduct Bureau. You were said to have been dodgy in your assets declaration forms. Anyway, it seemed you had touched the tiger by the tail and it remained to be seen how you would wriggle out of the monumental trouble you had inadvertently courted by your rebelliousness and bellicosity. I was personally irked that we were back to the Nuhu Ribadu days and I voiced my opinion openly. I was not defending you but defending the rights of man. I had thought naively that APC knew what it was getting into with an ill-assorted assemblage of different characters from varied backgrounds. I presumed there was an accord that all sinners became saints once they migrated and amalgamated with APC. The deluge of immigrants from PDP convinced me that President Buhari would have to sanctify the pollutants if any in the new party. Not once did I hear of any objection to the proliferation so I assumed all was well. I never said you should not be prosecuted but that we should discourage a situation where every successive government uses anti-corruption camouflage to punish its enemies. This position was not meant to protect you but to discourage a perpetuation of such tradition. I wrote copiously against the harassment of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he went on similar trial. I had demonstrated publicly against the YarAdua cabal when they tried to stop Dr Goodluck Jonathan from assuming power when his boss was terminally ill. I remember also when I wrote an open letter to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in 2007 and how I was viciously attacked by his supporters. But what happened after? Nuhu himself was forced into exile as a victim of impunity. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and The Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, formerly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, became veritable victims of impunity and I was vehemently opposed to their ordeals. I needed to state this background very well as a way of documenting my modest contribution to the discouragement of impunity as a former victim myself under the military regimes. Now that it seems many Nigerians are comfortable with setting fire to an entire village in order to catch some rats, I will not belabour the issue further. Please, permit me to now address the case at hand. I want you to know that no matter what you do henceforth, the case against you will go on. The earlier you resign yourself to fate the better. You have done all you can to prevent this from happening and the time has come for you to defend yourself as best as you can. I understand the psychological trauma you are under. You are in utter shock that a party you laboured with others to build and nurture has decided to treat you as a pariah. You are stupefied at the sudden turn of events. But let me advise you, the Judiciary is still the best arbiter and if youre truly innocent, you will be vindicated but if you are found guilty after exhausting all legal options available in the land you must take a bow and accept the judgment with equanimity. Even if the APC decides to sweep this under the carpet, someone may still bring it up tomorrow. It is in your best interest to face the bullet and hope for a miracle. Im not one of those who have written off the Nigerian Judiciary. I will also not join those who have already convicted you in the court of public opinion. Im a Christian and I know none of us can cast the first stone and we should be careful not to gloat over anyones misfortune. Please, note that you must do nothing to pervert the course of justice by enacting hurriedly-packaged laws ostensibly meant to block your trial. It will further diminish you and make your sympathisers recoil in shame. To whom much is given, much is expected. God has been very kind to you and as a Muslim you must submit yourself only to the will of Allah, the only one who can forgive our sins. Who knows what the outcome may be at the end of the day? I beg you in the name of God to take courage. Stand like a man and carry your heavy cross. Source: Thisday The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a mother of three, who faked pregnancy with 86 pellets of white powdery substances that tested positive to cocaine. Dorothy Onyekasi, 41, was nabbed by NDLEA officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The narcotics agency in a statement on Saturday by its spokesperson, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said the cocaine, which weighed a total of 1.720 kilogrammes, has an estimated street value of N20.6 million. The statement quoted the NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba, as saying that the way the woman hid the illicit drugs in a waist bag and tied it around her stomach, she could have been easily mistaken for pregnancy. It was discovered that the suspect kept 86 wraps of cocaine inside a waist bag which was tied to her stomach, said Mr. Garba. Unfortunately, the drug was detected by NDLEA officers on her arrival from Dubai. The drug was immediately packed and weighed in her presence. The suspect, who said shes an importer of female bags and shoes, said her involvement in drug trafficking was a mistake. I am separated from my husband who left me with three children. I used to import female bags and shoes from Dubai. My involvement in drug trafficking is a mistake and I take responsibility for my action. I travelled to Dubai to buy my goods. While I was preparing to return, I met a man in Dubai who gave me the drug and promised to give me enough money to expand my business. He also told me that when I get to Nigeria, he will call his partner to collect the drug and give me my money. Ms. Onyekasi said on arrival in Nigeria, officials of the NDLEA detected the drugs at the airport. It is all my fault, the suspect, a Junior Secondary School certificate holder and indigene of Enugu State, said. If only I was contented with the profit from the sales of my goods; I would not have been in this problem. Muhammed Abdallah, NDLEAs Chairman described recent drug seizures at the Lagos airport as a welcome development that is capable of forcing drug cartels to beat a retreat. In the past few days, the NDLEA has recorded numerous arrests and drug seizures at the Lagos airport, said Mr. Abdallah, a retired colonel. The drug cartels have also suffered huge losses from these operations. This particular suspect feigned pregnancy with wraps of cocaine but she was caught by vigilant narcotic agents. Some of the suspects recently apprehended concealed drugs in their socks and luggage while others ingested wraps of cocaine in disregard of the danger to their health. In spite of their craftiness, we are daily stopping them from perpetrating their criminal act and forcing them to a retreat. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), yesterday decried the alleged marginalization of the North in the yet-to-be signed controversial 2016 budget. The group said going by the provisions of the document, the North was being shortchanged and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address its concerns. In a letter dated March 16, 2016 endorsed by its chairman, elder statesman and former Nigerias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, and addressed to the president, the NEF said it consulted a broad spectrum of opinion leaders in the North before deciding to express cry out over the purported marginalization of the region in the 2016 budget. The NEF, a group comprising notable personalities of northern extraction cutting across religious and ethnic backgrounds, argued that President Buhari ought to allocate massive projects to the North in the next three years to boost the economy of the area currently plagued by insurgency and massive destruction of lives and property. According to the Forum, Federal Governments allocation on recurrent expenditure in the budget was skewed against the North as 75 per cent of the civil service is made up of citizens from the three geopolitical zones in the South. It also described Buharis cabinet as weak and urged him to immediately establish an Economic Management Team to assist him in pulling Nigeria out of its present economic woes. The letter read: We have conducted some analysis on the 2016 Budget estimates which Mr. President submitted to the National Assembly. We are concerned over the absence of equity in the allocation of particularly capital spending. The three geopolitical zones in the North are severally shortchanged. For a region deserving greater resources and attention, as well as the political backbone of your administration, this situation will pose serious problems for your administration. We advise Mr. President to review the proposed allocations in consultation with the National Assembly. We wish to draw Mr. Presidents attention to the fact that over 75 per cent of all Federal Government public service employees are from the three geo-political zones in the South. This means that virtually the same percentage of recurrent spending will go to Nigerians from the South. They added, we urge Mr. President to establish an Economic Management Team and conclude appointments of key officers and Advisers. Where there are evident weaknesses and gaps in skills, competences, experience and integrity, we urge Mr. President to take steps to address them, they said. The NEF advised the president to make agriculture, water resources and the exploitation of the natural resources in the North as well as the rehabilitation of its infrastructure as priorities for the national budgets over the next three years. On the issue of insecurity and the activities of Boko Haram, the Northern Elders said, We advise that all avenues should be exploited to further cripple and isolate this insurgency as well as improving the quality of intelligence and integrity of the leadership of the Armed Forces. We advise Mr. President to look into allegations that Boko Haram still has a substantial presence in many areas near Maiduguri and in other towns and villages. Mr. President should also look into possible complicity of foreign nations in the fight against Boko Haram and take firmer steps to protect our nations security against subversion, the group said. On the increasing spate of kidnapping and cattle rustling, the forum appealed to the federal government to work towards major improvements in basic policing of the communities and investigate possible collusion of law enforcement agencies in these crimes. It also asked the president to deal squarely with the threat posed by the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), by isolating members of the group from the rest of the people of the South-East geo-political zone. The Forum lamented the condition of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered across camps in different states and asked Mr. Buhari to galvanize the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to manage the humanitarian crisis properly. On the power situation, the NEF urged the President to scrutinize all policies including the reforms taken by the last administration in the sector. The Northern economy is heavily dependent on power, particular small users who provide the backbone of the informal sector and rural economy. Costs which are being raised have the potential to cripple the economy further, and the North will be worse hit, with virtually no viable industries growing its economy. People of the North recognize that substantial amount of work has to be undertaken by themselves particularly in the area of improving our assets in the banking and finance sector and in industrializing the North. We appeal to Mr. President to remain sympathetic to initiatives which channel funding and expertise to the North from the country as well as from international financing and other support sources, they said. On the ongoing war against corruption, the NEF commended the president for his resolve to fight corruption but urged him to address institutional weaknesses that make corruption thrive. According to the Forum, President Buhari ought to broaden the scope of the impact of the anti-graft war so that the citizens would feel the impact of the economic policies of the administration. The elders also asked Buhari to monitor the ongoing constitutional amendment process by the National Assembly closely and pay close attention to issues such as cost of governance, the war against corruption and improving democratic processes. When the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major oil producers conclude their meeting on Sunday, analysts hope that an agreement to freeze output will reassure global energy markets that the recent recovery in prices is sustainable. The groups ability to deliver a deal, however, has been cast into doubt by infighting and conflicting statements in the run-up to Sundays gathering in Doha, Qatar. Uncertainty over the outcome has also added to market volatility, with some analysts sceptical that even if a freeze is agreed upon, it will have much impact on prices in the short-term. A decision to freeze production may not trigger an immediate upsurge in oil prices, [but] risks are on the upside as overcapacity would gradually start to normalise Last week, Kuwaits OPEC governor, Nawal al-Fuzaia, suggested in widely reported comments that the meeting would reach an initial agreement on freezing output. Fuzaias comments stand in contrast to remarks to Bloomberg by Saudi Arabias deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, that the kingdom would only lock production if Iran similarly agreed. This week, Saudi Arabias long-serving oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, also downplayed speculation over Sundays meeting. over the coming months, Apostolos Bantis, a credit analyst at Commerzbank, told Al Jazeera. Saudi Arabia is OPECs most powerful member, but according to Alejandro Barbajosa, the vice president of crude and LPG for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region at Argus, Iran is not about to compromise with its regional rival. Iran is by no means ready to agree to a production freeze just as it aims to recover lost market share because of recently lifted sanctions, Barbajosa said. As different interest groups and individuals battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, has advised the national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to abide by the party rules by stepping down on May 21. He gave the advice amid speculations that Mr. Sheriff, whose emergence as national chairman of the party almost buried whatever remained of the former ruling party, was angling to continue in office after his three-month tenure ends in May. Our correspondent reports that a new national chairman of the PDP is expected to be elected at the partys national convention scheduled for May 21 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. But it was learnt that high-wired political calculations by those who imposed the former Borno State governor on the party are ongoing to use the convention to ratify tenure elongation for Mr. Sheriff, multi-billionaire, who has reportedly been using his personal funds to run the party since his appointment in February. However, George in a statement titled, Our Party at the Crossroads, which he personally signed, asked the PDP chairman to step down on the agreed date. The leader of the PDP in Lagos State, who insisted that he was not eyeing any position in the party, said the only way the party could defeat the All Progressives Congress in 2019 was by getting things right. According to him, the PDP will remain in the opposition if it fails to get its act right. I want to believe the chairman is an honourable man. He must honour his word to handover to an elected chairman at the National Convention on May 21 this year. This is the only way he will be on the positive side of history, he said. George, who is a member of the partys Board of Trustees, said it was funny that all those who contributed to the partys defeat in the last elections had all fled the country. The Taraba State government has described the recent claim by the state chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria that no fewer than 50 of its members have been killed in fresh outbreak of violence in the state as complete falsehood and a ploy to shield its members who are strongly believed to have carried out attacks. The Chairman of MACBAN in Taraba, Alhaji Sahabi Mahmud, had while speaking to reporters in Jalingo, the state capital last Wednesday, alleged that 50 members of his association were killed in the current crisis between herdsmen and Ndoro people in Gashaka Local Government Area of the state. While describing the fresh violence as a misunderstanding between resident herdsmen and farming communities, Mahmud decried the state police commands handling of the matter, saying it (police) took sides by persecuting the herdsmen, including the arrest of one Ardo Ayuba, who he noted was not even a resident of the affected area. But the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku on Media and Publicity, Silvanus Giwa, who faulted the claim in Abuja yesterday in a statement, said: The claim by the leadership of Miyetti Allah was a mockery of the victims of the recent attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen who allegedly carried sophisticated weapons and used same to unleash terror on harmless and innocent people of Dori, Maisuma, Angai and Fali villages in Gashaka and parts of Kurmi Local Government Areas of the state. According to Giwa, the Miyetti Allah chairman failed to present evidence (photographs) of his members that were purportedly killed in the crisis. The police and the state government, on the other hand, presented gory photographs of the victims to buttress every point on the matter. Therefore looking at the scenario, one would know who is telling lies to cause more harm than good in this matter, the statement said. It further said it was disheartening for Mr. Mahmud, who is a civilian, to assume the position of a security chieftain by suggesting which measures should be adopted by the commissioner of police, Shaba Alkali, on how people believed to be culpable in the crisis should be treated simply because his Ayuba was arrested in connection with the crisis. According to intelligence gathered, the crisis started in the area when some suspected herdsmen killed a woman believed to be Ndoro by tribe when she resisted rape on her farm. This is contrary to what Miyetti Allah said, Giwas statement added. He said the Gov. Ishaku-led administration was determined to bring the perpetrators of the act to book, with a view to ensuring peace. Since he assumed office, Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has continued to emphasise the need for harmony and peaceful coexistence among the various communities in the state, Giwa said. The United States has transferred nine Yemeni men to Saudi Arabia from the US military prison at Guantanamo, including an inmate who had been on a hunger strike since 2007, US officials said. The transfer marked the largest group of prisoners shipped out of the naval base in Cuba since President Barack Obama rolled out his plan to shut the controversial detention centre there before he leaves office. The United States is grateful to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing US efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, the Pentagon said in a statement on Saturday. The Saudis agreed, after lengthy negotiations, to take the nine Yemenis for resettlement and put them through a government-run rehabilitation programme that seeks to reintegrate them into society. They could not be sent back to their homeland because US officials fear that the instability there would enable them to resume the militant activities that landed them at Guantanamo in the first place. The most prominent of the transfers was Tariq Ba Odah, a 37-year-old Yemeni whom the military had been force-feeding daily since he went on a hunger strike in 2007. His legal team said he was down to 34kg, losing about half of his body weight. Ba Odahs lawyer, Omar Farah, said the US government had played Russian roulette with his clients life and that his transfer ends one of the most appalling chapters in Guantanamos sordid history. With the latest departures, there are now 80 prisoners at Guantanamo, most held without charge or trial for more than a decade, drawing international condemnation. The transfers took place as Obama prepared to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and Thursday for a summit with the Gulf Cooperation Council. Aljazeera. The United Kingdom (UK) yesterday reaffirmed its support for Nigeria in the ongoing war against Boko Haram Terrorists in the Northeast. UK Minister for International Development, Nick Hurd, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the UK had a very long cordial relationship with Nigeria. The very long partnership between UK and Nigeria matters a great deal to us; even my Prime Minister has made it very clear that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria in the battle against Boko Haram. We understand how many thousands and millions of peoples lives have been devastated by the atrocities in the North East. We are determined to help our own friend and partner to defeat that barbaric group, he said. Mr. Hurd said at the moment, the UKs support took the form of a big commitment to training and capacity building in the military. He said his country was pleased with the successes so far recorded by the military against Boko Haram insurgents recently. On the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, Mr. Hurd said UK was always supportive of the determination to ensure the safe return of the girls but challenged Nigeria to lead the girls rescue. My Prime Minister, the British Government and the British people are fully supportive of the determination to bring the girls home. They have empathy with that but this (rescue) needs to be led by the Nigerian government, there has to be a Nigerian solution to this. I made it clear to the Vice-President that we will help but we are going to follow a Nigerian lead, he said. On a report that the UK knew the whereabouts of the girls, Mr. Hurd said: My information is constrained by the fact that Im International Development Minister. Im not into greater deal into the military intelligence cooperation. I dont have a full answer to that question. On the humanitarian assistance, the envoy said the UK was increasing its commitment with another 33 million pounds. He said the increased fund was informed by the assessment that was carried out about the needs in the north eastern part of the country which were around nutrition, food and protection. He said the UK was interested about the stability and real development of the region and called on the international community to be more effective in its response. (NAN) UN Wanly Chides Gambia Crackdown, As Ban Evicts Press from UNHQ By Matthew Russell Lee UNITED NATIONS, April 17 Now that Gambia has killed three opposition figures in jail after locking up many more during an April 14 protest, on April 17 the US and Ban Ki-moon UN both issued statements. Tellingly, while the US statement cited the "United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," Ban Ki-moon's did not. This is because Ban's UN is lawless, as shown on Haiti cholera and, right at Headquarters, on April 16 when Ban had evicted the investigative Press without any process, video here. Ban's UN pretended to care about Gambia in late 2014 and early 2015, but never followed through. Back in late December 2014, the UN has said the coup attempt in Gambia was important to it, even as it was mis-reported. On February 4, the UN told Inner City Press its official Jeffrey Feltman was going to the country. On the morning of February 10, Inner City Press learned that the visit had not taken place, that by some accounts President Yahya Jammeh had canceled it, after publication of an article online. Inner City Press looked online and found an article that might have triggered this, calling the previous visit of the UN's Mohammed Chambas a failure, and saying "This time the UN is dispatching United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman to visit Banjul on 4 February 2015 for an audience with the countrys leader Yahya Jammeh, according to a press statement from the UNDP." So Inner City Press went to the website of the UN "country team" in Gambia, run by UNDP, but when one clicks "news" it leads to a message of "404." Failure. At the February 10 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about all this. Video here. Back on February 4, having seen mention in the African press, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujaric: Inner City Press: Can you confirm that Mr. [Jeffrey] Feltman is going to Gambia on a follow-up to Mr. [Mohammed ibn] Chambas' visit? Spokesman Dujarric: I do believe he is in Gambia, and we will get more details. Inner City Press: And is there some reason that his schedule is not public? I mean, this was reported in the press there. It seems when he goes places, he's representing the Secretary-General. Spokesman: I think we try to share his schedules. Sometimes things fall through the cracks. But, we try to be as open and transparent as we can Inner City Press / FUNCA: Can you ask [the Department of Political Affairs] to put it online? Spokesman: Thousands of [Department of Political Affairs] staffers are probably watching this briefing. Inner City Press: Im sure. Not only are Feltman's schedules not made public, as now formally requested by the Free UN Coalition for Access - just after this exchange, Ban Ki-moon held a lunch with scribes the Q&A of which has not been released. Click here for that. The Gambia coup attempt was discussed for a second time in the UN Security Council on January 8, but discrepancies emerged. On December 31, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that he encourages the establishment of a transparent investigation into the events of 30 December, in compliance with due process and respect for the rule of law. The call for a transparent investigation was missing from the January 8 briefing by UN official Chambas, who told the Security Council I am planning to visit Banjul on 14-15 January and meet with President Jammeh. I will reiterate our firm condemnation of any attempt to seize power by unconstitutional means, and encourage the Gambian authorities to work with the support of international partners, to ensure the credibility of judicial procedures and the respect of human rights. Afterward Inner City Press asked Chambas about the different, and on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access about radio station Taranga FM, shut down during the coup bid and now told to play only music. Chambas told Inner City Press he had not heard of the station -- Inner City Press in the hallway urged him to tune it in while he is in Bangui, to see if it is only music -- and spoke of trying to liberalize West Africa. We'll see. Before 10 am on December 31, Ban Ki-moon issued a 123 word statement calling for restraint and an investigation of the attempt in the The Gambia, albeit not mentioning the name of the target of the coup, Yahya Jammeh. After the Security Council's 45-minute meeting, Inner City Press asked the Council's president who is supposed to do the investigation Ban had called for before the meeting. He responded that UN official Chambas will go to Banjul; Inner City Press later learned and published that this will take place on January 2. Reuters however reported that "Following brief talks at the U.N. Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a transparent investigation into the events and also urged restraint." This is false. Ban's statement was at 9:37 am; the Security Council meeting didn't start until 10 am, and didn't end until 10:45 am. (At that time, Inner City Press asked Ban's Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman for more detail; he replied that since Ban had issued a statement, he had nothing to add -- all too common at the UN, as pointed out and opposed by the Free UN Coalition for Access.) Reuters was not present at the UN Security Council stakeout before, during or after the meeting on Gambia (Tweeted photo here), and apparently not in the UN building either. The crediting on the above quoted story is "Reporting by David Lewis and Diadie Ba in Dakar, Lesley Wroughton in Washington, Louis Charbonneau in New York; Writing by David Lewis and Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Giles Elgood." Six journalists listed; one outright falsehood. What does Reuters do in these cases? We've asked management including Stephen J. Adler before, amid censorship, with no real answer. #ReutersFail. Since then, African Union commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed "preoccupation" and rurged deepening "democracy and the respect for human rights." By the time of Ban's 9:37 am December 31 statement, later misrepresented by Reuters, the US had already issued a statement: The United States is aware of reports of a coup attempt on December 30 in The Gambia. We strongly condemn any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means. We regret the loss of life and call on all parties to refrain from further violence. Thirteen hours later when Ban Ki-moon issued his statement, he went a bit further and cited calm and called for an investigation, apparently by Jammeh's government itself: The Secretary-General is following closely developments in The Gambia. He reiterates the United Nations principled condemnation of all attempts to seize power through unconstitutional means. Referring to reports that indicate that the situation in Banjul is calm, he calls for all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from further violence. Noting the seriousness of any attempt to overthrow governments by force, the Secretary-General encourages the establishment of a transparent investigation into the events of 30 December, in compliance with due process and respect for the rule of law. In that regard, he urges the Government of The Gambia, and its security and defense forces to act in full respect for human rights. The United Nations will continue to closely monitor the situation. When the UN Security Council meeting on the topic began at 10:10 am on December 31, there were tumbleweeds at the stakeout in front. Some may denounce The Gambia, but at the UN or at least in its press corp, there is not apparently much interest. When the meeting ended, in less than 45 minutes, Inner City Press asked Feltman about it. He said since the SG had issued a statement, he had nothing to add. In 2015, the Free UN Coalition for Access will be pressing for all UN Under Secretaries General to answer questions. Finally, the Security Council's president for December, from Chad, came and summarized the meeting, saying that UN official Chambas, previously the head of UNAMID in Darfur, will file a report. There have been problems with UNAMID's reporting. (Again in terms of micro-news, Inner City Press is exclusively told by sources that Chambas will go to Gambia on Friday, January 2. Since the UNSC President was asked on camera when Chambas would go and only said "soon," call it a coup scooplet.) Genres : Action, Thriller Starring : Yul Brynner Director : Sam Wanamaker Plot Synopsis A U.S. Treasury agent (Yul Brynner, Kings of the Sun) and Scotland Yard detective (Edward Woodward, The Wicker Man and TV s The Equalizer) go undercover to infiltrate and tackle a brutal counterfeit gang known as the Golden Goose, raking in millions with their illegal activities. From Liverpool, the two men trace the Owl (Charles Gray, Blofeld of Diamonds Are Forever) to London where they hope to meet up with the mysterious gang leader Mr. Big. Veteran screenwriters John C. Higgins (He Walked by Night) and Robert E. Kent (Where the Sidewalk Ends) wrote this suspenseful thriller directed by actor/director Sam Wanamaker (Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger) and co-starring Adrienne Corri (Vampire Circus, Madhouse). A giugno lIstat conferma la stima preliminare di un tasso di deflazione in accelerazione al 0,4% dallo 0,3% di maggio. Lindice nazionale dei prezzi al consumo per lintera collettivita, al lordo dei tabacchi, registra infatti una diminuzione su base annua pari a -0,4% e un aumento dello 0,1% su base mensile. La persistenza delle dinamiche deflazionistiche e in gran parte riconducibile allampio calo dei prezzi dei beni energetici (-7,5% rispetto a giugno 2015), sebbene meno intenso di quello registrato a maggio. Al netto di questi beni linflazione, anche se in lieve ridimensionamento, resta positiva e pari a +0,4% (era +0,5% a maggio). Al netto degli alimentari non lavorati e dei beni energetici l'inflazione di fondo, rallenta e si porta a +0,5% (da +0,6% di maggio). A guidare la classifica delle citta italiane in deflazione e Milano con un calo dei prezzi dell1%, ma sono 19 su 29 le metropoli dove linflazione e crollata a giugno. A maggio erano 18. Dopo Milano, le riduzioni maggiori dei prezzi riguardano Torino (-0,9%), Ancona (-0,8%), Firenze e Bari (-0,6% per tutti e due) e Roma (-5%). Linflazione raggiunge il livello piu alto a Venezia (+0,6%), e continua a correre anche a Trento e Livorno (+0,5%), Bolzano e Parma (+0,4%). Con cadenza annuale da novembre a gennaio le notti salernitane sono illuminate da gigantesche luminarie, vere e proprie opere darte luminose realizzate da famosi artisti della luce. Questanno, le installazioni luminose saranno inaugurate il 5 novembre alle 17.00 e resteranno accese fino al 22 gennaio 2017. Il tema delledizione 2016-17 sara Le Mille e Una Notte, infatti verra ricostruita lambientazione a tema in Piazza Flavio Gioia. Similmente, in Piazza SantAgostino ci saranno le Atmosfere dOriente. Inoltre, tutto il centro sara invaso da figure giganti molto suggestive. Il Corso Vittorio Emanuele vedra linstallazione di una cascata di luci, lampadari e globi illuminati per il tema Gli spazi infiniti. Nel Giardino Incantato nella Villa Comunale ci saranno le luci dedicate a fiabe nuove rispetto agli altri anni e nella nuova spiaggia di Santa Teresa ci saranno pinguini e palme luminose. I quattro percorsi delle Luci dArtista di Salerno, come lanno scorso saranno: il Mito, il Sogno, il Tempo, il Natale. Ognuno di questi temi interessera alcune strade e piazze con luminarie specifiche. Infine, il grande albero di Natale di circa 28 metri che sara montato in Piazza Portanova, sara inaugurato il 3 dicembre. La prima manifestazione Luci dArtista Luminarie Salerno parte nellanno 2006/2007 e per la precisione il giorno giovedi 30 novembre, lallora Sindaco di Salerno Vincenzo De Luca inauguro lilluminazione artistica predisposta dal Comune di Salerno per le festivita natalizie e di fine anno ed i vari allestimenti che in quelledizione furono le Palle di Neve, il Planetario e le Palme luminose. Dalledizione del 2009/2010 la manifestazione Luminarie Salerno invece e gemellata con quella delle Luci dArtista di Torino. Ed infatti moltissimi sono stati gli scambi delle installazioni luminose tra le due citta: le opere esposte a Salerno che hanno ricevuto maggior approvazione da parte del pubblico non solo italiano, ma anche europeo (molti infatti sono i turisti provenienti dallEuropa arrivati in citta per assistere allo spettacolo) sono state adottate anche dal comune di Torino. Lo stesso e successo per le opere torinesi, con la differenza che nel 2009 la citta di Salerno ha inserito, allinterno delle installazioni torinesi, altre opere appositamente commissionate. Le favolose (nel senso che portano grandi e bambini in sogni e favole) notti illuminate salernitane sono poi sempre arricchite da tantissime manifestazione culturali, eventi musicali, danza, teatro, performance che completano il programma di manifestazioni natalizie, rendono Salerno ancora piu bella per i cittadini ed accogliente per i visitatori e rappresentano una bella occasione per scoprire le bellezze monumentali ed artistiche della citta, il piacere dello shopping, la qualita dellartigianato e dellenogastronomia locale in un clima di festosa serenita. 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. Boeing Co. (BA), one of the world's leading aerospace companies, develops and manufactures commercial jets, military aircraft, weapons systems, and strategic defense and intelligence systems. The company offers services and support to customers globally and provides financing for orders and deliveries. One of Boeing's biggest customers is the U.S. government. One of Boeing's biggest rivals, especially for commercial aircraft, is the Europe-based aerospace firm Airbus SE (EADSY). Boeing also has aerospace rivals based in Russia, China, and Japan. Additionally, the company's defense and space business faces competition from major players like Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC), Raytheon Co. (RTX), General Dynamics Corp. (GD), U.K.-based BAE Systems PLC (BAESY), and Elon Musk's Space X. Key Takeaways Boeing produces commercial and military aircraft, weapons systems, strategic defense and intelligence systems, and related products and services. The Defense, Space and Security unit has overtaken Commercial Airplanes as Boeing's largest revenue source. The U.S. government is one of Boeing's largest customers. Boeing recorded a $3.5 billion pre-tax non-cash charge in Q4 FY 2021 related to work performed to bring its 787 aircraft up to the FAA's standards in order to resume deliveries. Boeing's Financials Boeing announced in late January financial results for Q4 of its 2021 fiscal year (FY), the three-month period ended Dec. 31, 2021. The company reported a net loss attributable to its shareholders of $4.1 billion, an improvement from the net loss of $8.4 billion in the year-ago quarter. Revenue fell 3.3% year over year (YOY) to $14.8 billion. Boeing uses earnings from operations as a profitability metric for its individual business segments. In the fourth quarter, the company reported a $4.2 billion loss from operations, narrower than the $8.0 billion loss from operations reported in the year-ago quarter. Boeing said in its quarterly earnings report that increased production and deliveries of its 737 MAX aircraft, which the company has returned to service in nearly all global markets. The 737 MAX was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in early 2019 after the aircraft was involved in two fatal accidents. In late 2020, the FAA lifted its grounding order, allowing the company to resume deliveries. Boeing has also had to pause deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft in May 2021 due to production quality issues. The company continues to work on the issues in order to resume deliveries of the aircraft. The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on demand for air travel has also adversely impacted demand for the company's commercial jets. But demand is beginning to pick up again amid vaccine rollouts and the easing of restrictions. Boeings Business Segments Boeing operates its business through four segments: Commercial Airplanes (BCA); Defense, Space & Security (BDS); Global Services (BGS): and Boeing Capital (BCC). The company provides a breakdown of revenue and earnings from operations for each of these segments. The pie chart for earnings from operations pictured above does not include segments that reported a loss for the period, such as Boeing's Commercial Airplanes segment. The company also includes an unallocated items, eliminations and other category, which reported revenue of -$173 million during the fourth quarter. Commercial Airplanes (BCA) Boeing's commercial airplane segment develops, produces, and markets commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, primarily for the global airline industry. The segment supplies jetliners to meet global airlines' varying requirements for transporting passengers and cargo. In Q4 FY 2021, the segment's loss from operations narrowed to $4.5 billion from $7.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose 0.5% YOY to $4.8 billion, comprising about 32% of Boeing's total revenue. BCA has been adversely impacted by issues related to its Max 737 and 787 aircrafts, as discussed above. Defense, Space and Security (BDS) Boeing's BDS segment researches, develops, produces, and modifies military aircraft and weapons systems for strike, surveillance, and mobility. The segment also researches, develops, produces, and modifies strategic defense and intelligence systems, as well as satellite systems. The segment's top customer is the U.S. Department of Defense. The BDS segment reported a loss from operations of $255 million in Q4 FY 2021, a deterioration from the $502 million in earnings from operations it generated in the year-ago quarter. Revenue fell 13.5% YOY to $5.9 billion, comprising 39% of the total for all segments. Global Services (BGS) Boeing's global services segment offers services to its commercial and defense customers around the globe. The segment provides a wide range of platforms, systems, products, and services. These include supply chain and logistics management, engineering, maintenance and modifications, upgrades and conversions, spare parts, pilot and maintenance training systems and services, data analytics, and digital services. Earnings from operations were $401 million in Q4 FY 2021, up 180.4% YOY. It accounted for more than 98% of companywide earnings from operations during the quarter. Revenue rose 14.9% YOY to $4.3 billion, comprising nearly 29% of the total for all segments. Boeing Capital (BCC) Boeing Capital provides customers with financing to buy and take delivery of their orders, and manages the parent company's overall financing exposure. The segment's portfolio is comprised of equipment under operating leases, sales-type/finance leases, notes and other receivables, assets held for sale or re-lease, and investments. Earnings from operations were $7 million in Q4 FY 2021, down 56.3% YOY. Earnings from operations comprised about 2% of the total across all segments. Revenue rose 12.5% YOY to $63 million, comprising a tiny share of Boeing's total revenue. Boeings Recent Developments On Feb. 15, 2022, the FAA said that it will perform final inspections on new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts and issue airworthiness certificates when it feels that the company's quality control and manufacturing processes are able to consistently produce aircraft that meet the administration's standards. The FAA also said that it would not allow the company to self-certify its jets. Boeing recorded a pre-tax non-cash charge of $3.5 billion in Q4 FY 2021 related to actions the company was performing in order to resume deliveries of the 787. Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to remain paused for a number of months longer. Jack Daniel McCullough, a Belfast native, 77, who was convicted of the murder of Maria Ridulph, a 7-year old who was abducted on Dec. 3, 1957 as she played near her home in Sycamore, Illinois, was freed in April 2016 after new evidence was revealed. The case was a sensation at the time with FBI Director J Edgar Hoover and President Eisenhower getting involved. A massive manhunt seeking the killer ended empty handed. The crime occurred as Ridulph and a friend were playing under a streetlight and were approached by a man the friend recalled as "Johnny," authorities said. The friend left the scene to get mittens, but Maria accepted a piggyback ride from the man. When Maria's friend returned, the two were gone, authorities said. The child's body was found almost five months later in a wooded area about 120 miles northwest of Sycamore. She had been stabbed to death. The case was never solved but in an extraordinary twist, the case was re-opened as a cold case in 2011 and McCullough who was living in Seattle was arrested. It was the oldest cold case murder ever investigated. McCullough was born in Belfast in 1939 and came to America when he was 7 years old with his mother Eileen McCullough from Belfast. They came over on the Queen Mary and the family settled in the Sycamore area. He was found guilty in the cold case trial 2012 and was down to serve life. The new evidence that freed him showed that McCullough had made a collect phone call home from Rockford, Illinois around the time of the murder and it would have been impossible for him to carry out the murder as Sycamore was 40 miles away. Investigators at the time of the murder examined McCullough, then a resident of the same Sycamore neighborhood as the Ridulphs. He was then known as John Tessier his mothers new marriage name. (he later took his Irish-born mothers maiden name McCullough) But police in 1957 believed he was in Rockford, Illinois at the time of the abduction and would have been unable to travel between there and Sycamore to commit the crime. However, the dead girls family continued to press the case and forced the re-opening and the 2012 conviction.But following the new evidence the 77-year-old McCullough, a night security guard at the Four Freedoms retirement community in Seattle where he lived, is now free and the case is expected to be dropped. According to the Chicago Tribune, records show his history includes years of military service as well as allegations he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and was forced from a police job for dating a prostitute. Neither accusation ended in a conviction. McCullough's stepdaughter, Janey O'Connor, drove him home from jail. His first request was a pizza dinner she said. O'Connor said she'd been convinced of her stepfather's innocence from the start "Jack was just a normal person doing his grandpa thing, and this happened to him. He told the Chicago Tribune he was innocent and that he wanted justice for Ridulph, who had lived a few blocks from his home. McCullough, who was born in Belfast in 1939, said his original surname was Cherry. His mother was a corporal in the Royal Air Force and met his stepfather at an air base. The same month of the girl's death, McCullough enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he remained until 1961. In 1962, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He changed his name to McCullough in 1994, records show. McCullough's stepdaughter, Janey O'Connor, has been steadfast in her support, saying she'd been alone with him many times; that he's helped raise her children and never acted inappropriately. * Originally published in April 2016. Genres : Comedy, Romance, Classic Starring : Doris Day, Rock Hudson Plot Synopsis Pillow Talk -- Rock Hudson and Doris Day, two of the screen's most popular and enduring stars, are together for the very first time! When Jan Marrow (Day), uptight interior decorator, is to share a party line with an carefree playboy Brad Allen (Hudson), there's no connection between them. But when the two accidentally meet, the smitten Brad pretends to be a wealthy Texan, wooing Jan with seductive late-night calls. Their phone line is sizzling until Jan discovers her caller's true identity and calls his bluff. Winner of an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, this delicious romp co-stars Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter. Lover Come Back -- Rock Hudson and Doris Day are together again! Jerry Webster (Hudson) and Carol Templeton (Day) are rival Madison Avenue advertising executives who each dislike each other's methods. After he steals a client out from under her cute little nose, revenge prompts her to infiltrate his secret "VIP" campaign in order to persuade the mystery product's scientist to switch to her firm. Trouble is, the product is phony and the "scientist" is Jerry, who uses all his intelligence and charm to steal her heart in this outrageous comedy of mistaken identity, co-starring the ever-delightful Tony Randall. Send Me No Flowers - -- Screen legends Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall team up for this irresistible comedy gem from director Norman Jewison (Moonstruck). When he overhears a doctor discussing the imminent death of a patient, hypochondriac George (Hudson) believes the doc is referring to him. Convinced he's living on borrowed time, George enlists the aid of his best friend Arnold (Randall) to find a new husband for his soon-to-be-widowed wife Judy (Day). Already alarmed by her husband's increasingly strange behavior, Judy is even more bewildered when an old flame shows up - and George bends over backwards to encourage his advances! The third and final on-screen teaming of Rock Hudson and Doris Day, Send Me No Flowers positively sparkles with "top performers...in top form" (The Hollywood Reporter). Forty-seven years ago this week, acclaimed Irish American journalist Pete Hamill wrote an article for New York magazine. The headline read: The Revolt of the White Lower Middle Class. It is imperative, Hamill wrote, that New York politicians begin to deal with the growing alienation and paranoia of these people. They cant wait much longer; its almost the point of no return. Ladies and gentleman, I believe we have reached that point. Hamill outlined for us the first act of a show decades in the making, and which will culminate in Donald Trumps nearly-guaranteed victory in the New York State Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, April 19. The only drama that remains is what will unfold at the Republican convention in the summer. But before we get there, its important to debunk the myth that the Trump phenomena is unprecedented in American politics. It is definitely strange, mainly because he is more of a celebrity than a politician. But that says more about the utter weakness of the field of Republican candidates. As for a loudmouth saying foolhardy things to exploit the anger of the populace, lets not forget a reactionary like George Wallace, who surely received a vote or two from Hamills subjects back when he ran for president in 1968. Indeed, the Trump train is not powered merely by good ol boys and other gun-totin, backward-thinkin, tooth-missin rednecks. For better or worse, Irish Americans and other Catholic ethnics have probably saved Trump from the GOP establishment that wants to dump him. Its well established that (Trump) fares best among less educated voters, Nate Cohn noted in The New York Times recently. Yet his strongest performance so far wasnt in Mississippi, where he got 47 percent of the Republican vote, but in Massachusetts, a famously liberal state, where he won 49 percent of Republican voters. Massachusetts is also a heavily Catholic state, with plenty of Irish Americans as well as other white ethnic Catholics. As the Times notes, in Massachusetts, Catholics made up a majority of the Republican electorate and provided Mr. Trump with a big primary victory. He drew 53 percent of Catholics in the Massachusetts GOP primary, while Mr. Kasich and Mr. Rubio combined for just 35 percent. Cohn concludes: (Trumps) appeal in historically Democratic areas is a reflection of strength among new Republicans -- whether they be white southerners or white Roman Catholics and working-class voters in the north who would have had no place in the Republican Party a half-century ago. Which brings us back to Hamills article. Those angry men throwing the n-word around were not straight outta Compton. Or even a racist backwater town in Alabama. They were drinking at an Irish bar named Mister Kellys in Brooklyn! And not just Brooklyn, but Park Slope. Back before the Whole Foods army invaded. Many observers have noted the conservative drift of the Catholic vote since the late 1960s. Richard Nixons famous southern strategy -- to exploit racial divisions but more subtly than an arch-segregationist like George Wallace -- had a strong northeastern component. Nixon did well with Irish Catholics and Italian Americans -- mainly former Democrats -- as did Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. But a word about that arch-segregationist. In 1968, Wallace ran a slash-and-burn campaign aimed at restoring racial apartheid in the south. How else do you think he won five states in the deep south, even though he ran on a third party line? But as Kevin Phillips notes in his landmark study The Emerging Republican Majority, Urban Catholic precincts also gave Wallace fair support in northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, Connecticut and Boston. Those Irish and Italian guys drinking at Mr. Kellys in Park Slope have long moved out of Brooklyn. They and their kids and grandkids moved to Long Island or suburban New Jersey or upstate New York. They may no longer even be members of what Hamill called the white lower middle class. But theyre still angry. And theyre voting for Trump. (Contact Sidewalks at tdeignan.blogspot.com) Records were set at this years New York City St. Patricks Day parade, according to the organizers. A press release reports that the 255th annual march up Fifth Avenue was the most successful ever from a viewership standpoint, with millions following it on social media and watching it live from around the world. There also were 1.1 million views on the official Facebook page of the largest celebration of Irish culture and values, facebook.com/nycstpatricksdayparade, the release noted. In addition to the Facebook views 10 times higher than last year there were 165,000 visits to www.nycstpatricksparade.org, the official website of the New York City St. Patricks Day parade, with continuous updates from the parade March 17. There also were four million Snapchats, 241,000 Twitter impressions and extensive activity on Periscope and other social media platforms. An estimated 200,000 people marched up Fifth Avenue on St. Patricks Day, continuing the tradition of New York City hosting the largest celebration of St. Patrick and of Irish values and culture in the world. More than one million people lined Fifth Avenue on March 17. WNBC-TV 4 reports 586,000 viewers watched the live parade broadcast from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for the first time ever, millions of viewers in Ireland and the United Kingdom were able to watch the parade live on IRISH TV. Besides the live four-hour broadcast, millions of readers and viewers read, heard or saw media accounts of the historic parade, featuring Senator George Mitchell, the author of the historic Northern Ireland peace accord, as grand marshal. St. Patrick, our patron saint and someone who knew the importance of spreading the message, would be proud of our dedicated volunteers and the work they did updating our social media platforms, said St. Patricks Day Parade Board Chairman John Lahey said. The volunteers include Thomas Heaney, Virginia Byrne, Ken Kraetzer, David Altman, Bridget OBrien and Scott Prestopino. Thanks also to the hard work of the hundreds of volunteers who spent so many hours planning for the parade and them making sure it went off so smoothly and to the dedicated members of the parade Board of Directors, in particular our chief operating officers Hilary Beirne and Frank McGreal, Lahey added. The same week as the Easter Rising in 1916, more Irishmen were killed in France fighting in the British army than during the uprising. During the rebellion at home, 488 Irish died. In the Hulluch gas attacks in France, during the First World War, 532 died. Even by the ghastly standards of the first World War the ordeal of the 16th (Irish) Division between April 27th and 29th, 1916, was awful, writes author Ronan McGreevy, for the Irish Times. Those men who were not poisoned by chlorine gas were shelled, shot or bayoneted by the enemy, for whom this battle was equally bloody and futile. Heaps of bodies lay in the trenches or on the Irish lines. McGreevy, who is the author of the upcoming book Wherever the Firing Line Extends: Ireland and the Western Front, writes: The 16th (Irish) Division was approved in September 1914, the same month that the Irish Republican Brotherhood sanctioned an armed rebellion against the British. During Easter Week 1916 both sets of armed Irishmen put their military acumen to the test, but only one would be celebrated and commemorated in the new Irish State. In late 1915, the division arrived in northern France and occupied an area of the front line where the British had suffered enormous losses that autumn during the Battle of Loos. When they arrived there, putrefied human remains were a common sight. McGreevy writes of the gas attack: The German attack began at 4.35am on April 27th, when its soldiers used machine guns and artillery against the Irish lines. The Germans knew the Irish would return fire: they would all approach the fire step to respond in kind, the front-line trenches packed with men. Ten minutes later, and to plan, the Germans released chlorine gas from 3,800 cylinders on to the Irish lines. A dense cloud of black gas and smoke between us and the sun drifted across the Irish lines, according to Lieut Col Edward Bellingham, from Co Louth, the commanding officer of the 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He continues: Under cover of the gas the German assault troops entered the fusiliers front-line trenches. The soldiers on both sides dreaded hand-to-hand combat most. Shells and machine-gun bullets at least had a degree of anonymity. The dead and wounded lay together often in a congealed mass of blood amid the choking gas, which gave everything a greenish pallor. In two days, 368 men of the 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers were killed, wounded or missing. Farther north, on the front of the 7th Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Germans infiltrated the trenches. In the ensuing outburst of savage hand-to-hand combat 66 men from the battalion were killed, but they held on and expelled the Germans. The Germans also suffered losses in the trench raids, with their own dean numbering in the hundreds. McGreevy writes of the last day of the attack on April 29th also the last, and bloodiest, day of the Easter Rising. The chlorine gas was carried over to the Irish lines on a light breeze; it took 45 minutes to drift across no-mans-land. British air reconnaissance noticed that the gas trail left a trail of dead vegetation down to the last blade of grass, he writes. On April 29th the 8th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers replaced the 7th. It was their turn to face the Germans. Their 214 casualties included 62 dead. McGreevy also tells the tragic story of a man and his wife Pte John Naylore of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who died on April 29th, and his wife Margaret who was shot that day in Dublin as she crossed Ringsend drawbridge. Margaret, who had gone out that day to get bread for her children, would leave three orphans when she died two days later. He says the Battle of Hulluch had been in vain. Perhaps 1,000 men died on both sides, but the 16th (Irish) Division had held the line at a terrible price. More than 2,200 men were killed, wounded or missing. John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, was outraged by the rebellion, given what has occurred in France. Is it not an additional horror that on the very day when we hear that the men of the Dublin Fusiliers have been killed by Irishmen on the streets of Dublin we receive the news of how the men of the 16th Division our own Irish Brigade, and of the same Dublin Fusiliers had dashed forward and by their unconquerable bravery retaken the trenches that the Germans had won at Hulluch, said Redmond. The Germans hung a sign in front of the 8th Royal Munster Fusiliers two days after the attack. It read: Irishmen! Heavy uproar in Ireland! English guns are firing at your wifes and children. Maj Larry Roche, second in command of the battalion, ordered the capture of the sign, which is now in the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks in Dublin. From May until August 1916, when it moved to Somme, the 16th (Irish) Division suffered 2,000 additional casualties. The only reminder of the divisions presence in that part of France is a marble statue in the Church of St Martin de Noeux-les-Mines. McGreevy writes that the church was destroyed by German shell minutes before Notre Dame de Victoires was due to be placed on her pedestal. It had to be installed after the church was rebuilt, after the war. The inscription reads: To the memory of the officers, subalterns and soldiers of the 16th (Irish) Division who died on the field of battle or who died of wounds or disease contracted during the war in France in 1916 RIP. Police in the US say a four-year-old girl has been shot dead by her five-year-old sibling in Philadelphia. Officers are looking for the boyfriend of the children's mother following the shooting yesterday afternoon. A LARGE wooded landscape which is attributed to the British-born artist Richard Wilson (1714-1782) and six Georgian Cork nine-bar chairs are among the art and furniture lots at Lynes and Lynes next Saturday at 11am. Viewing in Carrigtwohill for this sale of 400 lots from residences throughout Cork city and county is from 10am to 8pm next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. After a lifetime of Walkmans and iPods and computer speakers and all that, I thought: why don't I just get a standalone stereo like a normal person? To sit down and listen to music that isn't stereo-fielded inside my own head or competing with error messages on a screen. But I didn't want to spend any money, and certainly didn't want to obey that familiar, sinister calling to begin researching things. So I got some speakers from the thift store ($5), an old iPhone at the back of a drawer (free), a basic mini-amp I had lying around ($20 for the legendary Lepai will do). Voila! Works fine: the iPhone's in its dock; the headphone-out is connected to RCA stereo inputs on the amp. The original iPhones are slow! They play songs just fine, though, and the decent music apps will still install over wifi. But I'm really posting this because when I took a photo, it struck me that the tableaux thrifted vintage gear, an original iphone, a cult cheapo amp, on a metal cabinet against a whitewashed brick wall represents exactly the sort of minimalism that seems to really annoy people on the internet. So I pulled my MacBook (12-inch with Retina Display) out of my 1950s school satchel (inherited from Great Uncle Etsy) and decided to tell y'all about it. An honest essay has numerous characteristics: original thinking, a good structure, balanced arguments, and plenty more. But one aspect often overlooked is that an honest essay should be interesting. It should spark the readers curiosity, keep them absorbed, make them want to stay reading and learn more. An uneventful article risks losing the readers attention; whether or not the points you create are excellent, a flat style, or poor handling of a dry subject material can undermine the positive aspects of the essay. The matter is that a lot of students think that essays should be like this: they believe that a flat, dry style is suited to the needs of educational writing and dont even consider that the teacher reading their essay wants to search out the essay interesting. You might want to have online essay editor service to boost your confidence in writing with an error-free output. Academic writing doesnt need to be and shouldnt be bland. The excellent news is that there is much stuff you can do to create your essay more attractive, while youll be able only to do such a lot while remaining within the formal confines of educational writing. Lets study what theyre. Have an interest in what youre writing about Dont go overboard, but youll be able to let your passion for your subject show. If theres one thing bound to inject interest into your writing, its being fascinated by what youre writing about. Passion for a subject matter comes across naturally in your essay, typically making it more lively and fascinating and infusing an infectious enthusiasm into your words within the same way that its easy to talk knowledgeably to someone about something you discover fascinating. Include fascinating details Another factor that may make an essay boring maybe a dry material. Some topic areas are naturally dry, and it falls to you to form the article more interesting through your written style and by trying to seek out fascinating snippets of knowledge to incorporate, which will liven it up a small amount and make the data easier to relate to. A way of doing this with a dry subject is to create what youre talking about that seems relevant to the critical world, as this is often easier for the reader to relate to. Emulate the fashion of writers you discover interesting When you read lots, you subconsciously start emulating the fashion of the writers you have read. Reading benefits you a lot, as this exposes you to a spread of designs, and youll start to require the characteristics of these you discover interesting to read. Borrow some creative writing techniques Theres a limit to the quantity of actual story-telling youll do when youre writing an essay; in the end, essays should be objective, factual and balanced, which doesnt, initially glance, feel considerably like story-telling. However, youll apply a number of the principles of story-telling to create your writing more interesting. consider your own opinion Take the time to figure out what its that you think instead of regurgitating the opinions of others. Cut the waffle Rambling on and on is dull and almost bound to lose the interest of your reader. Youre in danger of waffling if youre not completely clear about what you wish to mention or havent thought carefully about how youre visiting structure your argument. Doing all your research correctly and writing an essay plan before you begin will help prevent this problem. Editing is a vital part of the essay-writing process, so edit the waffle once youve done a primary draft. Read through your essay objectively and eliminate the bits that arent relevant to the argument or labor the purpose. employing a thesaurus isnt always a decent thing Avoid using unfamiliar words in an essay; theres too great a likelihood that youre misusing them. You may think that employing a thesaurus to seek out more complicated words will make your writing more exciting or sound more academic, but using overly high-brow language can have the incorrect effect. Avoid repetitive phrasing Please avoid using the identical phrase structure again and again: its a recipe for dullness! Instead, use a variety of syntax that demonstrates your writing capabilities and makes your writing more interesting. Mix simple, compound, and complicated sentences to avoid your paper becoming predictable. Use some figurative language Using analogies with nature can often make concepts more accessible for readers to know. As weve already seen, its easy to finish up rambling when youre explaining complex concepts mainly after you dont know it yourself. One way of forcing yourself to think about a couple of pictures, present it more simply and engagingly is to form figurative language. This implies explaining something by comparing it with something else, as in an analogy. Employ rhetorical questions Anticipate the questions your reader might ask. One of the ways ancient orators held the eye of their audiences and increased the dramatic effect of their speeches was by using the statement. A decent place to use a statement is at the top of a paragraph, to steer into the following one, or at the start of a replacement section to introduce a brand new area for exploration. Proofread Finally, you may write the top interesting essay an instructor has ever read. Still, youll undermine your good work if its plagued by errors, which distract the reader from the particular content and can probably annoy them. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Close Recent Oculus Rift news revealed that the console's shipment delay is caused by a component shortage. The company made the announcement to several media outlets. Tech Crunch reported that the Facebook-owned VR company confirmed that the delay is caused by a component shortage. No further details have been revealed by the startup, though. "The component shortage impacted our quantities more than we expected, and we've updated the shipment window to reflect these changes," Oculus said. "We apologize for the delay." "We're delivering Rifts to customers every day, and we're focused on getting Rifts out the door as fast as we can. We've taken steps to address the component shortage, and we'll continue shipping in higher volumes each week." The shipment for the device started last month. The company has not announced how many people have received their consoles or how many are still waiting for their orders to arrive. "We've also increased our manufacturing capacity to allow us to deliver in higher quantities, faster," the company added. "Many Rifts will ship less than four weeks from original estimates, and we hope to beat the new estimates we've provided." Previous Oculus Rift news reported that the backorders for the console have been pushed back by another month. Those who order the headset today will have to wait until August to receive their order. Meanwhile, Microsoft has denied allegations that the Oculus Rift shipment delay was their fault. Apparently, the tech giant was accused of failing to deliver enough Xbox One controllers. According to Venture Beat, a Reddit post accused Microsoft of being the cause of the VR console's shipment delay. Xbox One controllers are part of the Oculus Rift kit. "This is false," a spokesperson for the company told the publication. "And questions about Rift should be directed to Oculus VR." In other Oculus Rift news, the console was called out for its seemingly shade privacy policy. Senator Al Franken is pushing for more details on the extent to which the company may be collecting users' personal information. Apple has extended the reduced production for its iPhones for another quarter. The April-June period will continue to see a decline in the manufacturing of the devices. Nikkei reported that the poor performance of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus in the market has caused Apple to adjust its inventories. The company has already lowered production for the January-March period by around 30% from the last year. It was noted that Apple's iPhone sales continue to be sluggish. The company has announced to its parts suppliers in Japan and other locations that it will retain the reduced amount of output in the current quarter. Apparently, Apple will not be producing a large volume of the iPhone SE, which would have offset the failure of its flagship series. The 4-inch phone was released last month. The company may decide to give the iPhone 7 an earlier release date than the usual September launch, though. Parts production for the device could take off by the end of May. This production cut has already hurt Japanese parts suppliers such as liquid crystal display panel manufacturers Japan Display and Sharp, memory chip supplier Toshiba as well as Sony, which provides image sensors for cameras. Apple's extension of the iPhone's production cut could have serious repercussions for all companies involved. Meanwhile, Apple iPhone 7's design may have already been leaked according to Apple Insider. The upcoming flagship device will reportedly have a Smart Connector port. It is also believed to feature a dual camera module and will no longer have a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. There are claims that the company is working on a new pair of Bluetooth EarPods. The company will have to ensure that the Bluetooth earphones will function seamlessly with the device. iPhone SE users have complained about audio issues with Bluetooth phone calls. This comes when the phone is connected with a vehicle or wireless headset. For some users, the issue includes the GPS voice navigation feature. Fortunately, streaming music via Bluetooth does not seem to be affected. Recent Twitter news revealed that the social networking site has announced a new head for its operations in Greater China. This comes after the number of advertisers using the service has grown in the area. The South China Morning Post reported that Twitter has appointed a new head for its Greater China office. Moreover, the website had more than 300 percent growth in terms of its Chinese advertisers in the past year. Since 2009, Twitter has been blocked in mainland China. In March last year, the San Francisco-based company opened a Hong Kong office to invite Chinese companies to advertise with them. "We've seen a 340 per cent growth in the number of advertisers [using Twitter], and the types of advertisers are diverse," Twitter vice-president for Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Emerging Markets Shailesh Rao said. The company has hired technology executive Kathy Chen as its new managing director for its Greater China office. "Because of the success we've seen, we want to expand the investment we're making in [the region]," Rao said. "Kathy Chen will be responsible for developing the strategy and running the business." Chen previously worked with Microsoft and Cisco. She will be taking over Peter Greenberger, who is now the sia-Pacific head of global brands and agencies at the company. Twitter's major Chinese advertisers include Lenovo, Huawei and state-owned media outlets such as Xinhua news as well as People's Daily. "Asia-Pacific is the largest region in the world for us in terms of total number of active users, and it is also the fastest-growing region in terms of active user growth," Rao added. "We view Greater China as a critical component [of the region]." According to FirstFT, the company would be focusing its resources on its enterprise offerings like advertising. "We will look to Kathy's leadership to help us identify ways in which Twitter's platform and technology assets can be utilised to create further value for enterprises, creators, influencers, partners and developers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan," Twitter said. Current Yahoo sale news alleged that the company may be hiding important financial information to its potential buyers. The web giant is still accepting bids. Silicon Beat reported that the company has been hesitating in providing details of its financial status to bidders. Moreover, there may be "far fewer suitors" gearing up for the Yahoo sale than what people have been led to believe. According to The New York Times, the company's executives have revealed "gloomy financial projections" but did not discuss their future plans for the next year. Potential buyers have even asked Yahoo what they actually were selling. Previous Yahoo sale news have revealed that the company will continue to accept offers until Monday, Apr. 18. Verizon Communications Inc. is believed to be making its first-round bid. Furthermore, Alphabet Inc.'s main division, Google, is believed to be considering a bid for Yahoo's core business. AT&T Inc. and Comcast are said to have decided against bidding as well as Microsoft Corp., which lost a bid for the company in 2008. Kpopstarz added that the Daily Mail is also interested in the Yahoo sale. The British website is said to be in early stages of discussions with other investors. Apparently, the Daily Mail has been meeting up with several private-equity firms to help with the financing of the bid. One company was said to be General Atlantic LLC. However, a spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. The New York Post noted that Verizon and SoftBank are going head-to-head for the Yahoo sale. The two companies are headed by two ex-Google employees, Tim Armstrong and Nikesh Arora, respectively. Verizon is considered as the best choice and appears to have a solid support from key investors. SoftBank, on the other hand, is said to be looking at acquiring Yahoo as a whole. He is also believed to be waiting for Verizon's offer before he makes a move. SHARE By of the We'll spotlight a favorite event each day of Milwaukee Beer Week. Today's pick is the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance Crafts and Drafts, a spring beer festival at Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. It's a chance to sample more than 300 beers while raising funds for WOCA. VIP tickets are $75 at the door. That ticket gets you in the VIP for pours at 1 p.m. General admission tickets are $60 for entry at 2 p.m. See more events at milwaukeebeerweek.com. For a guide to beer news and more, see Tap Milwaukee's Beer Here page. Jason Reynolds is passing on his love of storytelling. SHARE By of the When Jason Reynolds, author of the popular young-adult novels "The Boy in the Black Suit" and "When I Was the Greatest," speaks Saturday at the Delta Memorial Endowment Fund luncheon in Milwaukee, he'll bring a positive message to some mothers of his readers. Despite grown-up fears about what social media might do to their teens, the youth of today "aren't a lost generation," he said during a telephone interview. He likes to remind adults that similar things were said about his generation, weaned on hip-hop, and his mother's generation, when her father complained that Martin Luther King Jr. was a rabble-rouser. Children today need opportunities to spread their wings and exercise their genius in their own way, he said. Reynolds, 32, said if he hadn't experienced his own immersion in the hip-hop music of Tupac, Biggie and early Jay-Z, he might never have become a writer. "I wanted to do what the rappers were doing, writing poems," he said of his early ambitions. Only later did he realize he could also use his voice in prose. But Reynolds has not forgot what he learned from music about storytelling. He raps Slick Rick's "Children's Story" at nearly every school visit he makes (and he makes a lot of them), to show students how Rick creates narrative. He's also not turned his back on poetry. This year, as he has done before, Reynolds is celebrating National Poetry Month in April by writing and posting a poem daily. Consider "On Spirit" from April 13: "why try to frame / and box in what's true / when boxes all somehow / make contents askew // why try to name / the beautiful glue / that thankfully somehow / connects me to you." Family and friends have inspired many of his stories. "The Boy in the Black Suit," about a teen who goes to work in the neighborhood funeral home after his mother dies of cancer, grew out of his own experience of having lost multiple family members early in life. "I realized nobody was actually talking to young people about how to grieve and how to cope and what to do with loss," he said. "As Brave As You," a novel for middle-grade readers that will be published May 3, riffs on his relationship with his older brother and a blind grandfather. "I try to create characters people want to sit with, even if nothing is happening," Reynolds said. Elsewhere, Reynolds has stated bluntly that his goal is to not write boring books. "My role, job, mission is to create literary documentation of the young people of today," he said. He remembers, growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, how little was published for young kids of color at that time about their experience, which he called "one of the most turbulent periods in American history when it came to communities of color." He hopes that his novels will give the youth of today "something to bite down on now," and that in 30 years they'll be able to point to those books and say, this is what it was like to be 16 in 2016. IF YOU GO Jason Reynolds will speak at the Delta Memorial Endowment Fund luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St. For ticket info, call (414) 640-2654 or email dmeftickets@yahoo.com. A LONG LINE OF WRITERS Reynolds is speaking at the 40th annual Delta Memorial Endowment Fund luncheon, which raises money for nonprofit organizations and helps fund college scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Past luncheon speakers have included Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Octavia E. Butler, Alice E. Walker, E. Lynn Harris and Edward Kelsey Moore. "The Boy in the Black Suit" is dedicated to the late Walter Dean Myers, a pioneer in writing realistic young-adult fiction about African-American life, and one of Reynolds' heroes. Reynolds is a friend of writer-illustrator Christopher Myers, Walter's son. Reynolds only met the elder Myers in person once, but it left an impression. Walter came to the clothing store where Reynolds was employed, and encouraged him to keep going with his writing. "He basically told me as long as I kept working hard I wouldn't fail." Reynolds describes that moment today as a blessing, as Myers giving him both permission and confidence to write in his own voice. The scene of an arson fire April 17, 2015, that left Michea Sampson and Dontray Jones dead. Despite a $5,000 reward the case remains unsolved. Credit: Journal Sentinel files SHARE Michea Sampson Submitted photo Dontray Jones Submitted photo By of the A year ago, Michea Sampson and Dontray Jones were preparing to attend a funeral in Milwaukee. Sampson's brother had died, and she traveled from her hometown of Oklahoma City to pay her respects. Jones, a friend of her brother's from Milwaukee, was to serve as one of the pallbearers. The night before the service, flames tore through the house where they were staying. Sampson, 25, and Jones, 28, were killed. Authorities determined the fire had been set intentionally, but a year later, they still don't know who set it despite a $5,000 reward. The uncertainty has left their families in limbo. "We just want some closure," said Cassandra Jones, Dontray's mother. She said her son loved the Green Bay Packers, holiday gatherings his favorites were Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July and spending time with his 8-year-old daughter. Jones said she often still sees people wearing memorial T-shirts emblazoned with her son's photo. "He was well-loved," she said. For Sampson's family, it sometimes seems like the bubbly young woman who sang in her church's choir will walk through the door, back from her trip to Milwaukee. "It almost doesn't seem like it's real," said her aunt, Rosharon King of Fort Worth, Texas. Sampson's father, Kevin Moss, who lives in Oklahoma City, remembers how his daughter could sing at age 2, even before she could string together a sentence of conversation. As clear as he remembers her singing bits of TLC's hit "Waterfalls" when she was a toddler, he remembers getting a call in the morning of April 17, 2015. There was a fire. His daughter was missing. He called and texted her, hoping she would answer, but there was only silence. "She was just a beautiful young lady," said Moss, pastor at Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church. "I think it would be really fair for both families that we find out who did this." Milwaukee police have released few details about the case, citing the ongoing investigation. Here's what is known: The fire was reported about 3:15 a.m. April 17 at a home on N. 38th St. near W. Wright St. One person escaped by diving out a window, suffering numerous cuts. Fire crews initially were unable to enter the house because oxygen cylinders such as those used for medical purposes were exploding inside. Once authorities made it inside the house, they found Sampson and Jones, who were dead. Arsons by nature make locating evidence more difficult, as it could be charred, covered in ash or destroyed by fire, said Milwaukee police spokesman Sgt. Tim Gauerke, who offered general comments about such investigations. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Milwaukee Fire Department; the state fire marshal; and State Crime Laboratory are among the agencies that provide support with crime scene processing and investigation, Gauerke said. The victims' families urged anyone with information to come forward. "I don't think people really understand death until it happens to somebody that they love," said King, Sampson's aunt. "The perpetrator doesn't understand the people that he's affected." The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the fire. Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360 or the Wisconsin Arson Hotline at (800) 362-3005. Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tangle during the CNN Democratic Presidential Primary Debate at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Thursday. Credit: Associated Press SHARE By Primaries require candidates to play to their party's base, and it's easier to do so when your campaign depicts the world in black and white evil vs. good, wrong vs. right. The choices that elected officials actually have to make, however, aren't binary, so politicians who hold themselves out as realists have to sell the public on something more nuanced. Squishier. At the Democratic debate Thursday in Brooklyn, crusading Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders showed viewers just how squishy Hillary Clinton could be. He did so by pushing Clinton to give yes-no answers to questions about raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and shoring up the Social Security Trust Fund. And rather than sounding peevish by saying those topics defy simplistic approaches, Clinton tried to have it both ways, only to have Sanders call her on it. She insisted that she was an early supporter of the "fight for $15" in cities across the country, then had to admit that she backs a more modest proposal in Congress. And when asked if she would increase Social Security taxes on middle- and upper-income earners, she said she was in "vigorous agreement" with Sanders after saying the government should be looking at other ways to achieve the same goal. The maddening thing is, Clinton shouldn't be afraid to be less rigid than Sanders. Her position on the minimum wage, for example, aims lower but is a lot more reasonable. Anyone who cares about eliminating poverty knows how important it is to raise the incomes of low-wage workers. The question here, though, is whether that can be done with the wave of a wand, or whether it requires a much broader effort to increase job skills, eliminate barriers to full-time work and fire up the economy to intensify the competition for labor. There's also the risk that sharply raising the price of labor will make it harder for younger and less educated people to find work at all. Yet that risk is balanced against the prospect that a higher minimum wage will lead to more spending, higher demand and greater economic growth. Could Clinton have held the audience's attention long enough to explain these trade-offs and complexities, triggering a more useful discussion of anti-poverty programs? Probably not. Yet she didn't even try. She didn't fare much better on the Social Security question, which dealt with the cap on payroll taxes. Today, the Social Security portion of the payroll tax is collected on the first $118,500 in income only; that cap also limits the maximum benefits paid. Moderator Wolf Blitzer asked whether Clinton was "prepared to lift the cap on taxable earnings ...yes or no." But that's not what Sanders has advocated, because simply lifting the cap on taxes and benefits would raise taxes on a lot of middle-class households in high-cost areas. And while it would improve Social Security's solvency well into the future, it would not be a permanent solution because the program would still run into the red eventually. What Sanders has proposed is to remove the tax cap on those making more than $250,000 a year, while leaving the benefits cap in place an idea, he says, that Barack Obama championed in his 2008 campaign. Several analysts have projected that this change would close Social Security's funding gap for at least 75 years. But Sanders didn't acknowledge how the move would transform Social Security from an insurance program into a welfare program, transferring wealth explicitly from higher incomes to lower ones. In Sanders' view, that's a feature, not a bug. But it's fraught politically. One reason Social Security has withstood attack after attack over the years is the public's sense that it's a savings program what you receive in benefits is based on what you pay in. That sense would evaporate if benefits were capped but taxes were not. Again, it may be the right policy, but the change isn't nearly as simple as Sanders suggests. There's no reward in politics, it seems, for trying to explain how complex things are. Still, if you're going to offer policy prescriptions that acknowledge real-world trade-offs, you need a better answer to yes-no questions than Clinton offered Thursday night. Jon Healey is the Los Angeles Times deputy editorial page editor. Readers may send him email at jon.healey@latimes.com. SHARE More answers needed An article in the April 13 business section, "State lags in women-owned businesses," stated that "the sluggishness that has long marked Wisconsin's entrepreneurial scene is impervious to gender." In fact, business-ownership trends in Wisconsin differ markedly by gender. Male-owned businesses in the state outperform national growth rates while female-owned businesses lag behind the nation. According to the Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners, between 2007 and 2012 (the most recent year available), the number of male-owned business grew 7% nationally, and 11% in Wisconsin. However, the national rate of growth for female-owned businesses was 27%; the rate in Wisconsin was 19%. We know that start-up activity in Wisconsin is suffering. As the Journal Sentinel reported in June of last year, a publication by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ranks Wisconsin last in a national index of start-up activity. The fact that our state ranks last in the entire nation is alarming, and signals that Wisconsin should implement policy to encourage small business owners, regardless of gender, as one way to revitalize the economy. We lag even further in female-owned businesses. We have to ask why. There's more to be explored here. Of course, the number of businesses is just one indicator; financial performance and job creation, for example, also must be considered. However, the purpose of the study cited in the paper's recent article is to highlight trends particularly among female-owned businesses. To reduce the study's findings to a generalization about start-ups in the state is an oversimplification that conceals real differences. We could miss the opportunity to try to understand why, and what we can do. Haley O'Donnell Milwaukee People are being taken In watching the presidential races unfold across both parties, it is obvious that "we the people" have been taken for a ride. Just look at how each party is doing it. Bernie Sanders is leading, yet Hillary Clinton will inevitably win. Donald Trump is leading, yet the party is openly hostile toward him and has put hundreds of millions of dollars into defeating him. As for Ted Cruz, he also gets zero support from his party. Reince Priebus, the chair of the Republican National Committee, said, after a commentator asked if the people's votes mean anything, "We can do whatever we want. It's our party." Both sides reveal a ruling class, an oligarchy, lording over us. Therefore, to give money to either party is absolutely insane. They only want our money, not our votes. It's insulting, it's disrespectful and it's disingenuous. And one good thing that's come out of this fiasco, we now know: It's a joke. Jeff Klaiber Milwaukee Rethink bike lanes One of the most ill-conceived, not-thought-through projects in recent public works history is the institution of bike lanes on Roosevelt Drive between Fond du Lac Ave. and Burleigh St. What used to be an efficient thoroughfare has now become a slow, frustrating drive. Not once, in the many times I have driven the route, have I seen one cyclist on Roosevelt Drive. What I have seen are confused motorists traversing the bike lanes and near-misses as cars attempt to merge into the one traffic lane. Perhaps it's time to rethink the purpose and restore the needed two lanes of traffic in both directions. Mary Ann Beaumont Shorewood Gas prices and profits How easily it is for gas prices to increase profits without people noticing. It wasn't that long ago we in the Milwaukee area were paying $4.20 per gallon for gas. At that time, oil prices were at $160 per barrel. Oil is now at around $40 per barrel, and we are almost halfway back to that $4 mark. At the rate that gas prices are going, by the time oil were to reach $160 per barrel again, gasoline prices would rise to over $8 per gallon. We spend so much time celebrating the $2 per gallon gas prices that we fail to notice how oil companies, or should I say, local gas distributors' profits soar. How easily the general populous let's the wool get pulled over its eyes. Walter Unglaub Oak Creek At the end of March, more than one in five jobs stood vacant at the troubled Lincoln Hills School for Boys in Irma. That state prison for youth had more than 30 openings among the workers who guard inmates and work most closely with them. Credit: Mark Hoffman SHARE By of the Madison Almost one in five jobs stand vacant at the state's troubled Northwoods youth prison, leaving nearly 30 openings among those who guard residents and work most closely with them, new figures show. The job vacancies are one of the challenges facing Corrections Secretary Jon Litscher as the new head of state prisons seeks to improve conditions at a facility that has been under criminal investigation for more than a year. Twenty-eight youth counselor and advanced youth counselor jobs remain unfilled out of the 146 frontline positions at Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls. The institutions share a campus 30 miles north of Wausau. Officials have said they're hiring more workers and in the meantime are handling the shortage in part by paying for hotel, meal and travel costs for officers who were recently hired to work at other Wisconsin prisons. But union officials say the situation is forcing the remaining workers at Lincoln Hills to routinely work 16-hour shifts and increasing risks for employees and inmates alike. "We've never (in the Department of Corrections) had vacancy rates like we do right now," said Troy Bauch, who represents workers for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 32. The worker shortage is a serious problem at other institutions as well, and one that can snowball, Bauch said. As employees are forced to work more overtime, more of them consider leaving the job, he said. "The staff, they just give up," Bauch said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wisconsin Department of Justice are conducting a massive investigation of alleged abuses at the schools, including potential second-degree sexual assault, neglect of children and intimidation of victims and witnesses. Federal authorities are also reviewing whether there was a pattern of civil rights violations of residents. With roughly 300 employees in all, the work force at Lincoln Hills includes psychologists, teachers, nurses and social workers, all of whom are supposed to work together to reform, educate and care for teenagers with serious criminal records or other challenging problems. The youth counselors are at the core of the prison's operations, monitoring the residents in living quarters that are scattered across the campus. They are often the only staff present when fights break out or residents attempt suicide. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in December reported that growth in staff at Lincoln Hills has not kept up with the sharp increase in inmates over the past four years as other state youth institutions have been shut down. As of Friday, about one in six youth counselor positions were vacant, as were nearly one in four jobs for advanced youth counselors, who serve as superiors for other counselors. Of 87 youth counselors positions, 14 were vacant, according to figures from Tristan Cook, a Department of Corrections spokesman. Of 59 advanced youth counselor positions, 14 were also open. In addition, one advanced youth counselor is on paid leave while an employment investigation is ongoing. To help relieve the shortage, nine people have recently been hired as youth counselors and are being trained, Cook said. Lincoln Hills officials are "working aggressively to fill all open positions," Cook said by email. Union officials and Democratic lawmakers argue that the problems at the prison can't be understood or fixed without giving more thought to how many people are working there and the long shifts they're often working. Since December, lawmakers such as Milwaukee Democrats Mandela Barnes and Evan Goyke have called for more workers at the prison, citing the example of one employee there who told them of working 16-hour shifts on three consecutive days. That drains staff of the vigilance and patience that they need to deal with serious offenders, the lawmakers say. "It's a huge concern," Barnes said Friday of the staff shortage. "It's why we see many of the problems we see. It leads to more overtime that's why you see the heightened level of stress you see." In the short-term, the criminal probe of Lincoln Hills appears to have exacerbated staffing problems because it's led to many workers being put on paid leave while they're investigated. It's also led to others resigning or being fired. Since November 2014, eight have been fired and 12 have retired or resigned before investigations were completed, Cook said Friday. Other cases are pending, but only one of the workers involved is a youth counselor or advanced counselor. To address the shortages in staff, the state has transferred newly hired correctional officers to work at Lincoln Hills instead of the prisons where they were originally assigned. The state is covering housing, meals and mileage for those employees, according to the Department of Corrections. It's similar to a system adopted earlier in which youth counselors in southeastern Wisconsin, who typically work with offenders in home confinement, were temporarily sent to Lincoln Hills. That practice ends Monday. The Department of Corrections has not provided figures on how much taxpayers are paying those workers to cover housing, mileage and meals. Other actions by Gov. Scott Walker's administration to address prison conditions include new leadership at Lincoln Hills, broad reviews of staff use of force against juvenile inmates, more training and rules for staff as well as additional video and body cameras for workers and the prison itself. But so far the Walker administration has stopped short of saying more permanent positions are needed at Lincoln Hills. The governor has said that Litscher, the new corrections secretary, is considering all options to improve conditions at the prison. Litscher took over after former secretary Ed Wall resigned in February to return to his former agency, the state Department of Justice. Wall, who is locked in an employment dispute with the state, was fired from the Justice Department on Friday. Packers on life support after another poor offensive performance Green Bay's inability to convert on third and fourth downs all day lead to questions about the direction of a stalling offense. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Many Arab-Americans want the Jewish candidate to be president. The prominent Arabic-language newspaper for that community in Southern California, Watan (A Nation), has endorsed Bernie Sanders. This outcome is not as strange as it might appear. Arab-Americans (who include Christians and Muslims) had been split between the Democratic and Republican Parties until roughly 2003, when the Bush administration decided to invade and occupy a major Arab country. Then in 2006, the Republican Party decided to demonize Muslims by taking the religion of Islam with fascism and terrorism. The Muslim-Americans were stampeded into the Democratic Party, as were most Arab-Americans. It was an uneasy fit, since most Americans of both heritages are critics of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, whereas the Democratic Party has long been much more knee-jerk pro-Israel than the Realist Republicans (George H. W. Bush had a major tiff with Israel; Bill Clinton may as well have been an Israeli). But with the rise of the Evangelicals in the GOP, who are revealed by opinion polls to be the most negative toward Muslims of all American populations, and the strategy of the party of appealing to Angry White Men by denouncing immigrants and Muslims and Latinos, most Arab Americans and Muslim Americans felt they had no choice but to go Democratic. That choice has been reinforced by the hate speech against Muslims promulgated by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in this electoral campaign. Even Kasich is guilty of some pandering to white supremacists in this regard. Muslim Americans number only a few million; self-identified Arab-Americans are at least 5 million (it would be several times more except that many Lebanese, the largest such group, dont think of themselves as Arab if they are Christian, and they intermarried with US Catholics and so are often only one part Lebanese). But they have an outsized impact on US elections. They have communities of several hundred thousand each in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. The margins of victory for the two parties in several of those states is often very thin. So several tens of thousands of Arab or Muslim voters could actually help determine the outcome, both in the state and nationally! Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side have defended American Muslims and Arabs. Watan noted that Sanders lived in a kibbutz in his youth in what the paper calls Occupied Palestine (but it later spoke of Israeli kibbutzes). But it went on to praise Sanders for voting in 1991 to hold up aid for Israel because of its colonization of the Palestinian West Bank; and it praised him for voting in 1990 against the Gulf War (Sanders did not think the war would make the Middle East more stable). It then lauds him for his opposition to the Bush administrations USA PATRIOT Act (which weakened 4th amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure), and for his 2002 stance against the Iraq War. The paper carefully lays out his domestic policies, including his concern with growing wealth inequality and the impunity of Wall Street and the big banks. It notes that Sanderss demand for even-handedness in US policy toward Israel and Palestine is unusual in the Democratic Party. A major Arab-American leader and head of the Arab American Institute, James Zogby, has also endorsed Sanders; his reasons for doing so are completely centered on the senators domestic policies. Related video added by Juan Cole: The Young Turks: How Bernie Sanders Is Inspiring Americans Of EVERY Religion Reddit Email 0 Shares By Michelle Bentley | (The Conversation) | Donald Trump has once again violated all mainstream thinking to advance a dangerous and deviant policy, this time on nuclear weapons. The wannabe Republican presidential nominee recently said the US needs a policy of unpredictability. This means the US would be able to use nuclear weapons wherever, whenever, and against whomever it wants no holds barred. Hes proposed using tactical nuclear strikes against Islamic State (IS), even if that means using nuclear weapons in Europe. Criticism has come thick and fast against this terrifying proposal. Hes been called a six-year-old with nuclear weapons and the single biggest threat to US security. Hillary Clinton is now leading the attack, castigating Trump for one of the most reckless statements on national security by any major presidential candidate in modern history. Its hard to disagree. Its true that unpredictability has long been part of nuclear policy. During the Cold War, nuclear leaders were keen to keep their options open (although China said it would never carry out a first strike). Were lucky JFKs first strike option wasnt used during the Cuban Missile Crisis. But the reason that option was never used is because there were other controls in place. Policies such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which seeks to get rid of nuclear weapons altogether, kept the Cold War on ice. And anyway, unpredictability was largely defensive. It was a last resort. This principle is still at work in nuclear weapons policy today. While President Barack Obamas 2010 Nuclear Posture Review allows for a first strike, this is about defending the US only in a worst-case scenario. Even in the heyday of the War on Terror, the notoriously gung-ho Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld werent anywhere near as aggressive as Trump. Trump said he would have used nuclear weapons after 9/11. Famous Daisy Attack Ad from 1964 Presidential Election A different time: Cold War nuclear fearmongering Trumps impulsive embrace of unpredictability ignores the prospect that this would destroy the NPT an agreement some think is the only thing that stands between the world and nuclear war. Trump also doesnt seem to realise (or care) that the Cold War is over. The threats hes discussing have nothing in common with the old Eastern Bloc, and its widely accepted that nuclear weapons just arent applicable to the fight against enemies such as IS. For one, who do you attack? Terrorists often dont have fixed addresses. Yes, IS has its besieged caliphate, but even this isnt a clear enough target for a nuclear attack, not least given the scores of Syrian and Iraqi civilians whod be slaughtered in the process. Even if a President Trump never acted on this absurd threat, he could do untold damage to the global order just by issuing it. We have avoided nuclear conflict mainly thanks to commitments that no-one will use nukes. Trumps plan would encourage nuclear conflict, cause even more states to build these weapons, and undermine the diplomacy that currently keeps the nukes in check. And while it may be getting less certain that Trump will win the Republican nomination, let alone the presidency, he cant throw threats like this around without serious consequences. Serious threats Trump says he will use nuclear weapons to win respect from Muslim communities, bolstered by waterboarding and spying on mosques. Even coming off his history of inflammatory comments in this vein, including his shocking proposal to ban all Muslims from travelling to the US, this is a new low, and its highly damaging to the USs relations with Muslim audiences everywhere. Even many in Trumps own party seem to be on the side of common sense, and the GOPs national security leadership has released an open letter condemning Trumps policy towards Muslims. But for all of the #nevertrump movements efforts to defeat him, the extremism of his statements may well already be encouraging extremism in turn and could even start to upset the worlds fragile nuclear balance. If you threaten someone with nuclear weapons, sincerely or otherwise, its not unlikely theyll build more weapons of their own and prepare to attack you back. As North Koreas exploits indicate, this a risk even when a rogue state perceives a threat, never mind when one is explicitly made. So Trumps words alone will cause instability and mistrust within the international system, even if he never gets anywhere near the nuclear codes. Obama is right to say Trump evidently doesnt understand nuclear policy in the slightest; hes hiding behind antediluvian policies that were meant to protect the US, but which will actually encourage nuclear war in his hands. Of course, some on the right have defended him. They are wrong. Even as a candidate, Trump poses a significant danger to global security. Michelle Bentley, Lecturer in International Relations, Royal Holloway This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Reddit Email 0 Shares Maan News Agency | GAZA (Maan) The Committee to Support Palestinian Journalists said on Saturday that Israel has detained 43 journalists in the occupied Palestinian territory since October 2015, including two foreign reporters. The New York-based committee said in a report that during detention and imprisonment, journalists have reported torture, medical negligence, and unreasonable and illegal rulings by the Israeli authorities. The committee condemned the increasing number of detentions of journalists, and called for their immediate release. At least four of the 43 journalists were released in February and March, while 20 others including a female journalist and a media student remain in Israeli prison, while others have been transferred to house arrest. The report also said that three journalists are suffering from medical conditions. Bassam al-Sayih is suffering from an advanced stage of cancer and administrative detainee Ali al-Ewawi is suffering from ulcerative colitis. The committee added that Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qiq is still recovering from his grueling 94-day hunger strike that brought him close to death, and is currently being treated in Israels HaEmek Medical Center in Afula. The journalists rights committee released Saturdays report marking Palestinian Prisoners Day, held on April 17 every year in solidarity with the approximately 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners being held in Israeli prisons. The Israeli crackdown on media organizations and journalists in particular is part of a systematic policy that often designates outlets affiliated with Palestinian political parties as terrorist organizations, according to Palestinian prisoners rights group Addameer. The practical implication of these broadly-defined offenses is the criminalization of many aspects of Palestinian civic life, Addameer stated. In a statement released in March, Palestinian media freedoms group MADA said it was highly concerned by recent Israeli resolutions targeting Palestinian media, saying it neglected the main reason for the whole conflict, which is the continuous occupation and all systematic violations against Palestinian people. The watchdog also released a report last month showing that 2015 had seen an unprecedented increase in Israeli violations against Palestinian journalists across the occupied Palestinian territory. Via Maan News Agency Related video added by Juan Cole: Reddit Email 442 Shares TeleSur | The Saudis threatened selling off almost a trillion dollars in U.S. assets if Congress makes it legal to hold Saudi citizens accountable for 9/11. Saudi Arabia has threatened the United States with economic reprisals should the U.S. pass a law allowing for its citizens to hold the oil-rich kingdom responsible for its alleged role in the 9/11 terror attack. The New York Times said that Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, delivered the kingdoms message personally last month during a trip to Washington. He told lawmakers that Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts. The Saudis hold hundreds of billions of dollars worth of U.S. assets, and their sale would not only be a severe blow to the U.S., but also to the Saudis and the world economy. The threats come from a bipartisan bill currently being considered in the U.S. Congress that would allow victims and family members of the 9/11 attack to sue the Saudi kingdom. In 2002, a congressional commission investigated the events surrounding the attack, and how the 19 hijackers (many of whom were Saudi citizens) were able to operate without alerting U.S. intelligence agencies. The report was released in 2004, but 28 pages said to detail the Saudi governments involvement in the attack remain classified. It concluded that no senior level Saudi government officials were involved, but many have said that the wording leaves room for involvement of other members of the Saudi royal family or government. However, the New York Times quoted economists as saying that the sale of nearly a trillion dollars worth of assets would be too volatile an action for the Saudis. Saudi Arabias assets are strained with a global drop in oil prices, initiated largely by the Saudis refusal to lower production, and a governmental budget that consists of large welfare programs that are funded by oil revenue. On top of that, the move would destabilize world markets, something for which the Saudis would receive further blame. Many oil-dependent nations are feeling the pressure caused by Saudi Arabias consistent oil production. The threats signal a new low for Saudi-U.S. relations. The two nations are strong allies, but the U.S. nuclear deal with Iran and Saudi Arabias reported financing of terrorist groups in Syria have put a strain the historically amicable relations. The Obama administration has lobbied against the bill, saying it would put U.S. citizens abroad in danger. Via TeleSur Related video added by Juan Cole: CBS This Morning: Saudis respond to 60 Minutes report on possible 9/11 link [JURIST] The US Department of Defense (DOD) [official website] announced [press release] the transfer of 9 Yemeni Guantanamo Bay detainees to Saudi Arabia on Saturday as they continue their efforts to close the facility. They would have sent the prisoners back to their home country but the instability in Yemen made transfer to Saudi Arabia [AP report] inevitable. Eight of the 9 detainees had been cleared for release since 2009, after an extensive review, and 26 more detainees are also cleared and expected to be released this summer. At the end of March, a US government official said the DOD told Congress that it plans to transfer [JURIST report] as many as 12 prisoners from Guantanamo in the coming weeks. Eighty detainees remain at the facility. In February US President Obama delivered a plan to Congress to close Guantanamo Bay [JURIST report]. In November the US Senate passed [JURIST report] the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (NDAA), which prohibits Guantanamo detainees from being transferred into the US. Obama signed the bill into law, despite the fact that it could delay his plan to close the prison. In early April, The DOD announced the transfer [JURIST report] of two Guantanamo detainees to Senegal. Libyan nationals Salem Abdu Salam Ghereby, 55, and Omar Khalif Mohammed Abu Baker Mahjour, about 44, were released after being held nearly 14 years without charges.The DOD said [JURIST report] last year they were sending teams to review three Colorado prisons as part of Obamas efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison in October. The Guantanamo Review Task Force was created in response to a 2009 presidential executive order to review the status of all detainees. [JURIST] German Chancellor Angela Merkel [official website] announced on Friday she will allow a criminal inquiry to proceed against German comedian Jan Boehmermann after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a complaint. The comedian made sexual references to Erdogan on the public television station ZDF [official website] two weeks ago and could be prosecuted under a rarely used section of the German criminal code [text] which allows prosecution for defamation of officials of foreign state. The relevant section of the code states Whosoever insults a foreign head of state, or, with respect to his position, a member of a foreign government who is in Germany in his official capacity, or a head of a foreign diplomatic mission who is accredited in the Federal territory shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine, in case of a slanderous insult to imprisonment from three months to five years. Experts believe [BBC report] he may have a strong defense against the charges due to the fact that the sexual references were part of a long satirical poem. Merkel has said she will attempt to repeal the law in the coming year. Turkey has been accused of violating human rights freedoms on numerous recent occasions. In December the European Court of Human Rights ruled [JURIST report] unanimously that a Turkish court order blocking access to YouTube violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In April a prosecutor in Turkey ordered [JURIST report] Internet providers to block social networking sites including Twitter and YouTube. In September 2014 Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] reported [JURIST report] that Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party [party website] was taking steps to weaken the rule of law, control Internet and media and suppress critics and protesters. In April 2014 the Turkish government lifted a ban [JURIST report] on Twitter following a Constitutional Court ruling stating that the ban violated both individual rights as well as the freedom of expression. 533 Shares Share I dialed the number to return the call of the nursing home. The nurse who answered the phone was relieved to hear my voice on the other line: Dr. Mass, thank God you called back! She has been pacing since she woke up, and she refuses to take her meds. Weve kept her away from Catherine, so they dont get into another fistfight. But we cant handle her here anymore. We think we might have to send her to a psych unit, and we need you to come help. Ill be right there. The Alzheimers patient we were discussing was in prime physical shape for a woman her age, but cognitively she was in the worst shape of anyone on her unit. Since the degenerative disease began laying claim to her brain, we had witnessed her personality change drastically, as the once-dedicated altruist became more and more prone to violent outbursts. The woman didnt recognize any of her 5 kids who regularly visited, and though she hadnt been informed of the recent death of her husband of more than 5 decades (she couldnt process the information), I suspected that on some level she was aware, and her current behavior was the only way she could grieve. And this hurt me to my core. Because she wasnt just any patient, in fact, she wasnt my patient at all. She was my mother. By the time I arrived at the nursing home, the staff had contacted the only hospital in the area with an opening in their geriatric psych unit, which was over an hour away. As I helped the nurse calm down my mother, who was agitatedly pacing the room, I reflected on my mothers life. I need to stop to explain the pain that you have as a child in this situation. I had watched with bewilderment as my beloved, once the ultra-capable mom, who raised five kids and volunteered tirelessly for her community, became more and more crippled by the disease that had hit in her late 70s. As her only daughter, my mother and I had a sacred relationship, and she was once the closest woman on the planet to me. It is nearly impossible to describe the pain and anguish that I felt when I looked into those eyes that held so many happy memories for me, and saw only anger and fear. It was up to the staff to help prepare my mother for the trip to the hospital, but I knew that even under the best circumstances going to a new place would be a mini-horror for her. Alzheimers patients crave stability and routine. We had been incredibly lucky to find a stable, calming environment in the nursing home where the staff truly cared for her, and I was hopeful that she would continue to experience the same level of quality care and compassion at the accepting hospital. Following procedure, they first brought my mother to the ER of the accepting hospital, where she tried to beat up the large male nurse. She was quickly sedated by the ER staff who called the Geriatric-psych unit but the unit refused to accept her, telling us, It is our administrative policy to not take patients with any form of dementia. Medical breakdown #1: Hospitals have layers of administrators that do little to improve patient care and a lot to bog down the system. Since 1970, the number of physician caregivers has increased by 50 percent. During that same time, the number of health care administrators has grown by over 3,000 percent. Of course, we need administrators in the system, but I think most would agree that a 3,000 percent increase seems excessive. Aside from the financial burden of paying all those additional salaries, there is little evidence to show that this dramatic increase in administrators is actually improving patient care. If anything, it seems that superfluous hospital administrations could potentially corrode patient care by creating unnecessary rules and arbitrary bylaws: case in point, the administrative policy to exclude dementia patients from the geriatric psych unit. I knew that Mom needed her medication to be adjusted, so my siblings and I appealed to the hospital to admit her to a regular medical ward with a psych consult. Medical breakdown #2: Being a medical professional myself, I knew what to say to the hospital staff to ensure my mother would get appropriate treatment. Not all patients do. Had I not spoken up, she would have been sent back to her institution, likely gotten agitated again and required a second ambulance ride/ER visit, etc. That would have been wasteful of resources. Decisions like this end up costing us millions, but they continue to happen every single day. The next day I arrived at the hospital with coffee and chocolates in hand, knowing that Mom would get better care if her nurses and doctors were plied with caffeine. When I got to her room, my mother was wearing only a diaper and restraints. Her breakfast tray sat untouched. I left the room, sat in the hall and cried. Once I composed myself, I went to the nurses station where I found two medical students chatting between text messages. My Mom is in restraints. Can you help me move her so I can feed her breakfast? The students barely glanced up, stated its not our job and went back to their phones. Medical breakdown #3: Effective health care is almost always the result of a team working together to help a patient. Our current health system breeds the mentality that one can never, ever deviate from their individual job description even if it is in the best interest of the patient. Perhaps these two students would have incurred reprimanding for stepping outside the scope of their job, but at the very least they could have found someone to help. Following the rulebook has become more important than helping the patient. Luckily for me, a nurse overheard our conversation and came to help move my mother. After helping Mom finish her breakfast, I waited to speak with her physician. My mother had only ever been treated by people that knew and cared about her, so I wanted to tell the doctor about her in the hopes that they would see her as a person instead of just a patient. Medical breakdown #4: The best medical care, particularly in primary care, happens when doctors know their patients, because they truly care for them. This happens naturally when patients are able to see the same physicians and doctors have time to spend with those patients. Our current system has handicapped the patient-physician relationship, overwhelming physicians with far too many patients each day and reducing the amount of time spent with each one. Sadly, the doctors at this hospital were more interested in punching their time clock than they were in building relationships with patients, but given their highly regulated work environment, I can hardly blame them. I spoke with the doctors about my mothers medication adjustment and requested an x-ray of her hand, which was bruised and swollen (battle scar from her fight with the ER nurse). It took three days for them to get the x-ray. I was told that this delay was due to a problem with the computer order reaching radiology. Medical breakdown #5: The electronic health record (EHR) is a subject that could be written about in great length (in fact, it has been. Often.). In 2009 the federal government mandated all hospitals and offices to become computer compliant but as anyone who has ever used a computer can tell you, there are always glitches. How would you feel if you or a loved one missed a dose of important medication because of a glitch? For my mother, at least, this was not a fatal computer glitch. But even if computers operated perfectly, their omnipresence in patient care settings has further depersonalized medicine, as nurses and doctors no longer interact with the patient, but sit in front of a screen for hours, clicking on boxes. Three days later the hospital was ready to release my Mom, and my brother and I arrived at the hospital that Saturday to find our mother unresponsive. It didnt require a medical professional to guess why: dry lips, dry tongue, and skin tenting she was clearly suffering from the effects of dehydration. I immediately went to the nurses station and demanded to know how much fluid Mom had received in the past three days. The nurse wrestled with the computer for forty minutes to get the information (arent EHRs great?). After another forty minutes waiting for the nurse to get the printer working, I insisted on seeing the computer itself. Thirteen ounces. My mother had gotten thirteen ounces of fluid in three days. That amounts to a can of soda. Medical breakdown #6: Where do I even begin this was not a single mistake, but shift after shift of neglect from various staff members. Where was the care in this health care system? How could a prominent hospital forget to do the most basic thing; i.e., provide water for my Mom? I told the nurse to send the doctor and prepare paperwork for an against-medical-advice (AMA) discharge because I would be taking my Mom to a hospital we could trust, and from there back to the nursing home once we had her hydrated. The supervising physician and nurse were shocked and apologetic when I explained the situation, and offered to get an ambulance to transport my mom. My brother and I declined, and carried our mother tenderly into the backseat of our own car. Medical breakdown #7 avoided: For all intents and purposes, my mother my Mom was a terminal patient. We would be wasting a valuable and expensive resource by having a potentially lifesaving EMT crew spend three hours transporting her. So much time and money is wasted in medicine in instances where common sense should rule. We drove our mother back to her local ER, at the hospital where she had been going for 35 years and where she was well-known. As I told the staff there of our experience at the previous hospital, they looked as shocked as I felt. They cared for her kindly and respectfully, and we got her tucked into the memory unit that had become home. It took about a week before she was awake, and a month before she regained what was about 75 percent of her former strength. Two days after we took our mother back to the nursing home I received an apologetic call from the hospital administrators, who I could tell were squirming with fear of a possible lawsuit even over the phone. I said very little. I had no desire to feed the parasitic beast of malpractice litigation. The lawsuit itself would have cost tens of thousands of dollars, and even a cash-filled victory would have brought little comfort or sense of justice to my family. Personally, we cannot comprehend equating money with quality of life. But I couldnt do nothing. I contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Joint Commission and launched investigations and inspections upon the hospital, giving them detailed accounts of what had happened. After several months, we were again contacted by the hospitals administrators and assured that they had implemented changes to prevent such problems to future patients. It was a small comfort that we enacted some changes. That comfort was short-lived. About a year later I got a call from a friend whose Alzheimers-ridden mother had been hospitalized with pneumonia. She was concerned about her mothers level of care, who had started developing bed sores and whose condition seemed to be declining every day. She was dismayed watching her mother deteriorate under the care of the hospital staff, who were reluctant to give any clear answers and gave her trouble when she tried to reach the physicians. I gave my friend some suggestions and asked what hospital her mother was at. Can you guess what her answer was? It was the same hospital where my mother had been so mistreated, the same one where two government agencies had investigated, the same hospital that had supposedly changed their ways. This is only one story of the sad state of todays health system. Moms substandard level of care happened in a setting of good resources, at a highly regarded institution, with a physician daughter advocating on her behalf. Imagine what happens to the advocate-less indigent in poorly funded hospitals. If we do not change our current trajectory to fix our health care system, scenarios like my mothers will become commonplace, the quality of care will implode, and the financial burden on our country will wreck us. I fear for the future. Last April, my mother suffered a bad fall and fractured her vertebrae and ribs. She developed pneumonia and cried piteously in pain. Our family elected to place her on hospice at the nursing home, with comfort meds only. My brothers and I sat at her bedside while all the nurses who had treated her not just as a patient, but cared for her as a person, came in and wept over her impending death. It made us feel grateful beyond imagination to witness firsthand the personal loving care she had been receiving. All of our collective hands cared for her in her final days, and I was at her side for her final breath, just as she was with me for my first. Marion Mass is a pediatrician. This article originally appeared in Medelita. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 108 Shares Share Fidgeting in my seat, I waited nervously in one of the most crowded waiting rooms I had ever been in. Suddenly, I felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped down my back; my legal name was being called over the dozens of waiting room sniffles. My instinct was to remain glued to my seat, not to let anyone know that I was the person attached to that name. I might have done just that, if not for the reason for my visit: a prescription for testosterone. I was greeted by a nurse, who, while aware of the reason for my visit, seemed oblivious to the fact that a transgender patient may not want their legal name called across a crowded waiting room. Dont worry, she reassured me on the walk back to the examination room, we see lots of patients with gender dysphoria here. Uh, thats nice, I responded, trying to hide my discomfort with how casually she broached a vulnerable subject. When the doctor came in, I noted his imperial and commanding demeanor as he sat down across from me. So, he started, youd like to appear male; tell me what you are hoping for. I explained that while I was hoping to masculinize physically, I identified as genderqueer and gender nonconforming (GNC), and wasnt looking to pass as male. Id like to discuss a lower dose of testosterone, if thats an option, I said. His brow furrowed, and there was a long period of silence. Do you see many genderqueer patients in your clinic? I asked. He paused. No, he finally responded. In my professional opinion, people will eventually decide to be either male or female, but not something in between. If you want testosterone, Ill need to know that you intend to live as a man. If you arent sure, then that could be a sign that you are really happy as a woman. Ive just told you how I identify, and it isnt as a woman. If I were happy as a woman, I wouldnt be here in your office seeking hormones, now would I? I left the office, shaking. This is why so many trans people dont see doctors, I thought. I felt completely invalidated, and irate that a provider who claimed to care for trans patients had a professional opinion that people like me couldnt (or shouldnt) actually exist; and if they did, then they shouldnt be allowed to define themselves, to assert their desires for their own bodies, or to have access to hormones that could alleviate their gender dysphoria. I wasnt alone in what I experienced in that clinic in rural New Hampshire. According to a Lambda Legal study, roughly 70 percent of transgender patients report experiencing discrimination when accessing medical care. That same study showed that nearly 90 percent of trans respondents believe not enough medical personnel are properly trained to provide culturally aware care for them. It is important that health care providers be able to provide informed and sensitive care to trans individuals, who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, depression and anxiety, partner violence, sexually transmitted infections, youth homelessness, and harassment. In order to provide quality patient care to trans populations, all health care providers must be familiar with trans health issues, population-specific needs, and use of affirming language. Chances are, if you arent used to using gender neutral pronouns or conversing with non-binary or GNC folks, this will quickly become obvious to your patient; you may act more hesitant, uncomfortable, or stumble over your words. This can compound feelings of vulnerability or fear for your patient. Employing binary language and assumptions, or using incorrect pronouns, a legal name, or identifiers (maybe you are really happy as a woman) in clinical settings can be extremely triggering for trans and GNC individuals. It should be no surprise that triggering encounters lead trans folks to access health care less frequently, compounding the health disparities that we already face. *** Fast forward two years. I am now a first-year medical student, and have been invited, along with other students throughout New England, to attend a networking dinner for future medical professionals interested in LGBT health. I straightened my tie and looked down across the sparkling Boston skyline from the 10th floor of Fenway Health, the nations largest federally-funded LGBT health center, serving over 24,000 patients. A glass of wine in hand, I mingled with national leaders in LGBT health before sitting down for the networking dinner. The conversations drifted from the latest trans research funded by the NIH and the newest training modules available through the Fenway Institute (their interdisciplinary center for education and LGBT policy development), to the clinical experiences of some of the 700 staff providing care to hundreds of transgender patients in the greater Boston area. We set a goal: To create a medical culture where transgender and GNC patients, peers, and colleagues feel respected and affirmed, and where pronouns are volunteered (and asked), rather than assumed. If we, as a society, normalize sharing our pronouns during introductions and in day-to-day encounters, we can help to relieve the burden placed on trans and GNC individuals who are painfully called by the wrong pronouns. The following morning, I attended the second annual summit for the Northeast Medical Student Queer Alliance (NMSQA), an organization that students from the University of Vermont College of Medicine helped to found. The summit brought members from ten medical schools throughout New England together to exchange presentations on the current work of our respective LGBTQ student groups. We discussed our schools recent efforts in LGBTQ curriculum enhancement, trans-friendly policies and structural improvements, and future goals of the group. It was thrilling to find queer comradery within the world of medicine. After many hours with our heads together and adrenaline pumping, the idea for a national social media campaign around personal pronouns emerged. The starting point of the campaign is simple: Ask people to put their personal pronouns in their email signature. With a hashtag in hand, we decided to launch #pushforpronouns during National LGBTQ Health Week, which coincides with the International Day of Transgender Visibility. Just prior to the campaign launch, House Bill 2 an unprecedented anti-LGBT bill passed in my home state of North Carolina. HB2 overturns all current LGBT anti-discrimination protections, and bans cities from passing any future LGBT protections. In addition, the bill requires that transgender individuals use the bathroom of the sex they were assigned at birth, regardless of their current gender identity or presentation. There is no better time to raise awareness of trans and GNC issues within medicine, with the hope of spreading that awareness throughout society. I am hopeful that this campaign will help bring trans and GNC health into the spotlight, increase awareness of non-binary identities, and blaze a trail toward trans-inclusive and culturally sensitive health care. By building a national movement, we can create empowered physicians who are leaders in their communities, reduce trans health care discrimination, and create more inclusive and affirming spaces for everyone. Its just the first step, but its an important one. Confused? Start here: TransWhat? Follow the Northeast Medical Student Queer Alliance on social media: @queermed On Facebook: Queer Med Al York is a medical student. This article originally appeared in uvm medicine. Image credit: Shutterstock.com SHARE Grant Holdcroft of the Kitsap Public Health District looks over the trash strewed Gorst Creek stream bed at the Gorst Landfill on Thursday, April 7, 2016. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) Water cascades over a towering trash pile in Gorst Greek. A former landfill, the three-story heap dams the creek during high winter flows, eventually leading to floods, landslides and culverts clogged with trash. (PHOTO COURTESY Department of Fish and Wildlife) An old phone sticks out of the grass on top of the Gorst Landfill on Thursday, April 7, 2016. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) A vehicle tipped on its side atop the Gorst Landfill on Thursday, April 7, 2016. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun GORST During the fall's heavy rains, this deep ravine roars with dozens of waterfalls. The white water tumbles into pools where spawning salmon swim, and where their springtime descendants hatch and begin their trek out to sea. It's a stretch of Gorst Creek that would be quite beautiful if the waterfalls weren't actually pouring from mounds of trash, and if the salmon weren't swimming alongside rusty car parts, paint cans, batteries and shredded heaps of plastic sheeting. "This hillside it's all landfill right in the middle of the creek," said Grant Holdcroft, a Kitsap Public Health District environmental health specialist. "And it keeps sloughing off, bringing garbage down just cascades of it." After decades of use as a Navy dump and a few more decades of indecision over who should deal with it, the ravine is finally being cleaned up. This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began driving in the heavy equipment that will remove about 8,000 truckloads of waste and debris from the 6-acre site just off Highway 3, between Gorst and Belfair. Known by many names the Ames Auto Wrecking Landfill, the Bremerton Auto Wrecking Landfill, the Gorst Creek dump the site will take a year and almost $30 million to clean up. The Navy recently agreed to pay for the project after years of legal wrangling with the EPA. "Oh boy, the legal stuff was easy compared to finalizing the financial stuff," said Jeffry Rodin, the EPA's on-site cleanup coordinator. "We issued an enforcement order years ago, but enforcement isn't easy between federal agencies." The Navy is deferring comment about the landfill to the EPA. Legal documents filed by the EPA indicates that the Navy acknowledged it disposed of waste at the landfill but disputed the EPA's claim that the trash is contaminating the creek. In 1964, the landfill's first operator Ames Auto Wrecking installed a 24-inch-wide culvert in the creek floor and began covering it with garbage, including material from the Navy. In the late '60s, the Navy contracted with Ames, which no longer exists, to dispose of 125,000 cubic yards of waste from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The EPA contends that the landfill violated a number of county and city codes during the time it was accepting trash from the Navy. Garbage from local residents started flowing in around 1970. "Back then, as long as it wasn't exploding, they'd take it," Holdcroft. It's unclear what exactly went into the dump, but there are large amounts of scrap metal, sawdust, lumber, tires and plastic sheeting. A great deal of material from demolished buildings probably naval housing has been tumbling out of the heap. Oils, tars and chemicals have seeped from the site for years. Soil and water tests at and near the site have shown elevated levels of cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were banned in the '70s, as well as mercury, lead and other heavy metals all of which is harmful to humans and wildlife. By 1989, when the dump was closed, garbage covered about 800 feet of the creek. Dirt poured on top of the trash filled the ravine to its brim. Trees and brush grew, forming a natural-looking toupee atop a 45-foot-high mound of dirt and garbage. The weight of it all crushed the culvert, blocking fish passage. During heavy rains, the dump acts as a dam. The lake that forms behind it is deep enough to submerge a three-story house. Eventually, the lake spills over, causing garbage-laden waterfalls and landslides on the downstream side. "Sometimes you see fish spawning right in the garbage," said state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Gina Piazza. "It's a disgusting site." The flow of trash regularly clogs a large culvert under Highway 3. A well-worn excavator path to the culvert hints at how regularly the state Department of Transportation must clean out the clog. Allowing the water to build could blow out the highway. From the highway culvert, the trash flows through a section of Gorst Creek that supplied drinking water to the city of Bremerton until the 1980s. "The garbage washes down and gets on the city property, and that has to be cleaned up," said Kathleen Cahall, Bremerton's water resources specialist. "And we've seen more of it the past dozen years." The Gorst Creek trash flow runs near but does not taint the Union River watershed where the city currently draws its water, Cahall stressed. The creek eventually flows through Gorst and into Sinclair Inlet. It's unknown how much trash and other contaminants flow into marine waters. The cleanup will do wonders for salmon, Piazza said. She estimates it will reopen more than 150,000 square feet of fish habitat upstream from Highway 3 and boost the creek's spawning grounds by 12,170 square feet. The EPA plans to recycle some of the concrete and scrap metal, but much of the estimated 150,000 cubic yards of waste and debris will go to a landfill, probably in southwest Washington. Once the trash is out, the EPA will begin a large-scale habitat restoration project. Holdcroft has been working to get the site cleaned up for 16 years. He joked he can retire now. "It's been a huge thorn in my side. It's been a huge thorn in the side of the health district and the people of Kitsap County, he said. "To see this progress is really important. It's a huge plus for the health of the people in this county." Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Windy with a few showers developing after midnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Windy with a few showers developing after midnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Last week's column about the correlation between a president's political party and stock returns during his term of office generated quite a bit of reader response. Most offered their explanation as to why the S&P 500 has historically performed much better when a Democrat was president. One reader suggested that stocks perform better when a Democrat is president because Wall Street prefers Republicans. I hope this guy gets some help. The most commonly suggested explanation is that the U.S. economy is stronger under Democrat presidents. That assumption is correct, but the conclusion doesn't follow from it. Since 1929, average annual GDP growth when a Democrat was president was 4.57 percent annually. Republican GDP was 2.78 percent. The economy has, on average, been stronger when Democrats were in the White House. The problem in assuming that this GDP growth differential is responsible for higher stock returns during Democrat administrations is that stock prices and GDP growth are not coincident data series. Annual changes in one do not predict or cause that year's change in the other. The best predictor of stock returns during a president's term of office isn't his political party, but rather the starting point from which we begin measuring. If asked how much weight you've gained or loss, your answer would depend on whether you begin measuring from the day after Thanksgiving, immediately following a monthlong fight with flu, or since your birth. Likewise, stock market gains or losses depends on the level of the index at the beginning of the measurement period. The average price-to-earnings ratio at the beginning of each new presidential term of the S&P 500 since 1929 is 16. When a president's term began with a P/E ratio higher than 16, the subsequent four-year annualized return was 6.4 percent, compared with 14.8 percent when the term began at a P/E less than 16. The market has performed better when measured from a point of relatively low stock prices. This observation leads to another question: is there some correlation between P/E ratio and a president's political party? The average P/E of the S&P 500 at the beginning of new Republican administrations has been 17.3, compared with a P/E of 15 when the office has shifted to a Democrat. The stock market should have performed better when a Democrat occupied the White House; they have generally come into power at times when stock prices were, relative to historic norms, low. So why have Republicans come into office when P/E ratios are higher than average? And why have Democrats tended to come into office when P/E ratios were lower? Simple: because stock returns have been higher when a Democrat has been president. Which, of course, circuitously returns us to the original conclusion, effectively arguing that something is true because it is true. Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE By Joey Garrison, USA TODAY NETWORK, The Tennessean Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam has asked an Alabama judge to reconsider, amend or vacate a deposition order that could force him to testify in court for the first time regarding the rebate scheme plaguing the $31 billion family truck stop chain. Attorney Joseph McCorkle Jr., representing Haslam, filed the motion to reconsider late Friday in the civil case of Wright Transportation v. Pilot Flying J after the judges order came earlier in the day. Among several claims, the defendants motion argues that Circuit Court Judge Sarah Hicks Stewart granted the petition to depose Haslam less than 42 hours after it was filed without scheduling a hearing or allowing Haslam a reasonable opportunity to respond. Continue reading at The Tennessean. The Y-12 National Security Complex is seen on May 23, 2007, in Oak Ridge. Bechtel and Lockheed Martin have been selected to manage Y-12 and another nuclear weapons facility near Amarillo, Tex. The new contractor will be called Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC.(B&W Y-12) SHARE Feds call selected bid 'best value' By Frank Munger of the Knoxville News Sentinel A team headed by government contracting veterans Bechtel National and Lockheed Martin has been chosen to manage two of the nation's key nuclear weapons facilities, Y-12 in Oak Ridge and Pantex near Amarillo, Texas. The National Nuclear Security Administration, which announced the award Tuesday, said the new contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC has vowed to save more than $3.2 billion in taxpayer dollars over the next decade by eliminating redundancies in the combined organizations and taking other steps to improve efficiency and cut unnecessary spending. The base contract is for five years, with options that could extend it another five years. If the contract is carried out for 10 years, with all its options, the work is valued at more than $22 billion. Federal officials praised the proposal submitted by the Bechtel/Lockheed team, saying it offered the "overall best value" in a number of categories. The contracting team, which also includes ATK, an aerospace and defense form, and SOC, a security specialist, will take over the management of Y-12 and Pantex over the next four months. The new contract is supposed to take effect on May 1. At both Y-12 and Pantex, Consolidated Nuclear Security will replace contractor teams headed by Babcock & Wilcox. Jim Haynes, a Bechtel veteran who currently serves as Y-12's deputy general manager and senior vice president of B&W Y-12, is president and CEO of Consolidated Nuclear Security. The rest of the leadership team has not been revealed. The two plants are located in different states, 1,000 miles apart, but NNSA officials in a conference call with reporters said combining contracts is a way to help control costs while maintaining safety and security of facilities that are critical to the nation. At the end of the first year, there is an option to expand the contract to include the tritium operations at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The Y-12/Pantex contracting strategy took more than four years to develop and carry out, and it didn't enjoy broad support at either site especially among union workers, who feared that the fever to cut costs would lead to large-scale layoffs. Details of the cost-cutting plans are not yet available, but Michael Lempke, a high-ranking official at the National Nuclear Security Administration, addressed the concerns in the teleconference. "CNS expects to offer jobs to over 95 percent of the existing employees, which is an extremely important number," Lempke said. He indicated savings would come from reducing duplicate support functions at the two sites, such as information technology, human resources, purchasing, and finance. Those reductions could actually free up funds to invest in highly skilled crafts or white-collar engineering jobs at Y-12 and Pantex, which is located northeast of Amarillo in the Texas panhandle. If the work is expanded to include the tritium work at Savannah River, the total fee available to the Consolidated Nuclear Security over 10 years could reach $446 million. CNS also has a chance to earn additional money up to $226 million as its share of the government cost savings if those are carried out as proposed. The new contractor has a ton of experience in Department of Energy contracting, and both Bechtel National and Lockheed Martin have deep roots in Oak Ridge. Bechtel currently shares the management role at Y-12 in a partnership with Babcock & Wilcox, and the company also plays a similar role at Pantex, where nuclear warheads undergo their final assembly and their initial disassembly after being retired from the arsenal. Bechtel also headed the Bechtel Jacobs Co. partnership that managed the Department of Energy's environmental cleanup program in Oak Ridge from 1998 until 2011. Lockheed Martin (or its predecessor Martin Marietta) managed Y-12 for 16 years, 1984-2000. The other teams that competed for the multibillion-dollar contract were headed by Fluor and Babcock & Wilcox. It's not clear whether either or both teams will file protests on the contract award. Fluor declined to comment, while B&W said it would explore all its options. Lempke said the combined contract includes two major area, with one being management of the two sites and finishing the design of the Uranium Processing Facility, the multibillion-dollar production center planned for Y-12. The second involves the construction of UPF, and Consolidated Nuclear Security has been designated as the construction manager for that project although it's not yet clear who will actually build the UPF. Some observers believed the B&W-led team was the early favorite, but it may have been hurt by the July 28 security breach at Y-12. Lempke, however, said the incident or past performance in general were not the deciding factor in the award. SHARE Sarah Shebaro, an art history professor at Pellissippi State Community College and co-owner of Striped Light, works on a poster for an exhibition in May. Shebaro's studio at the Striped Light on Bearden Place was one of 28 participating in the Dogwood Art Festival's annual "Art DeTour" on Saturday, April 16. Sarah Moore works on a painting at Broadway Studios and Gallery on Saturday, April 16. Moore, who has been an artist her entire life, moved to Knoxville three months ago. "Painting is like meditation. You just staring at nice colors for a long time," she said. Artist and musician W. James Taylor reflects on his piece built around a score of Marvin Gaye's song, "Mercy Mercy Me" on Saturday, April 16. Taylor's studio at The Emporium Center on South Gay Street is just one of 28 in the region that is open to the public this weekend for Dogwood Arts annual two-day event, "Dogwood Art DeTour." By Travis Dorman, travis.dorman@knoxnews.com W. James Taylor drew some early inspiration for his art career from an unlikely source. The gallery of the 67-year-old artist's studio named Geneva after his mother at the Emporium Center on South Gay Street is adorned with abstract art, a hand-drawn portrait of President Barack Obama and landscapes full of birch trees. He said he was inspired to sell his paintings after meeting Anna Sandhu Ray the wife of James Earl Ray, assassin of civil-rights pioneer the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Taylor's studio is one of 28 in the region open to the public this weekend for Dogwood Arts' annual two-day event, the Dogwood Art DeTour. The event allows the general public to experience the creative processes of artists of various media as they work in their everyday environments. Taylor said his art is ultimately about black history. The core of his artistic exploration is a three-part abstract piece called "Vicissitude," which depicts the past, present and future as he understood it as a young black man growing up in a racially-charged Knoxville in the 1960s. "Change is beautiful, but like vicissitude, it hurts. Change hurts, but it's essential, baby," Taylor said before picking up his guitar and playing "Mercy, Mercy Me" by Marvin Gaye. He incorporated the score of that song into an art piece that he sold for $5,000. Taylor said he began to sell his paintings after becoming friends with Anna Sandhu Ray, a sketch artist and painter, and seeing her sell landscape paintings. He hadn't realized before that he could make a living from his art. "That's when I saw people making money. I said, 'She's bringing this in? I can do this,' " Taylor said. Another participating business is Striped Light, a letterpress studio and Knoxville-centric record label that offers classes so patrons can learn about letterpress production and walk away with products they made themselves. Sarah Shebaro, an art history professor at Pellissippi State Community College, owns Striped Light with Bryan Baker and Jason Boardman. "I'm really excited about where this place is going to be in five years," Shebaro said. Shebaro's passion for letterpress stems from the inherent limitations of the medium, which force her to think creatively. "If you give me a few tools and put me in front of one of these presses with a couple cans of ink, I will never run out of ideas," she said. The Dogwood Art DeTour continues today from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A full list of participating studios and their locations can be found online at www.dogwoodarts.com/dogwood-art-detour. SHARE Martha Buchanan, Director, Knox County Health Department. FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016 file photo, samples of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, responsible for transmitting dengue and Zika, sit in a petri dish at the Fiocruz Institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Zika may keep some foreign tourists from going to the Olympics, and it also poses a risk for young athletes. There is strong evidence the virus is to blame for an increase in birth defects. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File) FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, an Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. A new study suggests the worrisome Zika virus apparently has been in Brazil at least a year longer than experts previously thought. Some experts have speculated the virus first came to the Americas sometime in 2014. But the new study, led by Brazilian researchers, concludes Zika landed in Brazil a year earlier. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File) By Michael Collins of the Knoxville News Sentinel WASHINGTON Dr. Tim Jones isn't looking to cause alarm. He just wants everyone to be ready. Public health officials in Tennessee are preparing for more cases of Zika virus to be reported in the state with summer and mosquito season approaching. Of the 346 cases of Zika confirmed in the continental U.S., only two have been reported in Tennessee and, like all the others, both involved people who had recently traveled to other countries or territories where the virus is prevalent. But with federal health officials warning last week that a Zika outbreak could affect much of the United States and potentially overwhelm federal resources, states like Tennessee are stepping up their preparations for whatever may come. "We know we're going to have more cases" in Tennessee, said Jones, the state epidemiologist. "With what we know now or what we reasonably expect to happen in the coming months, I think we are doing everything that can be done." The state recently updated its testing lab so that, within hours, it is capable of confirming suspected cases of Zika, Jones said. Confirming the two previously reported cases took weeks because the state relied on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to do the lab work. "They obviously have a huge backlog, and it was taking three weeks or a month once we sent a sample down there for them to get the results out," Jones said. With the changes to the state lab, "we would be getting results back in a day," he said. The state also has begun requiring cases of microcephaly a birth defect linked to Zika be reported to public health officials. A state registry has been put in place to enable public health officials to closely track pregnant women with Zika throughout their pregnancies. State officials also are starting to hold regional training sessions for mayors, public works departments and other local officials to educate them about Zika and prevention efforts. In addition, the state is reaching out to faith-based groups who may be conducting missionary trips and students who may be spending spring break in high-risk areas to advise them on the proper use of mosquito repellent, protective clothing and other precautions they should take to avoid contracting the virus. At a White House briefing last week, federal health officials stressed that while states have made progress in preparing for an outbreak of Zika, "they really have a lot of homework to do," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC. "It's not just the health department this is an all-of-government, all-of-community effort," Schuchat said. "People need to take personal responsibility, as well as what the community is doing." Zika is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, but also can be transmitted through sexual contact. Officials initially thought the mosquito that can carry the virus was limited to a dozen states but acknowledged last week it is present in at least 30 states, including Tennessee, and reaches much farther northward than anticipated. While much about the virus is still unknown, Zika has been linked to various birth defects, including premature birth, blindness and smaller brain size caused by microcephaly, Schuchat said. "The more we learn, the more concerned actually we get in some respects with regard to what this virus can do," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The first testing on humans for a Zika vaccine probably won't begin until September, Fauci said. In Shelby County, where one of the two Tennessee cases has been confirmed, public health officials have been working closely with the state to keep on top of the latest developments about Zika, said Alisa Haushalter, director of the county health department. While there is no statewide mosquito-eradication program in Tennessee, Shelby County has a robust program that has been in place for years because of the region's history with yellow fever epidemics. The county spends $2.5 million per year on mosquito control. Funding for the program comes from a 75-cent tax on monthly utility bills. Mosquitos and larvae are captured and tested for different diseases, such as West Nile virus. The county is buying additional equipment that will allow it to capture the type of mosquito that can spread Zika, Haushalter said. Because of the area's geography and climate, mosquito season in the Memphis area starts around mid-April and can run all the way through October. Spraying is done only in targeted areas, but property owners can assist in mosquito eradication by emptying birdbaths or outdoor water bowls and getting rid of other pools of standing water that might be a mosquito breeding ground, Haushalter said. Knox County also is preparing to step up its mosquito elimination program as needed, said Dr. Martha Buchanan, director of the county health department. In addition, she said, the county is working to educate businesses and other groups on Zika and is planning to post signs in the airport advising travelers to recognize the symptoms, which include a fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The best defense is for Tennesseans to educate themselves about Zika and know how to protect themselves from contracting the virus, Jones said. "We don't want them to stay up at night, being afraid or canceling picnics," he said. "That is not warranted." For more information on Zika, see http://tn.gov/health/topic/zika-virus. SHARE There's something mesmerizing about a billionaire leading in the GOP presidential race whining in public about not being treated fairly. "It's unfair. It's unfair," says Donald Trump. "Our Republican system is absolutely rigged. It's a phony deal. They wanted to keep people out. This is a dirty trick." Oh, the pathos. The real estate mogul is upset that Ted Cruz is outwitting him when it comes to counting actual delegates in a few states such as Colorado even though he, Trump, has "millions and millions more votes than anybody else." A Trump presidency would be exhausting. It's always, always, always all about Trump. If he's not the center of attention, the corpse at the funeral, he's not happy. And he lets everyone know it. This is what's unfair, Mr. Trump: A single mom gets her son a job at her workplace. They compare paychecks. He gets a dollar an hour more than she does. Women who work full time get only 78 cents for every dollar that men earn. That is $10,600 less every year on average. Trump's response: "I love the women." Here's what unfair, Mr. Trump: Worried about displaced workers, President Barack Obama proposed the American Jobs Act, a $447 billion package of economic actions, including construction jobs to improve crumbling infrastructure and cuts in payroll taxes. Your Republican Party, Mr. Trump, of which you so desperately want to be the standard-bearer, killed it. The president then proposed help for working parents through higher tax credits for child care. Republicans killed it. As economist and Wall Street executive Steven Rattner points out, the Republicans then systematically killed plans for expansion of the earned income tax credit, new rules to let retirement plans be portable, tax credits for manufacturing communities and community college investments. In other words, every proposal the administration came up with to help the struggling middle class was shot down, with venom, by Republicans. Trump promises to be the "best jobs creator that God ever made." He does not say how he would do this. Providing pie-in-the-sky promises to frustrated Americans who just want to have good jobs and take care of their families that's unfair. Some states have expanded Medicaid payments to take care of the poor and working poor who need operations and medicine and treatment for illness. But 19 states have refused federal money to help impoverished residents. To be denied proper health because of the state you live in that's unfair. It's totally unfair that we have to waste our time listening to Trump spout nonsense and complaining about how unfairly he is being treated by people he despises and who, increasingly, don't care much for him. Ann McFeatters is a columnist for Tribune News Service. She may be reached at amcfeatters@nationalpress.com. Local news filled the Feb. 2, 1887, edition of The Knoxville Sentinel, the earliest surviving copy of the newspaper founded a few months earlier. Some stories dealt with the city's progress. F.C. Beamon was developing a "pleasure resort" on his farm outside of town, and a company was subdividing land on Dale Avenue for "handsome cottages." Other news dealt with community problems, including an article on the apparent suicide of a well-known doctor from an overdose of morphine. Some 40 years later, the Sentinel merged with the Knoxville News, an upstart launched by the Scripps-Howard company. The News-Sentinel announced its birth on Nov. 22, 1926, and also reported that Scripps had acquired five other newspapers, bringing its total to 25, "the largest number of daily newspapers under one ownership in the world." So, the more things change, the more they stay the same? Last week, the News Sentinel announced it had become part of Gannett, now the nation's largest newspaper company with 107 local dailies and USA Today. The combined company is a journalism powerhouse that has won 66 Pulitzer Prizes and employs 3,800 journalists across the United States. Then our newsroom immediately went back to work reporting local news. As in 1887, stories last week documented progress from completion of a dog park in Maryville to plans for nuclear generators in Oak Ridge and highlighted problems women dealing with opiate addiction and suicides at the Gatlinburg Space Needle and the James White Parkway. But history is not simply repeating itself. As part of Gannett, the News Sentinel becomes something it never has been before, a partner of a nationwide news network. The USA TODAY NETWORK is a new and unique enterprise designed for today's news environment. It links USA Today, the nation's No. 1 newspaper, with community news operations in 34 states and Guam, and it lets journalists collaborate across multiple platforms that reach more than 100 million digital users a month. "That means we operate as one focused organization where local stories feed national news, and national news connects with local relevance," explained Bob Dickey, president and chief executive officer of Gannett. A recent example was an investigation of teachers who were fired for wrongdoing in one state then hired again in others states. The project prompted a nationwide audit of teacher misconduct and further probes in eight states, including Tennessee. The potential for working together is especially rich in this state, where news operations in Memphis, Nashville, Jackson, Clarksville, Murfreesboro and smaller communities join the News Sentinel as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Already statewide collaborations are in the works, and results will begin appearing as early as this week. Job 1 for the News Sentinel remains serving the greater Knoxville community just as it has been for 129 years. Gannett shares that commitment unequivocally. But as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, our reach and resources now are greater than ever before. House Speaker Beth Harwell left Democrats howling and some fellow Republicans scratching their heads with the announcement last week that she has set up a task force to contemplate how to deal with health care coverage for poor Tennesseans. Of course, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam proposed in late 2014 his idea on how to deal with those folks after more than a year of contemplation and compromising. It was called Insure Tennessee and was summarily shot down last year by the Republican supermajority, with Harwell waffling, refusing to either support or oppose a plan denounced as part of GOP-despised Obamacare by critics and defended by Haslam as an innovative way to expand Medicaid. The governor, who has created dozens of task forces to study stuff while avoiding a decision on various matters, was on hand at the announcement of Harwell's "3-Star Healthy Project" to praise participants for taking a "political risk" in being willing to even talk about such things. Actually, there doesn't seem to be much political risk here. Harwell waited until after the qualifying deadline for legislative candidates had passed before setting up the task force. She and all four Republican representatives appointed to the panel now have no opposition in GOP primaries. It may be worth noting, though, that all four and Harwell do have Democratic opponents waiting in November. Ergo, any political risk they face is from underdog Democrats. So the task force is arguably more akin to a political insurance policy being taken out just in case something extremely unlikely but conceivable should occur comparable, say, to the average homeowner thinking about the house getting hit by a tornado. And there has been some stormy political weather lately. Why, at the Legislative Plaza last week, one could even hear speculation that Harwell herself could be at risk for re-election to her Nashville House seat. In 2014 she won re-election with 14,839 votes to 8,601 for an unknown and underfunded Democrat. Since then, Harwell has been specifically targeted by Insure Tennessee proponents for criticism while polls show that most Tennesseans even many Republicans support the governor's plan. Democrats do so unanimously and will make it a central campaign issue. The speaker has also endured a fair amount of criticism over her handling of allegations that Rep. Jeremy Durham engaged in sexual harassment. Throw in the possibility that the 2016 Republican presidential nominee will be someone not really popular with all Republicans Donald Trump, say, or Ted Cruz and, well, it's still not likely that Harwell could lose. But Tennessee does have tornados on occasion, political or otherwise. Democrats' reaction to the Harwell task force it's a "charade," a political gimmick, they say was both predictable and understandable. Republican head-scratching, meanwhile, was especially notable over in the Senate. No senators and no Democrats are included in the task force membership. One Republican senator dubbed the proposal Insure Harwell. A Democrat predicted the resulting recommendations will be known as Harwellcare. Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, who will chair the "3-Star Healthy Project," insists this is not a political stunt. The idea, he says, is to come up with a "pilot project" maybe incorporating some aspects of Insure Tennessee that could be sold to both federal officials and the supermajority as an experiment, theoretically forming the basis for a long-term solution that could become permanent sometime during the next president's administration. That's an admirable goal, of course, albeit one that seems unlikely to succeed in the present political environment at both the state and federal level, as indicated by the widespread lack of acclaim received with last week's rollout of the Harwellian experiment. The chances are perhaps about the same as dramatic Democratic gains in this fall's legislative elections. Still, if the real goal is to provide a little political insurance coverage, maybe it will help a bit even if there are some gaping holes there. After all, some insurance is surely better than none, right? Most of the 280,000 or so Tennesseans who would benefit from Insure Tennessee would surely agree. Even if it's just Harwellcare. Read more from Tom Humphrey on "Humphrey on the Hill:" SHARE House Speaker Beth Harwell announced on Wednesday the formation of a task force to study expanding health insurance coverage to more low-income Tennesseans. Though the proposal has some puzzling dimensions, it represents a welcome step toward providing more people in our state access to health care. Tennessee is one of 19 states that have opted not to expand their Medicaid programs as allowed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Last year, after 18 months of planning in consultation with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Gov. Bill Haslam pushed Insure Tennessee as an alternative to simply expanding TennCare, the state's Medicaid program. The bill died in Senate committees, leaving an estimated 280,000 low-income Tennesseans without access to insurance coverage and placing rural hospitals at financial risk. Conceived as a two-year pilot program, Insure Tennessee consists of two plans. One would provide financial assistance to people with access to employer-provided insurance but who cannot afford coverage. The other would feature a combination of TennCare benefits and health care accounts containing credits that could be applied to copays and premiums. Participants could earn additional credits for healthy life choices such as quitting smoking. Importantly, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has already given provisional approval of the plan and the Tennessee Hospital Association pledged to cover any costs not borne by the federal government. The state could opt out if the federal government or the hospital association back out of their commitments. With Haslam at her side, Harwell said on Wednesday her "3-Star Healthy Project" task force would apply "conservative Tennessee principles" to come up with a plan to take to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in June. She envisions the plan would largely consist of experimental pilot programs, with limited enrollment and features like health savings accounts, premiums and incentives for healthy behaviors by enrollees and "circuit breakers" that would halt the programs if costs exceed projections. In other words, it would be a remixed and hopefully politically palatable version of Insure Tennessee. The task force members either opposed Insure Tennessee or hold key House committee positions. They are Cameron Sexton of Crossville, the task force chairman, who chairs the House Health Committee; Steve McManus of Memphis, who chairs the Insurance and Banking Committee; Roger Kane of Knoxville, who is in the insurance industry; and Matthew Hill of Jonesborough. All are Republicans. There are no senators on the task force. Coming just after the qualifying deadline for the August primary, the timing of the announcement seemed based on election-year politics. All the task force members are unopposed in the primary and now are safe from challengers who could count on an avalanche of negative advertising from ultra-conservative groups opposed to any type of Medicaid expansion. Democrats, who by and large supported Insure Tennessee, were unimpressed with Harwell's effort. "What a sad political joke. What a political charade," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart of Nashville. Harwell's proposal could be seen as an indication GOP lawmakers are looking for a politically acceptable way to overcome their aversion to anything connected to the Affordable Care Act. Polls show a solid bipartisan majority of Tennesseans support Insure Tennessee. The task force is charged with achieving in two months what the Haslam administration spent a year and a half doing arriving at a plan the federal government would approve that would not cost the state a single additional penny. Task force members would be wise use the governor's sound, fiscally and socially responsible plan as the centerpiece of their effort. 1:17 p.m. April 17, 2016 Face of Defense: Marine Aids Victims of Ambulance Crash By Marine Corps Cpl. Neysa Huertas Quinones Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Marine Corps Cpl. Joseph Currey, left, salutes Lt. Col. Jeremy Winters, right, during an award ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 1, 2016. Currey was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his actions after witnessing an ambulance wreck. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Austin Lewis. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., April 14, 2016 On a recent early morning while heading here for work, Marine Corps Cpl. Joseph Currey found himself rushing to aid the victims of a crashed ambulance on the side of a busy road. Currey joined others at the scene as they quickly reacted to the crash and provided medical aid to the injured patient and paramedics. Before Currey arrived, an ambulance took a sharp turn after a collision with a truck and flipped into a ditch. The ambulance was transporting a heart attack patient to a local hospital. Currey, certified at the time, performed CPR on the patient and helped injured emergency response personnel out of the ambulance. Fast-Moving Events It all happened so fast, Currey recalled. I realized the ambulance was on its side, and the first thing that dawned to me was, Well, their lights are on, so they must be transporting someone or they are going somewhere. He added, I automatically assumed they were transporting someone, because they were headed in the direction of the nearest hospital. I thought to myself, If there was someone in there, it must have been serious, and this situation only made it worse. Currey is an air support operations operator with Marine Aviation Support Squadron 1 and will be shortly deploying with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for serving others as he placed the well-being of the injured personnel above his own. Helping Others I joined the Marine Corps so I did not have to look back 70 years from now and regret not becoming a Marine and being part of something greater, Currey said. My favorite thing about the Corps is getting to help others. Its a trait that was instilled in me while I was growing. My mother always went out of her way to help others in any way she could. If you help someone out, it all pays off in the long run. Currey joined the Marine Corps alongside his step-brother after working with his family in a telephone company after high school. He said he decided joining the Corps would allow him to serve his country and provide a title he would carry for the rest of his life. Being a Marine allows me to not only serve my country, but it also gives me many opportunities that being a civilian would not have given me, he said, whether its a crash on the side of the road or giving a fellow Marine a hand. We all come together for one another regardless of where we come from, he continued. The day of the crash, I knew some of the people helping with the crash were Marines, even in civilian clothes. We all might not have known each other, or even know each others names now, but we all came together for something bigger than ourselves that day, and to me thats what being a Marine means. Published April 17, 2016 The South Korean government is considering allowing local retailers to open as many as four more duty free shops in Seoul in a bid to capitalize on an influx of Chinese tourists, informed sources said Sunday. Competition is heating up among retail giants here to win the licenses to enter the lucrative market amid sluggish domestic spending. The Korea Customs Service plans to make its final decision within this month on whether to issue additional licenses, according to the finance and culture ministries. The number of foreign tourists in Seoul rose by 15.7 million on-year in 2014, official data showed. Especially, South Korea's mega-hit drama "Descendants of the Sun" has added fuel to the so-called Korea Wave in China, attracting travelers from the neighboring country. "There is a view that it's right to increase the number of duty free shops in Seoul to the maximum in order to ride on this opportunity," said an official on the government's task force on improving the duty free shop system. Some call for four additional duty free shops, but relevant authorities are in consultations on ways to grant up to four more licenses, according to the source. Government officials said they will put the top priority on promoting the tourism industry and boosting the economy. "Nothing has been decided yet," an official said. "The duty free shop business is not an industry subject to regulations on protecting small and medium-sized firms. Although competition among relevant firms needs to be considered, what's more important is to promote tourism." Another government official also pointed out that it does not matter "if the cat is black or white" should it help draw foreign tourists. Last year, the government gave out new licenses to HDC Shilla Duty Free, Hanwha Galleria and SM Duty Free to open outlets in Seoul. Lotte Duty Free and SK Networks lost out in their bids to renew their licenses to Doosan and Shinsegae. (Yonhap) South Korea's top economic policymaker said the government will speed up its push for corporate restructuring this year, especially in the shipbuilding and shipping sectors. Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho underscored the urgency of restructuring in such troubled industries, saying the government won't sit back. "We can't defer the restructuring of those oversupplied and susceptible industries anymore. We should hurry up," he told reporters Friday, while visiting Washington for a G-20 forum. "Let me handle the issue in person." Prime targets will likely include beleaguered shipbuilding and shipping firms, such as Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. and Hanjin Shipping Co., in case their self-restructuring efforts end in failure. "The government has no other choice but to take action if shipping firms' restructuring is not carried out as planned," Yoo said. He stressed the importance of timing following last week's general elections and ahead of the presidential polls late next year. The remainder of this year is opportune, in that sense, as the current administration is relatively free from political burdens, industry watchers agreed. (Yonhap) Paper for India's 50 rupee banknote is produced at a factory of the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. (KOMSCO) in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province. The state-run company exports its banknote paper to countries including India, Indonesia and Peru. / Courtesy of KOMSCO By Kim Jae-won BUYEO, South Chungcheong Province If you look at the left side of the 10,000 won banknote under the light, you may see a portrait of King Sejong and the number 10,000 hidden in the space. They are sealed in the paper even before the note is printed to prevent it from being copied. "That is one of three secrets hidden in the banknote," said Park Kyoung-taig, a director at the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (KOMSCO), during a tour of the company's factory in this old city, last week. KOMSCO is a state-run company specialized in manufacturing banknotes and coins. The trip was offered by the company to 30 correspondents covering the Bank of Korea. Park said that the 50,000 won note has two more secrets: a silver line and colored threads. In the left side of the 50,000 note, a 4-milimeter silver line is drawn on the paper, a sign guaranteeing that it is real. Part of the line is hidden inside the paper. And small colored threads are scattered inside the paper, which are visible only under ultraviolet light, another technique to thwart counterfeits. Thanks to the technologies, the company exports its banknote paper to countries, including India, Indonesia and Peru. It had provided banknotes to China before, but the country stopped ordering them after developing its own technology. "About 10 countries in the world have such technologies. We are one of top five players in the market, along with those from the U.S., Italy and Russia," said the director. At the company's factory, workers were making paper for India's 50 rupee notes where a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi is hidden in the same way as King Sejong is concealed. Buyeo was the capital of the Baekje Kingdom which governed the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula for centuries until it was conquered by the neighboring Silla in 660. Workers were proud that the factory is offering "the rice of the financial market" to overseas countries. Most of them are graduates of vocational high schools with excellent records. "Many of them gave up chances to go to college to make money for their family," said Park. "They are skilled workers and are proud of producing the banknotes." The banknotes are made of cotton paper manufactured at KOMSCO's subsidiary in Uzbekistan, a key producer of cotton. As they are made of soft fiber, banknotes can regain their form after getting wet if they are dried properly, the company said. Kim Hwa-dong, CEO of the state-run company, said that he is seeking new revenue sources to cope with the low local demand for banknotes as more and more people use credit and debit cards for payments. The demand for hard currency is dwindling further as consumers also pay with their smartphones through mobile payment systems, such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. He said the company is applying its copy-preventing technologies to making identification cards and passports. Developing security software programs is another business that the company is running. "KOMSCO is focusing on developing information protection services and security technologies in the public sector, using our excellent digital security technologies," said Kim. "We aim to contribute to strengthening the country's competitiveness by making Korean society more trustworthy." By Kim Jae-won Korea's dependence on trade fell to an eight-year low last year, as the nation's exports and imports dropped sharply amid the global economic slowdown, according to the central bank Sunday. The Bank of Korea (BOK) said the country's trade dependency ratio marked 88.1 percent in 2015, down from 98.6 percent in 2014. The trade dependency ratio is the ratio of exports and imports to gross national income. Analysts attributed the drop to the declining trade volume of Asia's fourth-largest economy. The nation's exports in goods dropped 10.5 percent to $548.8 billion last year from the year before, while imports tumbled 18.2 percent to $428.5 billion, according to BOK data. The announcement came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its growth forecast for the country earlier this month to 2.7 percent, citing the downturn in China's imports. The Washington, D.C.-based organization said Korea is one of Asia's advanced economies experiencing weakening growth due to sluggish exports to China. BOK Governor Lee Ju-yeol also expected the country's gross domestic product to increase less than 3 percent this year, as Korea struggles to cope with uncertainties in the global market as well as low domestic demand. Economists said Korea's swiftly declining exports are worrisome because that leads to slow economic growth. They advised stimulating domestic consumption and foreign trade. Market watchers said the ratio will fall further this year based on first-quarter trade data, which dropped sharply. According to customs data, Korea's exports tumbled 13.1 percent to $116 billion during the January-March period from the same period a year earlier. Imports plunged 16.3 percent to $93.6 billion. The trade dependency ratio was the lowest since 2007, when it slumped to 81.6 percent. The next year, it spiked to 104.5 percent as exports drove growth while domestic demand plunged due to the global financial crisis. But the ratio decreased to 94.6 percent in 2009 and 99.8 percent in 2010. It rebounded to 112.8 percent in 2012 and 106.1 percent in 2013, before falling to 98.6 percent in 2014 and 88.1 percent last year. By Kim Jae-kyoung DBS CEO Piyush Gupta SINGAPORE Korea needs to improve its regulatory and tax system to become a leading financial center in Asia, according to Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) CEO Piyush Gupta. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Gupta said that Korea should take a cue from Singapore in four key areas regulations, taxation, the legal system and business environment to transform the country into a place attractive to foreign investors. "Singapore built a reputation as a global financial hub because it is open but also well-regulated. It is well-known for its transparent and robust regulatory infrastructure, strong legal system, and supportive tax regime," he said. "At the same time, the city has a sizeable talent corps, and has over the years, transformed itself into a dynamic, vibrant and fun city which has made it an attractive place to live, work and play," he added. "These are some strengths Korea can emulate." Despite the government's efforts to make Seoul a financial hub in Asia, Korea has been losing attractiveness as a financial center. This year, Barclays Capital decided to withdraw its investment banking division; following Citigroup (consumer finance) and Royal Bank of Scotland last year, and HSBC (retail banking) in 2013. UBS has also returned its banking license. Gupta, who served as Citigroup's CEO for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand prior to joining DBS in late 2009, said that Korean banks need to better understand the dynamics of markets where they enter when pursuing globalization. "Korean banks should have a clear, well-defined strategy, know the geographies and businesses you want to be in, and focus accordingly," he said. "An understanding of local markets is important, which is why we believe in hiring locally in all the geographic areas we are in," he added. "It is also important to have a common set of processes, policies and a one-bank culture across the markets." Korean banks need to cope with the rapidly changing business circumstances through two major tasks globalization and digitization. Seen are headquarters of Korea's major banks. / Korea Times DBS CEO says digitalization will be game changer By Kim Jae-kyoung SINGAPORE For Korean banks, there are two key urgent issues to address for sustainable growth globalization and digitalization. Over the past few years, Korean lenders have been striving to expand their global presence and to develop digital strategies but their efforts came to little fruition and they are still lagging behind global leaders. The Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), considered a leading Asian bank both in globalization and digitalization, is a good example that shows how Korean players must reinvent themselves to become a leading player. In an interview with The Korea Times, DBS CEO Piyush Gupta cited five key success factors that have set DBS apart from other lenders in Asia innovation, Asian focus, disciplined execution, a clear strategy and an engaged workforce. He said that banks should be well aware of how technology disruption is reshaping the banking industry, while developing new strategies to stay competitive against new competitors equipped with innovations in digital payment and data. "Banking is being disrupted by technology and to stay relevant, banks like ourselves need to re-imagine banking, and make it simpler, easier and smarter for customers," he said. "By focusing on the innovation and customer agenda, we've been able to improve customer satisfaction and gain market share." Gupta, who served as Citigroup's CEO for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand prior to joining DBS, said that its strong focus on Asia in globalization has made DBS more competitive and adaptive to new changes. "Our regional expansion, through both organic and inorganic growth, stems from the belief that it is possible to have an Asian niche, and to occupy the sweet spot between a local and global bank," he said. "At the same time, we benefit from the fact that despite our growth, we are what I call a Goldilocks size small enough to be nimble, big enough to matter," he added. "This has allowed us to move quickly to capitalize on business opportunities as they arise." DBS acquired Dao Heng Bank in Hong Kong in 2001, the "good bank" assets of Bowa Bank in Taiwan in 2008, and more recently, the private banking assets of SocGen in Singapore and Hong Kong. The veteran banker said that it is important to have a clear strategy that prescribes areas of priority, citing a strategic roadmap he unveiled in early 2010 after he took the helm of the lender in late 2009. "The first set of priorities was geographic, which highlighted what the bank needed to achieve in Singapore, Hong Kong and other key Asian markets," he said. "The second set of priorities was centered on businesses which DBS wanted to build regionally, namely, wealth, SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises), transaction banking and the customer component of treasury and markets." He also stressed that disciplined execution against strategy is a must for a bank to achieve sustainable growth. "Having a good strategy is only the start. Over the past six years, our performance has been catalyzed by aligning an entire organization of 22,000 people behind common goals," he said. Finally, the chief executive said that banks should seek ways to create a highly engaged workforce by establishing a fun culture and sharing core values. Song Joong-ki, left, and Song Hye-kyo in a scene from "Descendants of the Sun" / Courtesy of KBS Song Joong-ki speaks at a media meeting, Friday. / Courtesy of Blossom Entertainment By Park Jin-hai The megahit drama "Descendants of the Sun" that has swept Asia, creating a new fandom for the past two months, hit its grand finale Thursday. Song Joong-ki, featured as Yoo Si-jin, the captain of a South Korean special forces unit in the military romance drama, has been at the center of attention all along. He said that he is pretty much satisfied with his performance despite controversies over excessive nationalism and product placement in the drama. "I've heard diverse opinions and criticisms. But, I would like to say that I am satisfied with playing the role," said Song during an interview at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Friday. "Many of the controversies are beyond my control and if I comment on them it would bring more misunderstandings to the drama. Since drama belongs to the viewers and I think whatever their thoughts are is right." As for the implication of nationalism, Song made it clear that he had not intended to feature the role in that sense. "While I was playing the scene where Capt. Yoo salutes the national flag on an overseas mission, I was not acting in that mind. I thought that moment is the time that Yoo pledges to his family and loved ones that he is well and he will return home safe so don't worry." Below is an excerpt from the interview with the 30-year-old actor. Q: You came back from a promotional tour of "Descendants" in Hong Kong. Did you feel the popularity there? A: I've read about the drama's popularity overseas, but it was the first time that I witnessed for myself how many fans there were. After the promotion, I went out to the street for a magazine photo shoot, and there I really felt that so many people had seen the drama. It was so surprising and I felt much joy. Q: The drama has been a huge hit, changing your life a lot. You've grown from a rookie to the most-sought-after celebrity. Do you struggle to keep the same determinations you had when you started out? A: That's a question that I ask myself a lot these days. I try to stay the same but I also think that change is inevitable. What I mean is, if you stay the same as in your rookie days, you can't deal with all the new responsibilities you are faced with. It means that I feel responsibility to all the staff members and my fans and that I will not let them down. All things aside, though, I try to stay true to myself. People say I'm a hallyu celebrity now, but I don't really feel that way. My recognition has risen for a moment following the drama. I learn a lot from people like Song Hye-kyo, heroine of the "Descendants," and Lee Kwang-soo, a cast member of variety show "Running Man." They are the ones that are really hallyu stars. Q: Haven't you feel some kind of repulsion with the too-cheesy lines that screenwriter Kim Eun-sook wrote? A: While I was acting, I didn't feel that way. Even the lines some might think so, I had confidence that I could deliver them my own style, buffering the part that might sound slightly cheesy. When I work with other people, I try to make up for their shortcomings with my strengths, and I let others make up for my flaws with their strengths. I think my job is an art of coordination. Q: Capt. Yoo has been a diehard and immortal character, surviving gunshots. Didn't you think that he was unrealistic? A: He comes back to life after whatever happens. That was actually what I liked about him. I regard the "Descendants" as a melodrama and all scenes have been the trappings to increase the element of romance, I thought. In that sense, I am very satisfied and have great respect for the decisions of the writers. Q: You are strong in acting "melo" scenes. Is there a secret recipe? A: Whether it be melo or not, I think the import thing is to play by the book. I refer to the book and script all the time. I try to think why the writer wrote the particular scene at that time. If I had to say the secret recipe for acting melodrama, I think it comes from myself in real life. I have a belief that when I do melo scenes, I try to make them less cheesy. Q: Do you in real life resemble Capt. Yoo? A: I think I am a conservative, not-so-cool kind of guy. But acting out Yoon, I learned a lot about how women love to be treated. The character explains why female fans are so into this character. I particularly learned a lot about what women want to hear from their men. By Jhoo Dong-chan Mount Baekdu, located on the border between China and North Korea, has recently shown signs that it could erupt, according to a geologist. Readings from a Russian satellite show that the mountain's surface temperature has risen significantly since before October 2006. The temperature of Chonji, the 850-meter-deep crater caldera lake on top of Mount Baekdu, has constantly increased by a few degrees since 1999, according to a Chinese volcanic observatory. Public concern has grown over a possible eruption of the volcanic mountain especially after a series of small earthquakes in the region occurred between 2002 and 2005. "It would be a catastrophic disaster if Mount Baekdu had a full scale eruption," Yoon Seong-hyo, a geology professor at Pusan National University told the Korea Times. "Historical records show that a full-scale eruption of Mount Baekdu took place about 1,100 years ago. It recorded over VEI (Volcanic explosivity index) 7 magnitude." The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, which is considered to be the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century after the 1912 eruption of Novarupta in Alaska, recorded a VEI of 6, according to Yoon. The National Institute of Korean History announced Monday that 47 authors will write government-led history textbooks for middle and high school students, but will not disclose their names until a later date. / Yonhap By Kim Se-jeong A total of 47 authors will participate in writing government-sponsored history textbooks for middle and high school students, but their names will continue to be kept secret, the National Institute of Korean History said Monday, fueling outrage among opponents of the project. The institute in charge of the new textbooks said it put the authors' privacy and independence ahead of the public's right to know, because the authors need to concentrate on writing without disruption. The government initially planned to recruit 25 authors and directly invite 11 more for a total of 36 members. But the final number was 47 26 will author two textbooks for middle schools, while 21 will work on one high school textbook. The government also said 17 of the writers were selected through an open contest, which received applications from 56 schoolteachers, professors and researchers. Another 30 have been invited by the government. "We are confident that these authors will write textbooks that are fair, fun and easy to read," an institute official said. Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union members demand immediate cancellation of the government's move for state-authored history textbooks, during a press conference at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Jhoo Dong-chan More than 16,000 teachers have expressed their opposition to the government's move for state-authored history textbooks, the second collective action by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU). Despite the Ministry of Education's threat to take disciplinary action against them, the unionized teachers pushed ahead with their plan to issue a second statement, Wednesday. "The government is trying to distort our national history and destroy democracy with the state-compiled textbooks," the KTU said during a press conference at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul. "It is a dictatorial regime that makes history regress, makes education a slave to power, and ignores people's desperate voices," it said. The union claimed that the government is attempting to manipulate the people's historical consciousness and criminalize teachers who refuse to comply with the misguided policy. "It is a shame that our future generations will not be able to learn our true history and will be deprived of various viewpoints." A total of 16,318 teachers from 3,532 schools nationwide endorsed the second statement, while 21,379 teachers from 3,904 schools participated in signing the first statement on Oct. 29. The union said non-KTU members also took part, but did not say how many. By Kim Se-jeong Lawyers for a Democratic Society, a civic group consisting of progressive lawyers, said Friday that it will file a lawsuit against the government, demanding the release of identities of 47 authors recruited to write the state-authored history textbooks for middle and high schools. "The writers and compilation editors are involved in the making of the textbooks for middle and high schools," the group said. "The necessity of releasing the list is big for the public interest to secure transparency and justification." The move came after one of the 47 writers recently resigned from authorship amid a controversy over his qualifications, as he has taught history for only nine months. He had been a commerce teacher for nine years. Also, Choi Mong-ryong, professor emeritus of Seoul National University, quit from the writing team over a sexual harassment allegation in November. Choi was one of the two leading authors. The group also pointed out that even in 1973 the Park Chung-hee regime made public the identities of history textbook writers. A South Korean rapid response team arrived in Japan on Sunday to help any possible South Korean victims in the wake of deadly earthquakes that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture last week. After arriving in Japan, the four-member team will look into whether any South Koreans have been affected by the quakes although no South Korean casualties have so far been reported. If any damage is found, the team will provide assistance to South Koreans who need help, according to the foreign ministry in charge of the dispatch. A 7.3-magnitude temblor hit Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu at around 1:25 a.m. Saturday, less than two days after a 6.5-magnitude quake struck the same region. The quakes killed 34 people and injured some 2,000 others, according to Japanese media. Kumamoto Prefecture is home to about 1,000 South Koreans. The South Korean Consulate General in Fukuoka established an emergency response team following the earthquakes, which is constantly contacting the Japanese government and South Korean communities to see if there are any South Korean casualties. South Koreans staying in Kumamoto and its broader Kyushu area have also been told to be on alert, according to the foreign ministry. (Yonhap) President Park faces call to change governing style By Kim Hyo-jin Two opposition parties the Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) and the People's Party have agreed to join forces in an effort to block the Park Geun-hye administration's plan to introduce a state-authored history textbook, party officials said Sunday. The move presents the first grave challenge to the conservative government, following the ruling Saenuri Party's heavy losses in Wednesday's general election. The MPK and the People's Party won 123 and 38 of 300 seats, respectively, while Saenuri secured 122 seats after previously holding a majority of 157 seats. "We will push for a resolution to block a move to introduce the state-authored history textbook along with the Minjoo Party," said Lee Sang-don, a lawmaker-elect and former co-chairman of the election planning committee of the People's Party. Lee said the government's plan to introduce the state textbook represents the arrogance and self-righteousness of the Park administration. "The MPK and the People's Party can secure a majority of seats if they work together. The passage of the resolution will come smoothly," he said, adding a motion to dismiss the education minister will be endorsed easily once filed by the party. The MPK welcomed the proposal of the People's Party. "There's no reason to oppose such move as we've already promised to scrap the state-authored textbook if we had become the largest party," said Kim Sung-soo, the MPK's spokesperson and a lawmaker-elect. "The floor leaders will soon begin to discuss its proceeding." The proposed opposition coalition against the state textbook came amid increasing calls for President Park to change her style of governance to avoid political conflicts following her party's election defeat. Park is now being asked to communicate more with opposition parties in dealing with state affairs. Dump Park's textbooks Foreign historians cry foul against textbook plan Lawyers to file suit for release of identities of textbook writers Teachers issue another statement against state-authored textbook 47 selected to write state-led history textbooks The opposition camp has been against the move to reinstate the state-published history textbook for secondary school students, last year. Despite intensified criticism by civic groups and the opposition bloc, the Park administration pushed ahead with the plan with support of the ruling party, and now the Ministry of Education is working on re-writing the textbook to distribute it in 2017. The MPK proposed a bill to ban the government from writing textbooks in protest in December but it's pending in the related-committee. The move is regarded as indicative that the opposition bloc, which outnumbers the ruling party, will join forces on sensitive issues, say observers. "Considering a resolution is not legally-binding, the parties' move is likely to end up as a symbolic muscle-flexing gesture against the Park administration," Kim Soo-jin, a politics professor at Ewha Womans University. "But if they move onto an anti-government textbook bill, the ruling party will be put in a difficult position while the Park administration loses momentum in the remaining term." Lee commented that the People's Party is taking a detour with a resolution because pushing for a bill is likely to be blocked by the Saenuri Party. Under the current Assembly Law, 60 percent of 300 lawmakers should agree to put up a bill for a vote. He still hinted that pushing for the bill remains the next step and the MPK has also adopted a positive stance on this. "We should seek any type of attempt as long as it can stop the implementation of the state-issued history textbook," said MPK's lawmaker Do Jong-hwan. "We will join hands with the People's Party either it is for the pending bill or a resolution." "The partisan conflicts will be exacerbated surrounding the issue now that the opposition bloc can exert power with the election victory," Kim Wook, a politics professor of Pai Chai University. "Park is now required to change her unilateral and high-handed attitude in working with the legislature. The only way to survive her lame duck period is with an open mind for negotiation and meeting half way with the opposition bloc." Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the minority opposition People's Party, speaks to reporters during a visit to the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, Sunday. Ahn thanked voters in the Jeolla region for their overwhelming support in the general election. / Yonhap By Kim Hyo-jin Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the splinter opposition People's Party, visited the southwest Jeolla provinces, Sunday, and thanked voters for their overwhelming support of the party in Wednesday's general election. The People's Party emerged as a strong third party, winning 23 out of 28 seats up for grabs in the region. It won 38 of 300 parliamentary seats, which was much higher than expected. The result provided a springboard for Ahn to increase his political influence, with the party now holding a "casting vote" between the two major parties _ the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK). It was Ahn's first visit to the region after the election. Observers view that the attention to the region will continue in the run-up to the 2017 presidential election while both the MPK and the People's Party are competing to attract voters of the tradition opposition stronghold. "We are determined to change the government. Voters gave us an opportunity with their overwhelming support," Ahn said after paying tribute at the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju. "We'll lead the legislature, rather than remaining as a casting vote," he said, underlining the three-party system will bring a change in the assembly deadlocked by partisan wrangling. Ahn raised his voice against the possibility of forming an alliance with the MPK during the 2017 presidential race, saying, "It will be rude to the public if we only care about political interest. The priority is showing a productive party mechanism in the Assembly." "The strong support of Jeolla voters cleared Ahn a path toward the presidential bid. He is expected to form his own political vision," Lee Jun-han, a professor at Incheon National University, said. By Kim Da-hee The Korea Foundation for Women (KFW) will select migrant wives from Vietnam who will get free travel to their hometown under the organization's sponsorship. This is an annual event the KFW, a NGO for women, has organized since 2007 with Samsung Life Insurance and the Life Insurance Social Contribution Committee. The exact number of beneficiaries remains undecided. Eligible applicants are those who have school-age children and their parents' house is in or near Hanoi. The KFW will receive applications until May 13. Applicants are required to submit eight documents, including three application forms, a recommendation letter and a document of family relationships. Preferential treatment will be given to those who have not visited Vietnam since their marriage and have children aged between seven and nine. Successful applicants will be able to visit Vietnam for a week after August 20. A merchant sells fish at her shop at the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market in southern Seoul, April 11, amid rising tensions between shop owners and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative over a relocation project. Many shop owners are refusing to move to a new building nearby, citing less space and higher rent. / Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong By Kim Se-jeong Seoul's Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is on the verge of losing its charm and reputation as one of the city's iconic places because shop owners have to move their premises to a new building as part of a relocation project. But the merchants are at odds with the market operator over the project. Many do not want to move to the new building nearby, completed last October to modernize the traditional market built 49 years ago. The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (NFFC), the manager of the nation's biggest fish market, initiated the modernization project. The market facilitates a daily trade in thousands of tons of fish and fish products. There are also 680 shops that attract visitors who want to get a feel and taste of Seoul's urban life. The shops were supposed to move to the new building, which opened in January, according to the NFFC. But only 200 moved and the other 480 insist that they want to stay where they are. The merchants say the new shops are smaller and the rent two to three times higher. "The NFFC is asking a lot more money for rent," said Yu Ji-tae, a merchant who has run a dried fishery products shop for three decades. "Also, in the new building, I will be located on the second floor. For me, the second floor means my profits will be halved. I can't accept that." But the NFFC said the merchants agreed to the conditions well before the building was completed. "We had countless meetings with merchant representatives before and during the project and altered the plan to accommodate their demands," Kim Duck-ho, an NFFC official, told The Korea Times. Kim showed a copy of an agreement on the rent and relocation, signed in July 2015, by a merchants' representative, Lee Seung-ki. Lee was unavailable for comment. "It's out of the question that we would go ahead with a project like this without dialogue with the merchants," Kim said, adding that the building cost more than 200 billion won. Kim said the NFCC will push ahead with the original plan to destroy the old market building for the new project. "They are illegally occupying the place." With little room for compromise, conflicts are becoming violent. Earlier in April, one merchant allegedly threatened two NFFC employees with a knife, who sustained injuries to a thigh and shoulder. The merchant is in police custody. On April 11, the NFFC began cutting electricity and seawater supplies to some shops, prompting tough resistance from shop owners. Some are continuing to operate by candlelight. Shop owners have sued the NFFC for obstructing business. The NFCC says it would consider terminating contracts with the recalcitrant shops and ban them in the new facility. Kim said negotiations with the merchants are deadlocked because of a handful of merchant representatives, whose current shops are near the market's entrances and make a lot of money. He said they are representing their personal interest, not the interests of the 480 shops. "A tax record showed they make as much as 1.7 billion won per year," he said. Those who have moved to the new building also are not happy, because most customers still go to the old market, which has more shops and retains the image of a traditional market. "What we want is dialogue," Kim said. "We want to move forward." By Kim Se-jeong Mt. Taebaek in Gangwon Province has become the country's 22nd national park. According to the Ministry of Environment, a 20-member national park committee decided on Friday to designate the mountain, located in the interior of the province, as a national park. The designation means that the mountain will come under the care of the national government, granting free access to the public. Currently, each adult visitor to Mt. Taebaek must pay an entrance fee of 2,000 won which goes to the provincial government responsible for conservation and facility management. The official national park opening is set for Aug. 22. The mountain with a 1,567-meter-high peak is home to 2,637 wildlife species, among which 26 are endangered, including the fox and marten. The ministry said it will reinforce conservation efforts for the mountain by putting more human resources in place. Mt. Jiri was the first national park, designated in December 1967. It was followed by Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla in 1970. National parks which are not based on mountains include Hallyeohaesang National Park, a marine ecosystem which stretches from Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province, to Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, and the ancient city of Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province. French Ambassador to Korea Fabien Penone, right, poses with with Deagu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, center, and French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon during a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding on April 11. / Courtesy of French Embassy By Rachel Lee French Ambassador to Korea Fabien Penone signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Daegu, Korea's fourth-largest city in North Gyeongsang Province, on April 11. With French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon, the ambassador met Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin and discussed further business cooperation and opportunities for French firms. "We are in a very positive moment for the development of our bilateral relations, " the French ambassador said. He said the political dialogue between France and Korea is very strong, shown by high-level visits including French President Francois Hollande in November and Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault last month. With the agreement signed, the ambassador expressed his wish to develop economic cooperation with Korea, as well as links in culture, education, science and tourism. According to the French Embassy, automotive supplier Valeo and 3D experience company Dassault Systemes operate in Korea. Technological cooperation has become stronger, in particular. France's Ministry of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs launched a Korean version of French technology hub "La French Tech" in December to improve the French startup sector and develop its international attractiveness. "La French Tech" refers to all people working for, or with, French startups in France or abroad. At the "French Tech Seoul" launch in December, seven French startup companies including Cedexis, Kerlink and Kinomap introduced their technologies. The ambassador also visited the Daegu National Museum, where "Home Cinema" will be held as part of celebrations for the France-Korea Year 2015-2016 and 130 years of friendship between the two countries. The Year of France in Korea events run until December. Last month, the new and exclusive creation of Jose Montalvo with the National Dance Company of Korea was showcased. Several other events will show the best of France's creativity in fields including economics, education, science, gastronomy and tourism. March 24 also was the official day of Korea in French schools. French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's installation "King of Signs" surrounding the statue of King Sejong the Great in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was unveiled last month. During the year, Koreans will be able to discover France's new talents: electronic music producers and DJs, graphic and furniture designers, young architects and comedy writers. Beyond culture, the embassy will present top French entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and scholars. The Korean Year in France began in September. Events included the traditional ceremony of Jongmyo Jeryeak in the Theatre National de Chaillot and lighting of the Eiffel Tower in the colors of the Taegeukgi. There also have been exhibitions Korea Now! and Seoul Vite Vite! and a Korean street-food festival in Paris. Visitors look around the exhibition "Glimpse of Oman," which was held at the Cheonggyecheon Gwanggyo Gallery on April 11-17. / Courtesy of the Embassy of Oman By Rachel Lee More than 50 photographs have arrived in Seoul for an exhibition depicting Oman's diverse nature and environment. Omani Ambassador to Korea Mohamed AlHarthy is holding the exhibition at the Cheonggyecheon Gwanggyo Gallery on April 11-17. Titled "Glimpse of Oman," the snaps embody scenes of mountains, caves, valleys and deserts. They also show aspects of culture and heritage, reflecting a modern renaissance in the country. The exhibition is part of the annual "Welcome to Oman," program, organized by the Omani Embassy to "introduce the nation's history, culture, civilization and the modern renaissance, which aims to promote tourism in the Sultanate of Oman and strengthen the cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and Korea." "The idea of hosting the exhibition at the open Gallery of Cheonggyecheon allows the public to know the Sultanate of Oman," an embassy spokesperson said. Oman-Korea relations date back more than a thousand years, when Omani merchants met their Korean counterparts on the way to China during the Silla Dynasty (57 BC-935 AD). In modern times, diplomatic relations were established in 1974. Since then, relations have experience remarkable development in various fields and the trade volume is expected to double in coming years due to investment opportunities and partnerships between Oman and Korea. By Rachel Lee Representatives from Korea and the United States will meet in Washington D.C. today to discuss the challenge of North Korea, the Korea Foundation (KF) said. The meeting, organized by the KF and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, will feature 17 experts from both countries who will discuss "The ROK-U.S. Alliance: Strength and Resilience in the Face of Challenges." U.S. attendees include Mark Lambert, director at the U.S. Department of State's Office of Korean Affairs; Robert Gallucci, professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, and Abraham Denmark, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia at the U.S. Department of Defense. Korean presenters include Kim Hyoung-zhin, deputy minister for planning and coordination at Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; KF President Yu Hyun-seok and Kim Sung-hwan, a professor at Korea University. The meeting's first session will focus on the "challenges ahead in managing North Korea" under the subject "North Korea's Challenge," the KF said. Participants will talk about sanctions coordination, prospects for trilateral cooperation, the opportunity for diplomacy and contingency planning. The second session, the "U.S.-ROK alliance and regional context," will deal with "alliance issues and domestic politics in both countries, including the U.S. presidential campaign and the ROK national elections." The KF was founded in 1992 for international exchange and public diplomacy initiatives. By Park Chang-seokYes, one! There's only one thing about which they think in a same way a concern about possible eruption of Mt. Baekdu. The two Koreas remain at odds in everything. But they are one in voicing how to counter the possible volcanic explosion of the highest mountain in the Korean PeninsulaInter-Korean anxiety is mounting, with growing apocalyptic predictions on the dormant volcano. A South Korean geological expert has warned that the volcano could erupt sometime around 2014 and 2015.Former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il reportedly said people in some regions of Yanggang and North Hamgyeong Provinces were feeling anxiety over a volcanic eruption of Mt. Baekdu. Kim called for quick countermeasures by the North Korean authorities.If a volcano, located on the border between North Korea and China erupts, damage could be 10 to 100 times greater than that caused by the April 2010 eruptions in Iceland. Experts predict that the ashes would not only hit the neighboring area but damage agriculture and cause serious disruptions in industrial activities and air flights. The Korean Peninsula, China, Japan and Russia would be severely damaged.A volcanic eruption begins when pressure on a magma chamber forces magma up through the conduit and out the volcano's vents. When the magma chamber is completely filled, the type of eruption partly depends on the amount of gas and silica in the magma. The amount of silica determines how sticky (level of viscosity) the magma is and water provides the explosive potential of steam.The 2010 Iceland eruption caused enormous disruption to air travel across Western and Northern Europe, although relatively small in size for volcanic eruptions. About 20 countries closed their airspace and it affected hundreds of thousands of travelers. A very high proportion of flights within, to, and from Europe were cancelled, creating the highest level of air travel disruption since the World War II.Fears of a Mt. Baekdu eruption loom large with ensuing warnings based on a series of geological studies from experts. A growing number of scholars have not ruled out the possibility of another eruption, linking the collapse of Korea's ancient kingdom, Balhae, with the previous one.One theory comes from professor Hiroshi Machida of Tokyo Metropolitan University. Machida first presented a view in 1992 that the eruption of Mt. Baekdu (Mt. Changbai in Chinese) led to the fall of Balhae, which had expanded its sovereignty to the vast Manchuria territory. His theory was based on volcanic ash found in Tomakomai, a port city in southern Hokkaido, in 1981. The ash was named "Baekdu-Tomakomai volcanic ash" (B-Tm) after Mt. Baekdu and Tomakakomi city where it was found, according to So Won-ju who wrote the book "Secret of Mt. Baekdu's Great Eruption."Machida's theory has gained momentum as an increasing number of geologists and climate change researchers have presented views that the ash was produced in the eruption of the highest mountain in the Korean Peninsula in the 10th century. The eruption of the 2,744 meter-high mountain was billed as the largest in the history of mankind and was about 50 times stronger than that of Mt. Vesuvius of Italy in 79 A.D. which led to the burying and destruction of the Roman city Pompeii.Balhae (Bohai in Chinese) was established by Dae Jo-yeong, a former Goguryeo general, in 698 after the fall of Goguryeo. Dae Jo-yeong took the helm of Jin (Zhen in Chinese), founded by his father Dae Jung-sang in 696, and renamed the country Balhae, declaring it as the successor state of Goguryeo (37 B.C. - 668 A.D.).Balhae occupied the southern parts of Manchuria and Primorsky Krai (now Russia's Far East), and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It was defeated by the Khitans in 926, and most of its northern territories were absorbed into the Liao Dynasty, also known as the Khitan Empire, founded in 907 while the southern parts were absorbed into Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).A dominant view related to Balhae's decline had been Khitans' 926 invasion. Some conventional historians believed that the rampancy of ethnic conflicts between the ruling Koreans and underclass Mohe (Malgal) caused its fall. But some refute these allegations, giving more weight on the catastrophic explosion of Mt. Baekdu as a primary cause for Balhae's ruin rather than Khitans' attack.Balhae had been engaged in a war with the Khitans for about two weeks and then collapsed immediately. How could Balhae with a long 200-year history fall so easily in such a short period of battle? Some historians raised doubts about the early collapse, pointing to Mt. Baekdu erupting as a cause for Balhae's ruin.The massive explosion was believed to have created a tremendous amount of volcanic ash, damaging agriculture and even societal integrity. The Khitans were believed to have taken advantage of this natural disaster in putting the volcano-stricken Balhae under their complete control. The eruption might have prevented Balhae survivors from rebuilding their nation in consideration of the catastrophe.A variety of indicators, suggested by geologists and Balhae dynasty researchers who have monitored the change of Baekdu's geographical features, are backing a scenario of the recurrence of the Mt. Baekdu eruption. Some experts say that an eruption is imminent. Geologist Yoon Sung-hyo at Pusan National University strongly believes Mt. Baekdu could erupt anytime soon."According to historical records, major activity on the mountain in the 940s created a caldera on its peak, whose circumference is nearly 14 kilometers with an average depth of 213 meters and a maximum of 384 meters. Atop the mountain is Cheonji, literally meaning "heavenly lake," the largest caldera in the world.Volcanic ash from Mt. Baekdu eruption has been found as far away as the southern part of Hokkaido, Japan. Geologists predict the occurrence of great Mt. Baekdu eruptions every 1,000 years and that of minor ones every 200 to 300 years. Minor eruptions were recorded in 1413, 1597, 1668 and 1702 with the last activity being recorded in 1903.Among other indicators backing the scenario of a future eruption is the height of Mt. Baekdu, which has grown nearly 10 centimeters since 2002. Experts say an expanding magma pool, a precondition for an eruption, is gradually pushing up the height of the mountain as well as the temperature on the surface. On Oct. 1, 2006, a Russian satellite found the surface temperature of the mountain notably higher than before. The finding came just days after North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test in its northern territory, which could have been a catalyst reactivating magma flows, according to analysts.Mt. Baekdu has been carefully observed since 1999 when a volcanic observatory was built in China, and since 2002, there have been some symptoms of an eruption. Seismic activity near the mountain has increased dramatically, and the concentration of hydrogen and helium emissions, both of which are volcanic gases have risen 10-fold. And there's ample possibility that Mt. Baekdu may erupt in the near future.If Mt. Baekdu erupts, it would no doubt bring about grave consequences for the two Koreas as well as the surrounding states, including China, Japan and Russia. The biggest immediate threat is the 2 billion tons of water in the lake on top of the crater. An eruption would likely cause severe flood damage, engulfing roads and homes within a 30-kilometer radius in just 3 hours and 20 minutes, a geological report found recently.The greatest victim of a Mt. Baekdu explosion may be North Korea, especially Yanggang and Hamgyeong Provinces. The two regions, located on the tip of the Korean Peninsula, may be covered with ash in just two hours.In about eight hours, ash may reach Ulleungdo and Dokdo, two far eastern islands of South Korea, and in 12 hours, land on Tottori Prefecture, Japan. After 18 hours, volcanic ash would likely spread beyond Japan.The National Institute for Disaster Prevention conducted a simulation in 2010 to test how far volcanic ash can spread if Mt. Baekdu erupts. According to the results, the effects can be different depending on the timing. If it happens in winter, Japan is expected to be more affected due to the northwest monsoon. On the other hand, a summer eruption would affect South Korea more.Mt. Baekdu's caldera has nearly two billion tons of water. If volcanic heat evaporates the water and is mixed suddenly with volcanic ashes, it would be strong enough to engulf even Vladivostok in Russia and Hokkaido in northern Japan, according to experts. The construction of nuclear power plants by North Korea and China in the neighborhood may certainly pose a grave threat to all Northeast Asians, with the view that Mt. Baekdu's explosion would for sure cause subsequent nuclear catastrophes, as seen in Japan's 2011 tsunami disaster. A volcanic explosion is the most terrible natural disaster which cannot be easily avoided by human wisdom and knowledge.With unrelenting outbreaks of record-breaking natural disasters around the world and especially in the wake of Japan's massive earthquake that is now estimated to have killed nearly 10,000, the world's eyes are drawn to Mt. Baekdu. Multinational and regional cooperative monitoring systems are needed beyond ideological barriers to take preemptive measures against a possible eruption.By all indications, Mt. Baekdu is a real danger and it's not clear how long it will stay inactive. A Mt. Baekdu eruption, if it takes place, will not be a matter for a certain country but a global concern to determine the future of Northeast Asian civilization.An important measure of eruptive strength is the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), a magnitudic scale ranging from 0 to 8 that often correlates to eruptive types.During a volcanic eruption, lava, tephra (ash, lapilli tuff, volcanic bombs and blocks), and various gases are expelled from a volcanic vent or fissure.Several types of volcanic eruptions have been distinguished by volcanologists. These are often named after famous volcanoes where that type of behavior has been observed.Some volcanoes may exhibit only one characteristic type of eruption during a period of activity, while others may display an entire sequence of types all in one eruptive series.Park Chang-seok is currently a resident research fellow of the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA). Park, a former Korea Times managing editor and a Kyung Hee University media professor, is the author of "The History of Korean English Newspaper" and "News English." He is the editor of KIPA's two English books "Korea: From Rags to Riches" and "Discover Korea in Public Administration." In this Aug. 30, 2014 photo, a North Korean woman walks along the Taedong River in Pyongyang, North Korea./AP-Yonhap By Lee Jin-a North Korea is putting its people under tighter control before the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party next month. Authorities recently launched a nationwide crackdown on those who have piercings and wear Westernized clothing or hairstyles, the vernacular daily Chosun Ilbo, citing Japanese media outlet Asia Press, said. The clampdown focuses on North Hamgyong Province and Yanggang Province, which are close to China, where residents have relatively easy access to information from the outside world. In North Korea, those who wear Westernized fashion or hairstyles are considered "spoiled" by capitalism and subject to punishment. "A growing number of North Korean people are infatuated with Western culture," Japanese journalist Ishimaru Jiro was quoted as saying in the report. "The crackdown will continue until the end of the upcoming gathering." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to tighten his grip on the country through the event. By Yi Whan-woo Activity at North Korea's main nuclear test site in Punggye-ri appears to be increasing, adding to speculation that Pyongyang may conduct its fifth nuclear test soon. "We've detected more people and vehicles moving into and out of the site recently," a source, on condition of anonymity, said Sunday. "The activity is a couple of times larger than what we saw in February. "We suspect the vehicles carry nuclear scientists into the underground test tunnel and such activities could be a sign of North Korea's preparations for a new nuclear test." Speculation has been rising that the military state may carry out its fifth nuclear test to coincide with the seventh Workers' Party Congress. The congressional meeting, the first since 1980, is expected early next month. Any nuclear test will be in violation of a string of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, including Resolution 2270, imposed on March 2 in response to Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. The secretive state then claimed it successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb, a fusion-powered weapon that is more destructive than fission-powered uranium and plutonium bombs. Some military intelligence officials said North Korea this time may test a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can be mounted on the tip of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Pyongyang has stepped up efforts to develop a nuclear-tipped ICBM that ultimately could strike the U.S. mainland. On March 15, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country "in a short time" will carry out nuclear warhead tests and also test launch several types of rockets that use ballistic missile technology. "North Korea is likely to insist on the successful explosion of a nuclear warhead if it goes ahead with a new nuclear test," a Ministry of Defense official said, asking not to be named. "It's possible Pyongyang will secretly transport the warhead into the underground tunnel at night to avoid being detected by U.S. reconnaissance satellites. "It should be noted that additional nuclear tests will only deepen the UNSC's sanctions against North Korea." A U.S. website that monitors North Korea's nuclear-related activities, 38 North, also added to speculation over the regime's fifth nuclear test. Citing satellite imagery, the website said Friday that North Korea could be using tanks or casks on railway flatcars at its main radiochemical laboratory complex in Yongbyon to separate weapons-grade plutonium from nuclear reactor waste. In a report a week earlier, 38 North also said exhaust plumes have been seen two or three times at the Yongbyon complex. It said such plumes have rarely been seen there, hinting that reprocessing maybe separating additional plutonium for weapons. By Chang Se-moon On April 7, one male manager and 12 waitresses, who worked at overseas restaurants owned and operated by North Korea, defected and arrived in Seoul, This is the first time that North Korean employees from a state-run restaurant overseas defected as a group. Interestingly, the 13 North Koreans are middle-class people with a good education. This may be a good time to think about the life of women in general who are fleeing North Korea. Human rights violations in North Korea, especially relating to women, are one of those issues that most of us would rather not think about, because it makes us feel uncomfortable as there is really not that much we can do about them. I still feel that we should face the problem and search for ways to minimize the cruel treatment that many women in North Korea are going through. For those of us who care about the issue, outstanding organizations such as the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and the New Korea Women's Union (NKWU) continue to gather valuable information so that we can be aware of the problem. I can think of two publications by the Committee on human rights violations relating to North Korean women. One is the October 1, 2009 report, "Lives for Sale: Personal Accounts of Women Fleeing North Korea to China," written by Lee Hae Young, and the other is one in September 18, 2015, "The Hidden Gulag IV: Gender Repression and Prisoner Disappearances," written by David Hawk. Both reports are based on personal interviews of real victims. According to Lee Hae Young, women fleeing North Korea to China are so desperately poor in the North that they often turn to strangers and become victims of traffickers. Most of the women interviewed by Lee came from the northeastern provinces of North Korea that are close to the Chinese border. The severity of the famine in the area left these women without husbands and fathers. "In North Korea, after the death of their fathers or spouses, many of these women became homeless itinerant peddlers or scavengers until they crossed the border into China, risking their lives in the process." According to Lee, there are many more men than women of marrying age in northeast China near North Korea. Chinese men thus pay large sums of money to purchase North Korean women. "As women are a commodity with a high price, they fall prey to traffickers," while "The price the women bring becomes a bounty for their acquisition. Traffickers seek out the hapless victims of the North Korean regime's neglect and entrap them into abuse and exploitation in China." One problem, according to Lee, is that the Chinese government treats North Korean women as illegal economic migrants, and "sometimes sends them back to North Korea where they are punished because their homeland views them as traitors and criminals." One woman Lee interviewed stated that she lost both of her parents and had a difficult time making a living. One day in 2003, she was told by a North Korean woman who later turned out to be a trafficker that she would find a decent job in China. They crossed the border together and one week later, she was sold to a Chinese male. Lee also found out that many North Korean women in China were working as sex slaves with customers that included "South Korean and Japanese businessmen working in the district." The 2015 report by Hawk explains in detail the hardships that many North Korean women have to endure after being interned in labor camps. Many stories in Hawk's report center around Kyo-hwa-so No. 12, located near the Chinese border, to which a women's section was added sometime after 2008. About 80 percent of roughly 1,000 women prisoners out of a total 3,000 to 4,000 inmates in Kyo-hwa-so No. 12 are women who fled to China but were forcibly sent back to North Korea. One former female prisoner at Jongo-ri who was interviewed in April of 2015 by Hawk was a Ms. Choi who fled to China in 1998. She lived in Yanbian, China, for ten years but was sent back to North Korea by the Chinese police in 2008. Eventually Ms. Choi was sent to Kyo-hwa-so No. 12 to serve a three-year sentence. Ms. Choi weighed 125 pounds when repatriated. Because of severe malnutrition, her weight decreased to 59.5 pounds by the time the prison authorities "sent for her family to come get her once she lost consciousness when they believed she was near death." Eventually, she fled to China and on to South Korea. I do not know what can be done to help these hapless North Korean women. I am grateful to many NGO's and such organizations as Human Rights in North Korea and the New Korea Women's Union that continue to do the hard work of finding out the truth about the cruel life that many North Korean women have to go through. Chang Se-moon is the director of the Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies. Write to her at: changsemoon@yahoo.com. /Courtesy of Korea University Anam Hospital By Jung Min-ho, Kim Eil-chul Imagine hundreds of thousands of North Korean refugees are crossing the border into South Korea after their regime suddenly collapses. What would be the most urgent issue for the unified Korea? Surveys show that most South Koreans believe the cost of unification is the biggest concern. However, according to Kim Young-hoon, former president of Korea University Anam Hospital, money may just be a secondary issue. "President Park Geun-hye said unification would bring a bonanza, but it could instead bring a health crisis, if we are unprepared," Kim said. "Unification could bring along many lethal, infectious diseases that we are not ready to cope with. The worst part is that we know very little about such risks." Some health risks are obvious, he said. For example, North Korea has about 110,000 tuberculosis (TB) patients, 5,000 of whom died in 2014 alone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "More worryingly, many of TB cases in North Korea are multi-drug resistant. This means we don't have any way to cure the highly contagious infection," Kim said. Even today, South Korea, the fourth-largest economy in Asia, is struggling with its own fight against TB. According to the WHO, the country has the highest TB incidence rate among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "So if you think that South Korea is capable of coping effectively with a huge influx of TB patients from the North, you may be mistaken," Kim said. "Look at how one patient infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome last year shook the entire nation." "And TB is just one of the many health risk factors of unification." The health risks of unification may be even bigger for North Koreans, who have lived behind the walls of the world's most isolated state for more than 60 years. Most of them may not be immune to the diseases that would not affect people in the rest of the world. "For now, we just don't know much," he said. Kim Young-hoon, who served as the president of Korea University Anam Hospital, now leads the Arrhythmia Center at the hospital. He is one of the most renowned arrhythmia experts in the country. /Courtesy of Korea University Anam Hospital The poor overall health status of North Koreans may also bring down that of South Koreans altogether after unification. According to a report published in 2014 by the state-run Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the average lifespan of North Koreans is 69.5 years, much shorter than the 81 years for South Koreans. In terms of medical standards, experts believe the rich South is 30 to 50 years ahead of the impoverished North. During his 2014-2015 term at Korea University Anam Hospital, Kim thought the health risks of unification are a serious issue to be addressed. Thus, he created a graduate program to study the health and medical implications of Korean unification, making Korea University the first college to have such a program in Korea. The program will launch in September. "Some of the program lectures will be open to the public, and I also plan to financially support students in the program as much as possible," he said. He also created the Inter-Korea Foundation for Health and Medical Education last year under the Ministry of Unification, which will support professors and students in the program. The foundation has already begun to review medical journals and data from North Korea in an attempt to understand the diagnosis and treatment of different kinds of diseases there in comparison with South Korea. "We are trying to find out, for example, what types of cardiac disorders are common in the state and how they are treated with very limited resources," Kim said. The foundation will also collaborate with experts to study the health of North Korean refugees in South Korea. "The foundation and experts are documenting the health status and determinants of North Korean refugees. By doing so, they can try to understand how their health status changes as they adapt to the Westernized lifestyle of South Korea," he said. Through a cohort study involving about 1,000 North Koreans, researchers at the foundation have already produced some meaningful results. For instance, he noted, the researchers found that North Koreans have a higher risk of developing diabetes, as they will take in much more nutrition when they settle in the South. One of the courses of the program aims to unify the medical terms of the two states. Many terms used in the North are Korean and Russian, while those used in the South are mainly English. "Many South Korean organizations have tried to improve the health of North Koreans by giving them medical devices and drugs, but there has been no solid system that can be helpful in the long term," Kim said. "Not just as preparation for unification. I also hope that our effort can contribute to bringing the two sides closer on their way to the ultimate unification." Fixing hearts that have lost their rhythm Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats either too fast, too slow, too early or irregularly. It occurs when the electrical impulses to the heart that coordinate heartbeats are not working properly. Arrhythmia is the cause of most sudden cardiac deaths. Atrial fibrillation, which can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications, is the most common type of arrhythmia. Arrhythmia affects millions of people worldwide, including about 2 to 3 percent of the total population of Europe and North America, and according to the Korean Society of Cardiology, 800,000 to 1 million in Korea as well. Kim, who now leads the Arrhythmia Center at Korea University Anam Hospital, is one of the most renowned arrhythmia experts in the country. In 1998, when atrial fibrillation was largely considered impossible to treat, Kim implemented radiofrequency catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure, in which thin wires called catheters are inserted into a vein to destroy the heart tissues that signal abnormal electrical impulses. Since then, he has successfully performed the procedure on more than 2,500 patients, dispelling initial concerns about the method's efficacy and safety. Kim said none of his patients has died as a result of the procedure. "About 95 percent of atrial fibrillation cases can be cured completely with the procedure," he said. "After that, patients just have to take medications." Having published more than 140 articles about arrhythmia in reputable journals in Korea and abroad, Kim has become well-respected among many experts in the field. Dailian University in China is one of the many institutions that have asked him to share his know-how about arrhythmia treatment, especially about radiofrequency catheter ablation. In 2012, he agreed to do so at the school for five years. Some doctors from Japan, Hong Kong and Indonesia have also visited his hospital in Korea to learn from him. His research team is now working to develop better ways to treat arrhythmia, in cooperation with experts at world-renowned medical institutions, including Harvard Medical School. Remembering Rosetta Sherwood Hall The alumnus of Korea University College of Medicine expressed his affection for his school during the interview, saying his last goal is to revive the spirit of Rosetta Sherwood Hall, an American medical missionary who established the Joseon Women's Medical Training Institute, the predecessor of the medical college, in 1928. "About a hundred years ago, she risked her life to come here to deliver one message: the importance of helping those in need. I think everyone here needs to take that message seriously and act accordingly. When we do, I have no doubt that the school will change in remarkable ways," Kim said. By Nam Sang-so Captain Harry Turner called the dispatch office of Pan American Airlines in San Francisco and reported that he would be about 20 minutes late. He wanted to attend his daughter's piano recital. He was scheduled to fly a seaplane from the Pan Am berth in San Francisco Bay and arrive at Honolulu at 08:00, December 7, Hawaii Time. Turner was assigned on that day in 1941 to fly an Anzac Clipper with 37 passengers aboard on the first leg of a flight to Singapore. His attendance at his daughter's piano recital and the subsequent traffic jam on the Oakland streets had delayed the seaplane's departure by 40 minutes, such that when he flew the plane over the Golden Gate Bridge it was 5:40 p.m., December 6, Pacific Time. "It's a 14 hour flight to Hawaii and the plane will slide down on the water of Pearl Harbor when the sun rises on the 7th," thought Turner and didn't concern himself much about the late departure. He knew that the U.S. Pacific Fleet had been relocated from Long Beach to Pearl Harbor where a Pan Am seaplane berth was located and he was more concerned that he would need to exercise a careful splash down among the crowded battleships moored in the harbor. The night flight was uneventful. When the first rays of dawn crept over the east horizon, a broadcast of sweet Hawaiian music by a Honolulu station filled the cockpit. "We are almost there," exclaimed the navigator. Captain Turner flew the plane in the direction of the radio wave coming from Hawaii. In the same dawning sky north of Oahu Island, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida was doing the same by setting his flying course into the direction of the Hawaiian melody in leading the formations of 183 fighter and bomber planes that had just departed from the decks of the six aircraft carriers of the Japanese Naval Strike Force. The music popped off in the Pan Am seaplane and was replaced by man's alarmed voice. "Japanese fighter planes are bombing Pearl Harbor. Hawaii is being attacked!" said the announcer breathing hard. "Oh, my God!" said Turner aloud, then looked out the windshield in search of Hilo Island, another of the Hawaiian Islands. He knew Hilo had a calm inlet. Now, thankful for the beautiful piano melody his daughter had played the afternoon before, which eventually saved his and the passengers' lives, Captain Turner calmly splashed his seaplane down near Hilo. He told the passengers why he couldn't go to Pearl Harbor. There were two VIPs on board; His Imperial Majesty of Iran Mohammed RezaShah Pahlavi, who was on his way home after visiting President Roosevelt promising that he would cooperate with the United States. The other distinguished guest was U Saw, the Premier of Burma (now Myanmar). He too was on his way home also after visiting that same president and was disappointed by Roosevelt's refusal to honor his plea for the independence of Burma from Britain. As the western globe route back to Rangoon was blocked by the Japanese fleet, he had to take the eastward route home, stopping at the Japanese Embassy in Lisbon and secretly informing the ambassador that Burma would help Japan in the war against America. The confidential Japanese message sent to Tokyo was decoded by the U.S. Navy. He later played a major role in the assassination of Burma's national hero Aung San in 1947 and U Saw was later executed by his own people. Observing Japan's valiant surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor, Saw thought that Japan would win the war while Pahlavi predicted otherwise. The writer is a Japanese-English-Korean translator. His email address is sangsonam@gmail.com. South Korea should be on full alert to deal with North Korea's additional nuclear testing and other possible provocations after a failed missile test last week. The likelihood that North Korea is preparing for a fifth nuclear test has increased, particularly ahead of the country's ruling Workers' Party congress in May. According to the latest reports, a surge in activity at North Korea's atomic test site in Punggye-ri suggests it is finalizing preparations for a fifth nuclear test. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang attempted to launch a Musudan medium-range missile off the east coast last Friday, but failed. The missile, with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers, could one day be capable of reaching far-off U.S. military bases in Asia and the Pacific. The White House said the U.S. strongly condemns this provocative act and called it a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that explicitly prohibit North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology. The attempted missile launch coincided with the birthday of North Korean founding leader Kim Il-sung. His grandson, Kim Jong-un, the current leader, will be eager to arrive at the congress on the back of a show of military strength rather than a failed rocket launch. The launch is the latest in a series of provocations. The North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch in February, which resulted in the strongest international sanctions yet against Pyongyang. Kim will want to convey a message of defiance toward the international community through additional provocations before the congress. But he must realize that Pyongyang will face more devastating economic and political isolation from the international community unless he abandons his nuclear ambitions. Assembly needs to deter state control of history The opposition parties have reached a much needed agreement and joined hands to deter President Park Geun-hye's plan to rewrite a single history textbook for high schools' use starting in 2017. The Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) and the splinter People's Party will move toward passing a resolution that calls for abolishing the government's scheme to replace the current system of multiple textbooks with a single textbook published by the government. The plan has come under much criticism because she is reviving a similar state textbook policy used during her late father Park Chung-hee's presidency. The resolution against the state monopoly of history textbooks is meaningful because it will be the first example of the post-election cooperation between the MPK and the new People's Party. The parties should keep in mind that the people are expecting more such cooperation in the 20th Assembly. The opposition parties should also work together and produce the most workable alternatives for some urgent national issues, such as high youth unemployment and the low birthrate crisis. With the opposition parties' firm stance against state textbooks, they will continue to trigger confrontation in the 20th National Assembly. It is uncertain whether the resolution will have a real effect in changing the fate of the state textbooks. The government has already started the publication process. But at least it should leave a positive precedence of non-partisan cooperation, which was glaringly absent in the 19th National Assembly. With a subservient party to President Park holding the parliamentary majority, it was impossible for the outgoing Assembly to do something about the Park administration's authoritarian policy-making, best exemplified by the state textbooks. Last week's general election resulted in sweeping changes at the National Assembly, such as the shift of power to the opposition and a three-party system for the first time in 20 years. Park's Saenuri Party has been relegated to a second rank in parliament after the MPK. Therefore, the 20th Assembly must show that it will not be as ineffective as before in holding the government in check. By Andrei Lankov On the 15th of April, North Korea had lavish celebrations for Kim Il Sung's birthday, officially known as "Day of the Sun". These celebrations can be seen as an embodiment of the personality cult going mad, but one should not think that all this official pomp is completely fake. For many North Koreans the founding father of their state is, indeed, a person worthy of respect. It is not incidental that polls confirm that the late Generalissimo and Sun of the Nation still enjoys much support among his former subjects and even among defectors. Why do North Koreans tend to love the long-deceased dictator? One can argue that his popularity is based to a large extent on outright lies, misinterpretations, and myths but does it really matter? After all, the same can be said about many other historical figures that are widely admired across the world. To start with, Kim Il Sung is seen as an authentic hero of the anti-Japanese resistance, the proud symbol of Korean nationalism. This reputation is much exaggerated, but not completely unfounded. Kim Il Sung indeed joined the anti-Japanese guerrillas in 1932 and by the late 1930s became a reasonably successful field commander in the wilderness of Manchuria. During his guerilla exploits, Kim Il Sung actually demonstrated remarkable bravery, commitment and a spirit of self-sacrifice. As far as we know, he was respected by his guerrillas as an able and caring commander even though, admittedly, there were other commanders of equal prominence. On the other hand, the North Koreans are largely unaware that, contrary to the oft-repeated lies of the official propaganda, the founding father of their state never led an independent Korean guerilla force. He spent all his guerilla career as, first, a soldier of the Chinese communist forces and then, in 1941-45, as a junior officer of the Soviet army. Of course, the significance of his operations has been grossly exaggerated. The armed Manchurian resistance was heroic and even important politically as one of many symbols of Koreans' willingness to fight, but in purely strategic terms the minor skirmishes in the Manchurian forests were a sideshow and had little if any impact even on the local military operations. Second, Kim Il Sung is seen by the North Koreans as a person who won the Korean War against mighty America. Nearly all North Koreans buy the official story which holds that the Korean War began in June 1950 as an act of aggression, committed by the South Koreans and the Americans. For a brief while that idea was popular with radical historians in South Korea and the United States, but in the 1990s publication of once top secret Soviet and Chinese documents demonstrated that the war was actually instigated at Kim Il Sung's initiative and reluctantly approved by Stalin and Mao. However, this is not what the common North Koreans are aware of. For them, the picture is simple: their country was invaded, but Kim Il Sung managed to repel the invasion, so the war ended where it began. For them it looks like a victory (logically enough). The third and the most important reasons of Kim Il Sung's resilient popularity is, as one should expect, the state of the economy. Actually, his policies were pretty insane and made the collapse of North Korean industries and agriculture merely a question of time. However, the collapse happened only when the old dictator was safely dead, under the watch of his son, Kim Jong Il, who is now blamed by the majority of the North Koreans for the famine and dislocation of the 1990s. On the contrary, the days of Kim Il Sung are remembered by the North Koreans as the time of stability and modest affluence. Everybody was issued a daily ration usually, some 700 grams of rice or corn for a working adult, for a token price. The major consumption goods were distributed as well. The officials were probably rich, but their affluence was not easily noticeable, so people also remember Kim Il Sung's decades as the time of material equality. There are good reasons to expect that this reverence for Kim the First will outlive the Kim Family Regime. The popular myth insists that Kim Il Sung, the wise old man, got (more or less) everything right, but then his son ruined everything. This is not true, but it seems that the founder of the North Korean state will be long seen as, so to say, a "controversial historical personality" and will have his fans. Professor Andrei Lankov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and teaches at Bookman University in Seoul. Reach him at anlankov@yahoo.com. Kim Seong-han, right, SK Telecom's device planning division chief, poses with Taisei Express CEO Hwang Kyung-ho, after signing a 3.1 billion won deal to export smart beam projectors to the Japanese retailer, at this year's Hong Kong Electronics Fair, Saturday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom By Lee Min-hyung SK Telecom has clinched a 3.1 billion won deal with a Tokyo-based retailer to export its smart beam portable projectors, the mobile carrier said Sunday. The company will supply the UO smart beam laser projectors to Taisei Express for a year from the end of April. The contract came on the sidelines of this year's Hong Kong Electronics Fair, held over four days from Wednesday. The value of the deal is 300 million yen (3.15 billion won), according to the company. It will help SK Telecom diversify its revenue channels into the relatively untapped territory dominated by electrical-device makers such as Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba. Taisei is a retail giant that deals with portable smart devices. The company plans to sell the projectors through major retailers including Amazon and Yahoo Japan. "The latest contract will be the first step of our global penetration strategy," said Kim Seong-han, SK Telecom's device planning division chief. "Expectations are also that this will pave the way for our UO-branded products to gain more popularity in Japan." In April last year, SK Telecom unveiled a blueprint to turn the company into a converged platform service provider through the Internet of Things (IoT). The company then launched its "United Object (UO)" brand in a bid to generate new revenue sources to tackle the saturation of the traditional telecom business. The mobile carrier has since launched a series of smart devices, including the UO beam projectors and a UO smart band. In particular, the high-definition beam projector has had stronger-than-expected sales in 15 markets, including the United States, China, Germany and Malaysia, since its launch in 2013, according to the company. The smart device received an innovation award at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for features such as wireless connection to smartphones and cubic design. The device is 5.5 centimeters cubed. SK Telecom signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Telecom last year for co-marketing the UO products in Asia's largest market. Residents survey destroyed housing follwoing an earthquake, April 16, 2016 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. At least 28 people were killed by a strong 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck northwestern Ecuador, the country's Vice President Jorge Glas said. / AFP-Yonhap By Kim Da-hee A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador's central coast Saturday (local time), killing at least 41 people and injuring hundreds of others. At least one house and an overpass collapsed in the port city of Guayaquil, The Associated Press, citing local media, said. The U.S. Geological Survey issued a tsunami warning for coasts within 300 kilometers of the earthquake's epicenter. Ecuadorian authorities said the death toll is expected to rise because many people are feared trapped in the collapsed buildings. The quake happened about 173 kilometers northwest of the capital, Quito, and 28 kilometers southeast of Muisne, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the U.S. agency said. The powerful quake came after two big earthquakes hit southern Japan on Friday and Saturday, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds more. A growing number of Chinese people are canceling their planned travels to Japan's earthquake-hit areas, as China's tour industry and the Hong Kong government have issued a travel warning for Kumamoto Prefecture, which was hit by deadly earthquakes last week, China's media reported Sunday. A 7.3-magnitude temblor hit Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu at around 1:25 a.m. Saturday, less than two days after a 6.5-magnitude quake struck the same region. The quakes killed 34 people and injured some 2,000 others, according to Japanese media. In the wake of the quakes, the Hong Kong government issued a yellow travel warning, the lowest of the three-stage alert system, for the Kumamoto region, the South China Morning Post and other newspapers reported. The Hong Kong government advised those who are planning to visit the region or are already staying there to be on alert and stay away from the quake-stricken area. China's major tourist agencies have also suspended their tour programs to the disaster-battered Japanese areas for one month until May 16. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more The aging of the U.S. population is, well, a fact of life that gets mentioned often in political and economic discussions but seldom is communicated in an understandable way. Stephen Holzman, who appears to be something of a data visualization whiz, decided to pull together the statistics and animate them via the gif below. Stephen Holzman's gif depicts the aging of the U.S. population. Changes after 2010 are shown in red and blue bands to signify the range of uncertainty. (Stephen Holzman) The most striking element of the graphic, unsurprisingly, is the movement of baby-boomers through the population, seen as a very distinctive bulge appearing in the mid-1940s and moving up in age through about 2040, at which point it begins to fade. But the most important point is that the population as a whole is aging. (The red and blue bands on the graphic reflect the uncertainties of population statistics starting in 2010.) The World Economic Forum reproduced Holzman's graphic for a discussion of the implications of the trend, which roughly parallels that in the rest of the world. "The potential consequences of an aging population," observes the WEF, "include economic pressure on healthcare and other welfare systems and a much smaller working-age population relative to the elderly." The potential consequences of an aging population...includeeconomic pressureon healthcare and other welfare systems and a much smaller working-age population relative to the elderly. --World Economic Forum The trend will be most pronounced in less-developed countries, according to U.N. population surveys. "The worlds least developed countries will go from having around 16 working age people for every older person to around 4 by the end of this century," the WEF says. "The developed world by contrast...currently has 3.7 people of working age for every older person and this is expected to fall to 1.9 by the end of the period." Yet the social and economic prospects are not as dire as they appear on the surface. Improvements in healthcare mean that "what it meant to be 65 in 1916 (or 1933) is no longer the same as what it means to be 65 today." Indeed, our measurements of aging itself are themselves aging, for they fail to accommodate the improvement in the ability of people to keep working into later years--generally, that is, for vast and widening gaps have appeared in life expectancies among ethnic and socio-economic categories. Population economists Warren Sanderson and Sergei Scherbov propose recalibrating measures such as old-age dependency ratios to recognize such emerging trends. "The old-age dependency ratio in the U.S. is forecast to increase by 61% from 2013 to 2030," they observe. "But using our economic dependency ratio, the ratio of adults in the labor force to adults not in the labor force increases by just 3% over that period. Clearly, doom-and-gloom stories about U.S. workers having to support so many more nonworkers in the future may need to be reconsidered." That has implications for the fiscal stability of Social Security. Among other things, many workers will continue contributing to the program for years after they were formerly assumed to transition to beneficiary status, and many more may defer collecting until they approach the age of 70. The impact on healthcare costs of aging populations may also become more moderate. Existing projections assume "that health care costs rise dramatically on peoples 65th birthdays," they write. But the prospects are that the heaviest costs, which occur in the last few years of life, may occur at later ages than currently expected. In Japan, for example, when the burden of the healthcare costs of people aged 65 and up on those 20 to 64 years old is assessed using only the conventional old-age dependency ratio, that burden is forecast to increase 32% from 2013 to 2030," write Sanderson and Scherbov. "When we compute healthcare costs based on whether people are in the last few years of their lives, the burden increases only 14%. Immigration can moderate the cost of an aging population by reducing the average age and producing more income to cover the costs of the elderly. (WEF) (Test) In Japan, for example, when the burden of the health care costs of people aged 65 and up on those 20-64 years old is assessed using only the conventional old-age dependency ratio, that burden is forecast to increase 32 percent from 2013 to 2030," write Sanderson and Scherbov. "When we compute health care costs based on whether people are in the last few years of their lives, the burden increases only 14 percent. One lesson drawn from the reality of aging populations in the developed world involves the value of immigration. "Migrant workers are typically of working age which means they help to boost the labour supply and contribute to economic growth and tax revenues," the WEF observes. The accompanying chart from Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility shows that by the mid-2060s, low immigration could result in debts rising to over 100% of GDP; higher immigration would reduce the ratio to only 70%. Understanding of the policy dimensions of aging demographics have lagged far behind the reality. For the most part, they're stuck in the past. It's time to bring them up to date and strip them of ideological bluster. Seeing how the population ages is a good first step, and for that we should thank Mr. Holzman. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltzik's blog. Question: Ive been attending my homeowner associations monthly board meetings for 30 years. Because the board doesnt report everything in the minutes, these meetings are important to me. There have been times Ive been ill or away and asked the board if my sister could attend the meeting on my behalf. They said if I got a power of attorney she could attend. I hired a lawyer and paid for the power of attorney, but when my sister went to the meeting the board denied her entry and said they didnt care that she had the document. Im not the only one this has happened to. My neighbors son has been staying with her for the past several weeks because she just had major surgery. She asked him to attend last nights board meeting but the board would not allow it because her son is also an attorney. The associations attorney who was present said, No attorneys can attend, then told her son to leave or he would call the police and have him removed. Now theres a new rule: Owners have to give 72 hours notice if were bringing someone to a meeting. I think this is outrageous. We should be able to have someone accompany us or attend on our behalf if we are unable to be present. What can we do to protect our interests and what can we do about this? Advertisement Answer: Access to board meetings has been a long-standing complaint by owners, who have tried to address this issue by closing loopholes in the common interest development act. With or without a valid power of attorney, titleholders wanting to bring a caretaker, interpreter, family member, friend, support person or their attorney to board meetings have been summarily denied entry. The hoops and machinations employed by boards, management and association attorneys effectively slam the door shut on a titleholders ability to protect his or her interests and assets. As most board meetings occur every 30 days, owners complain they are waylaid and put off to each subsequent next meeting. Boards devise these juggling acts for the purpose of frustrating owners so they give up trying or, in the case of the elderly, they perish trying. Even though it is not always possible to give prior notice, some associations still require 72 hours to 30 days written notice to request permission to bring a guest to a meeting. Neither may be practical. Just the logistics of delivering notice may defeat any semblance of so-called fairness in allowing an owner to bring a guest. Owners need an additional layer of protection by having at least two addresses on file where the association sends notices, perhaps to another family member in case the owner is on vacation or incapacitated. By written request an owner can add a second address for delivery of individual notices and the association shall deliver an additional copy of those notices to that secondary address identified in the request, according to Civil Code section 4040(b). Currently, the board may have an attorney present but it may prohibit a titleholder from being represented by an attorney at a board meeting. A bill that would rectify that situation is making its way through Californias Legislature. Assembly Bill 1720 by Assemblyman Donald P. Wagner (R-Irvine) would permit any person to attend a board meeting on behalf of the owner, whether or not the owner attends at the same time. In other words, it would allow the owners attorney to stand in the shoes of that titleholder during that board meeting. At least 48 hours advance written notice would have to be given to the board that a person representing the owner will be attending the meeting. The bill is supported by the Conference of California Bar Associations and opposed by the HOA management industry, which contends that it would promote costly, disruptive litigation from owners who already have adequate avenues to pursue disputes. Weigh in by contacting Wagners office or check on the bills status by visiting https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ and click on Bill Information. Zachary Levine, a partner at Wolk & Levine, a business and intellectual property law firm, co-wrote this column. Vanitzian is an arbitrator and mediator. Send questions to Donie Vanitzian, JD, P.O. Box 10490, Marina del Rey, CA 90295 or noexit@mindspring.com. ALSO Will Yahoo find a buyer? Bids are due Delta eliminates a booking fee but dont expect others to follow Supreme Court rejects challenge to Googles online library of books Dear Liz: You frequently suggest consulting a fee-only financial planner, such as those who are members of the Garrett Planning Network, which seems like great advice. Can you provide any guidance on how much one should expect to pay for the services of this type of planner? We are a couple living in Los Angeles looking for a pre-retirement evaluation. That would probably include evaluation of existing investments, insurance needs, Social Security, long-term care, etc. How should we evaluate a quote of $3,000 for a full review estimated at 10 hours or $300 an hour? Answer: The cost for a comprehensive financial plan varies depending on where you live and the planners experience level, among other factors. Nationally, the range is typically from $150 to $300 an hour, so $3,000 for 10 hours in Los Angeles is at the high (but not unreasonable) end of the scale, assuming the planner has several years experience. Another way to get a feel for going rates is by interviewing a couple of other fee-only planners in your area. If the cost youre quoted is dramatically lower, though, make sure the planner isnt accepting commissions as well. Some planners are fee based, which means they accept both fees from clients and commissions on the products they recommend. You can ask for the planners Form ADV, a form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Part II of this form contains information about how the planner is compensated. Advertisement Options for paying a big IRS bill Dear Liz: I sold one mutual fund to invest in another fund with the same company. The tax statement shows this as a capital gain so large that I cannot afford to pay it all in one payment to the IRS. This is a disaster. Is there anything I can do? Answer: Absolutely. File your tax return on time, since the failure-to-file penalty is much higher than the failure-to-pay penalty. Pay as much as you can when you file the return, and then consider your options. If you can come up with the remainder within 120 days, then do so. Theres no need to arrange a formal payment plan, but you will owe interest and penalties on the balance until its repaid. If you cant pay within 120 days, you can ask for an installment agreement. Youll find an application in most tax software or you can find Form 9465 on the Internal Revenue Service website. You also can try calling the IRS at (800) 829-1040, but prepare for a long time listening to hold music. Budget cuts have left the agency severely short-handed and wait times are considerable. You also should consider borrowing the money from another source, such as a low-cost personal loan. Another option is to charge what you owe to a low-rate credit card. Youll pay a small fee for the privilege, but ultimately it may be cheaper than paying interest and penalties to the IRS. Fixing a wounded credit score Dear Liz: My wife and I co-signed on our daughters mortgage, then the home went into foreclosure. My wife and I have no debt and a net worth that exceeds $1 million. We purchased our cars with cash and the single credit card we have with a $35,000 limit is paid off in full each month. Since the foreclosure, our FICO score has been in the fair range. We have no plans to take out a loan for anything and plan to continue our cash and carry lifestyle. However, the low FICO is a little disconcerting. It appears the only cure is time (measured in years). We welcome any additional guidance. Answer: You cant fix your wounded FICO scores overnight, but you could speed up your credit score rehabilitation by adding one or two more credit accounts to your mix. At least one of those accounts should be an installment loan, since scoring formulas want evidence you can handle different types of credit. If you dont want an auto or personal loan, then consider a credit builder loan that puts your payments into a certificate of deposit that you claim when all the payments have been made. Credit builder loans are offered by credit unions and some online lenders. Is it worth the effort, even though you dont plan to borrow? In most states (although not California), credit scores heavily influence what you pay for auto and homeowners insurance. People who dont have the best scores can pay hundreds of dollars more each year for coverage. Credit scores also may be used to determine deposits for utilities and wireless service. If you need to rent an apartment, your credit scores matter as well. If none of those are a concern, you can continue to take the slow road to rebuilding your credit, since the foreclosure will fall off your credit reports after seven years. If you want to speed things along, though, another credit account or two should help. Liz Weston is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. Reaction to O.J. Simpson verdict Regarding O.J. Stirs Actors Feelings as Well [April 10]. I have been intrigued by the resurgence of the O.J. trial in all its forms, from the FX series to reality shows covering the double homicide and the succeeding televised trial. It was an alarming incident that captivated our interest. Equally alarming is Cuba Gooding Jr. stating he held a party at his home when the verdict was read and not caring if O.J. did it or not, that it was a victory for them. There are no victors when a murder occurs. We are all victims. Kurt Bonzell Northridge :: O.J. stirred a lot of feelings but not all for reasons people think. Advertisement I was teaching high school when the verdict came in and one of my 10th grade boys said, I wanted to go to Compton and riot tonight. Doreen Lorand Downey :: Cuba Gooding Jr. said he had a gathering at his home when the verdict was rendered back in 1995 and We were excited, screaming, we didnt care if he did it or not. It felt like a victory for us. Please tell me this is a misprint. Gary Calame Burbank :: Cuba Gooding Jr. stated he and the gathered people at his home cheered when the O.J. verdict was announced. This country has come a long way in bringing races together and granted we still have work to do but this kind of incendiary comment certainly adds fuel to the fire rather than putting out any flames. David L. Hardison Murrieta A refresher on criminal law Regarding: A Voice for the Defense [April 5]. I owe Marcia Clark a debt of gratitude. After practicing criminal defense law for over 40 years, 32 of which were spent as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles, I now know that I am morally ambiguous. I have more creative freedom than the prosecutors, and all I need is a defense that works. It doesnt have to be the truth. Perhaps Clark should dust off her constitutional law book and take a look at the fundamental rights afforded anyone charged with a criminal offense. There is also the concept known as the presumption of innocence, which puts the burden of proof on the prosecution to prove that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution doesnt win, it merely meets its burden of proof. And defendants dont lose, they are found guilty if and only if the prosecution meets its burden of proof. But how would I know? I am morally ambiguous and given to not telling the truth. David Carleton Burbank More notes on Trek debate Its been an interesting chain of letters. First, Nicholas Meyer wrote [Feedback, April 3] suggesting that Alexander Courages Star Trek theme (1966) was borrowed from Robert Farnons title music for the 1952 film Captain Horatio Hornblower. Then, the following week [Feedback, April 10] Richard Arnold correctly pointed out that only three or four notes are the same, thereby dismissing any suggestion of plagiarism or derivative writing. Meyer referred to Robert Farnon as an Englishman. Actually, Farnon was born in Canada and moved to England in his middle years where he had a very successful career as a first rate arranger. Richard R. McCurdy Burbank A pipe organ show to catch I was stunned that Mark Sweds article [Super Sonics, April 12] did not mention the largest church pipe organ in the United States, at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. The half hour concert by Christopher Bull before Sundays service is a joy, and he plays classic as well as modern pieces. Meg Quinn Coulter Los Angeles Not taking this coarse Detour Regarding the review of the The Detour on TBS [April 12]. Robert Lloyd generally seemed to like the premiere, albeit with some mixed feelings. I did not see the show, nor will I ever. According to Lloyd, The Detour has some of the best vomit scenes ever and some humor about diarrhea and urine. I guess you cant go wrong with jokes about hilarious bodily discharges. Of course, there are the obligatory sexual references by precocious tweeners, in this case 11-year-old twins. Such is the writing served up in much of todays TV. Are the people who like this fare the same ones who complain about the coarseness of Donald Trump? Just asking. Ken Grow Newbury Park People across the world are accustomed to seeing figures such as President Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the the United Nations. But on a recent afternoon, the woman in a pale gray suit standing at the podium in the iconic General Assembly hall was not a world leader she just plays one on TV. In character as Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, the lead character in the CBS drama Madam Secretary, Tea Leoni was delivering an urgent address about the need for the United Nations to fight Hizb al-Shahid, a fictional terrorist group reminiscent of Islamic State, for an episode airing Sunday. Advertisement Im here today to ask for your solidarity and your resolve in condemning this poisonous organization and everything it stands for, said Leoni, looking out at a crowd of extras dressed in an array of international costumes. As the 50-year-old actress, seated between takes at the desk assigned to Morocco noted, its a major moment for the CBS drama, granted a rare opportunity to film inside the United Nations. Were being very careful about our Cokes and crumbs and the walls that we will not scratch, said Leoni, who also has personal ties to the organization. Her grandmother, Helenka Pantaleoni, was the founding director of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF Its also a highly personal moment for the shows lead character, whose husband, Henry (Tim Daly), suffered radiation poisoning from a dirty bomb set off by Hizb al-Shahid. This conflating of the personal and the professional is typical of the series, which finds Elizabeth juggling high-stakes international diplomacy with the demands of being a wife and mother. A recent episode found Elizabeth awkwardly trying to ingratiate herself to her daughters new boyfriend while negotiating the release of hundreds of kidnapped girls and working to control a deadly outbreak of hemorrhagic fever. All in a days work, right? I like the idea that I could be unleashed to be as steely and strong as I needed to be professionally because I could come home and make mistakes, burn eggs, give the wrong advice to my child and be human, Leoni said of her character. I think thats a fun ride, and its interesting to watch. I get offended by this idea that if youre a strong woman then youve lost your femininity. Madam Secretary is one of a growing number of television series focused on women in politics, including The Good Wife, Veep, House of Cards and Scandal. But unlike those shows, Madam Secretary, created by former Homeland writer Barbara Hall, takes a more optimistic view of both politics and personal relationships. Amid a noxious presidential campaign already marred by jaw-dropping sexism, it also offers a hopeful version of politics happily removed the deeply partisan reality. Like the protagonist in a Frank Capra film, Elizabeth was thrust into a position of power almost by accident and, the show seems to suggest, is a better leader for it. A former CIA analyst turned professor, she was asked to become secretary of State after her predecessor died in a plane crash. Its a little less cynical without trying to be too sugar-coated, said Hall, who also serves as show runner. Were trying to find something in the middle that feels more like what wed hope Washington would be. The series about a powerful woman also boasts women in key creative positions. In addition to Hall, theres executive producer Lori McCreary, who is also president of the Producers Guild of America. And in a rarity for the industry in which, according to the WGA West, women account for 29% of television writing jobs, more than half the shows writing staff is female. The series also employs a higher than average number of female directors. In an unplanned but apt coincidence, the episode filmed at the United Nations was both directed and written by women (Charlotte Brandstrom and Moira Kirland, respectively). This gender parity makes a difference in writers room, explained Kirland. I have worked on shows where there is this culture of 20 to 30 minutes talking about the big game last night. There are lots of women who care about sports; Im not one of them. You find that less in rooms where there equal numbers of women. Of course, it also makes a difference in the writing. Daly, whod stopped by the U.N. to observe the action, suggested that having more women on staff means he gets to play a confident, competent man whos neither threatened nor turned off by his wifes success. Its so unusual on television, he said. Theres this fantasy that men can remain frat boys and have some hot chick come along and love you and take care of them. I think women writing the show are like, we dont want an indolent drunken frat boy for a husband. We want a man whos got his own thing, and can make breakfast for the kids. The show also tacitly acknowledges the delicate dance required of women in powerful positions. Though Elizabeth is able to make the cold, clear-eyed decisions required of her job, she is also, generally speaking, a warm, well-liked and supportive boss who talks to her employees and colleagues about their personal lives. Look, if all women had to do is get ahead in these positions is be hard all the time then it wouldnt be that much of a challenge, Hall said. Its all about the compartmentalization that women have to learn how to do. That to me is whats interesting about a female secretary of State because you cant be tough all the time. For a relative newcomer to the world stage, Elizabeth has had a remarkably blemish-free record, managing to quell major crises while avoiding the kind of blunders that lead to congressional investigations. Using a colorful expletive, Leoni said shes been pushing the writers for Elizabeth to mess up more often. I feel like thats the real test of the character, she said. It isnt that you messed up, its how did you clean it up? What I think is a mistake that we could be making with our politicians is that were holding them some of them more than others to these standards. Lets encourage them to own their mistakes. Lets encourage them to sit down and have a conversation about what went wrong. When CBS announced in 2014 that it was making Madam Secretary, some conservatives were quick to assume Leoni would be playing a thinly veiled version of Hillary Clinton and that the series would serve as a kind of advertisement for her inevitable presidential campaign. And though those criticisms were quickly put to rest by Madam Secretarys assiduous nonpartisanship I think the most brilliant thing about this show is never saying Democrat or Republican, because we are forced to listen to what people are actually saying, Daly observed Leoni is happy if her role has played a small part in making the public more comfortable with women in power. Thats something I didnt see coming, she said, and Id be proud. Follow @MeredithBlake on Twitter. Her foods waiting sizzling onion steak and fragrant catfish but the woman on a mission does not pause between back-to-back interviews. Shes done nine since leaving Vietnam and landing in Los Angeles last week, rushing to Orange Countys Little Saigon, fiercely staying on message, softly sharing a plea for her husbands freedom. Vu Minh Khanh, wife of famed human rights activist Nguyen Van Dai beaten and imprisoned by the communist government in Hanoi is determined that the American public and others outside our community ... know his work, his cause. Advertisement Now that Im here in this country, I realize even more how much people suffer in my country, Vu said. How else can you describe it when you dont have basic rights? Nguyen, a lawyer and blogger, left his Hanoi home in December to meet with European Union representatives in the country to research human rights issues. Now that Im here in this country, I realize even more how much people suffer in my country. Vu Minh Khanh, wife of human rights activist Nguyen Van Dai Plainclothes officers stopped him and took him back to the house, where a police camera facing the front door monitors all who enter and exit. They confiscated three computers and USB sticks, Vu said. Nguyen was later charged with conducting propaganda against the state. Four months later, authorities have not allowed Vu, other family members or friends to see or contact him, his wife said, adding that they also declined his requests for a lawyer. International human rights groups, along with elected officials worldwide, have condemned his arrest, attacking Vietnam for its poor record of religious persecution, lack of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Nguyen is the founder of the Committee for Human Rights in Vietnam, which trains human rights attorneys and promotes legal education. He has traveled from city to city, teaching young people how to report human rights violations and handle police interrogations. In 2013, he launched the Brotherhood for Democracy with former jailed dissidents to coordinate human rights activities across Vietnam and to host forums in Hanoi and Saigon to mark International Human Rights Day. Hes one of the people who can do things. Hes organized. His activities back up his beliefs, says Nancy Nguyen, a restaurant owner from Anaheim who reached out to help Vu, scheduling her Southern California meet-and-greets. She is assisting VOICE, the Vietnamese Overseas Initiative for Conscience Empowerment, a global nongovernmental organization that helped set up Vus visit. Hoi Trinh, VOICEs founder, said Nguyen has done nothing wrong. In any democracy, what he accomplished would be encouraged, commended and honored. Not thrown in jail without trial to this day. Brandon Hoang, a programmer from Santa Ana, is an ardent Nguyen admirer. I follow what he does online, Hoang said. Even though he is oceans away, I respect what he stands for, and I hope that here in America, others will also respect that and spread his gospel. Vu received a heros welcome after managing to sneak out of her country to rally supporters in the nations largest Vietnamese American community. In her loneliest, darkest hours, the church volunteer said she relies on her faith. I think and believe in the powers of God. If I become frail, it weakens the purpose, she said of her resolve, as she prepared to field questions from a journalist with the BBC. She planned to follow that interview with a trip to Washington to try to persuade lawmakers familiar with the expatriate push for human rights and religious freedom to intervene in her husbands case. Late in the week, Vu sat with immigrant fans in a popular French-Vietnamese restaurant in Little Saigon, where a waitress approached, holding a Vietnamese-language newspaper with her picture on the front page. She struggled to maintain energy while the others ate lunch the 15-hour time difference between her homeland and California had left her with little sleep the night earlier. This is the second time officials have jailed her husband. Authorities tried Nguyen in May 2008, sentencing him to five years in prison under the same propaganda charges. In 2011, he was released to house arrest for an additional four years and barred from practicing law. Before leaving Southern California, Vu expected to be the featured guest at a Little Saigon town hall meeting, promoting her husbands activism. Dai always tells me: We want to live a life with meaning not just for us but for those around us. Thats why we continue to do what we do. anh.do@latimes.com Twitter: @newsterrier ALSO Sport Chalet will close all stores and stop online sales U.S. agents find 140-foot tunnel under U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico Non-Muslim woman caned in Indonesia chose the punishment over jail time It was a day every bit as eclectic as the man it was commemorating. At Saturdays celebration of the late City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, there were Native American singers, off-season carolers in polka dots, and a rendition of David Bowies All the Young Dudes performed by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. There was a photo booth, seed planting, laughter, music and a little dancing too. And, of course, chickens. Politicians, beekeepers and Venice boardwalk hustlers all converged on a Mar Vista park on a radiant Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to the cable TV host-turned-councilman, who died last month after a four-year battle with cancer. Advertisement They described the larger-than-life spirit of the man who listened to Christmas carols year-round, gave away eggs hatched by his backyard chickens and seemed to befriend everybody he encountered. It really paid tribute to his spirit, said his longtime partner, book publisher Hedi el Kholti. All these different people brought together, with no hierarchy thats the beauty of Bills energy. Councilman Mike Bonin, who was Rosendahls chief of staff and succeeded him in his Westside district after he retired in 2013, said much of the celebration was orchestrated by the late councilman himself. Except all his ideas couldnt be squeezed into one afternoon. Bills plan wouldve been a four-day Billstock, Bonin said. Rosendahl lived every moment to the fullest, Bonin said. That meant every task had a sense of urgency whether it was back-seat driving or an initiative for the homeless. He recounted a story he said was told at Rosendahls funeral, of how his former boss of eight years bristled when he was instructed to wear gloves and not touch anybody during a visit to skid row. Bill walked around, got on his knees. He touched and hugged everybody, he said. Bill was not the kind of guy who got sympathetic with others he got empathetic. Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke of a man who had a way of winning people over to his liberal causes. Before there was Bernie [Sanders], there was Bill, he said. He was like a cult leader you couldnt say no to. Garcetti said Rosendahl, who was raised Catholic but was influenced later in life by Judaism and Eastern religions, was probably in a post-heaven, transcendental semi-Buddhist, Hindu place and working hard to fix things there, as he did in Los Angeles. Kim Selbert, who lives just blocks from the park, added a tribute to a large poster: You made such a difference in so many lives. She said Rosendahl was a visible, approachable presence in the district, whether it was at a cancer walk or a protest against a tall condominium development. Next to the poster, Rob Kadota was collecting signatures on an empty white beehive box. Kadota said the councilman turned him on to raising chickens, and then to beekeeping. (Rosendahl introduced the City Council motion that ultimately legalized backyard beekeeping in Los Angeles.) He changed for me the face of city government, said Kadota, who inherited half of Rosendahls hive and said he plans on relocating the bees to the signed box. Running the photo booth was Alex Stowell, who used to peddle photo key chains on the Venice boardwalk and now runs a photography business called Venice Paparazzi. Stowell recalled working with the councilman on a lottery system for boardwalk vendors. He had a contagious positive energy, said Stowell, who photographed the weddings of two of Rosendahls staff members. His smile was probably three miles wide, he said. Under a tree on one side of the stage, 14-year-old Logan Fischer tended to a flock of chickens, one of which laid an egg during the event. The birds werent from Rosendahls flock but from Goodrich Family Farms, a regular at the Mar Vista farmers market, which Rosendahl had championed. Logan said he was wearing his blue Hawaiian shirt in honor of Rosendahl, who sported vibrant colors when he spoke at his school. Everybodys life is like a hotel room, he recalled the late councilman saying during one of those visits. You eventually have to check out. victoria.kim@latimes.com Twitter: @vicjkim ALSO L.A.'s effort to equip officers with body cameras stalls Pint-size surfer girl goes viral as she catches her first solo wave in Dana Point This L.A. County panel is facing scrutiny for reinstating a social worker later charged in a boys death A Woodland Hills charter school recently made an unusual offer to its veteran teachers: Well give you $30,000 if you return to the Los Angeles Unified School District before you retire. It wasnt the teachers that El Camino Real Charter High School wanted to get rid of. It was the cost of their retirement benefits. The schools cost-shifting strategy is one of many flashpoints between traditional public schools and the independent charters they compete with for students and money. Advertisement In this case, its a battle over who should pay for an employees health benefits after retirement the charter school or the larger school district. Financial challenges are all-but-universal in the education world, and retiree benefits are particularly costly. L.A. Unifieds unfunded liability for employee benefits has escalated to $13.6 billion. The El Camino plan would add from $2.5 million to $4.2 million to that deficit, based on district estimates. The idea is that teachers would spend their careers in the charter school, but later transfer to LAUSD to qualify for the huge institutions retirement benefits. Except the district has decided not to play ball. Teachers who return to the district, simply to retire, are not entitled to district retirement benefits, general counsel David Holmquist said. This would be an obligation that in my view would be the charters responsibility, Holmquist said. Officials reached that determination Friday, and, if that decision holds, then the recent retirees would have to turn to El Camino for retirement benefits after all. The dispute is notable in part because of an effort by advocates to sharply increase the number of charter schools in Los Angeles. Under that proposal, at least 260 additional charters would open over the next eight years, resulting in about half of L.A. Unified School District students being enrolled in these independently managed public schools. These backers argue that more charters will give parents more choices and improve education in the city. But opponents say a huge increase in the number of charters could push the district to the brink of insolvency by draining resources and leaving behind students who are the most difficult and expensive to educate. Charters are independently operated public schools and exempt from some rules that govern traditional, district-run campuses. Most charters are nonunion, and are not bound to match district benefits. But El Camino did not want its teachers to feel as though they were giving up something when the campus left district control five years ago. So teachers retained their union representation. L.A. Unified and the teachers union also agreed to give El Camino teachers up to five years to return to the district. This is a charter school that did at least try to do right by teachers, said Monique Morrissey, an economist at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, which is based in Washington. It did put a premium from the get-go on retaining unionized, professional teachers rather than taking the low road using low-paid, unprofessional, nonunionized teachers and churning through them. As the teachers five-year window to return to the district drew near, El Camino administrators concluded that it was now or never to lighten its retirement burden. Teachers with 17 or more years of experience could get $30,000 if they left and retired through L.A. Unified rather than El Camino. Teachers with fewer years of service qualified for reduced amounts. According to L.A. Unified, 10 individuals with teaching credentials have submitted paperwork to return to L.A. Unified. Eight of those also indicated that they plan to retire. Other employees also were eligible for smaller buyouts. Two administrators and two nonteaching staff members took advantage, according to El Camino. Whatever happens, El Camino remains on the hook for most of its workers, a potential liability of more than $40 million, said Chief Business Officer Marshall Mayotte. For health and life sciences teacher Evalyn Kallman, the timing of the buyout was right. She started teaching in her 20s and has worked well over 30 years. Even if I work another few years, she said, it wont make a significant difference in the amount of retirement I get. The district already is paying $1 billion a year from a $7.1-billion budget for benefits to both current and retired employees. This number is expected to rise sharply with an older, longer-living workforce. And money to pay for these costs has been limited by shrinking enrollment in large measure because of the growth of charters. I do think its unfair the idea that we are saddled with this obligation when another employer is benefiting from the services, Holmquist said of El Caminos plan. Which is not to say the strategys wisdom is lost on him. I think its a smart business decision on their part, he said. howard.blume@latimes.com Twitter: @howardblume Editors note: Education Matters receives funding from a number of foundations, including one or more mentioned in this article. The California Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles administer grants from the Baxter Family Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the California Endowment and the Wasserman Foundation. Under terms of the grants, The Times retains complete control over editorial content. ALSO Sport Chalet will close all stores and stop online sales U.S. agents find 140-foot tunnel under U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico Non-Muslim woman caned in Indonesia chose the punishment over jail time Opposition is forming for the release of Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, whom a state board last week recommended for parole. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey has vowed to fight against the release of Van Houten, and several family members of her victim, Rosemary LaBianca, have also spoken out. Van Houten has repeatedly sought release from prison, arguing she was a model prisoner and expressing remorse for the 1969 killing. Advertisement In recommending release, one parole board member said: Your behavior in prison speaks for itself. Forty-six years and not a single serious rule violation. The ruling will be reviewed by the parole boards legal team. If upheld, it will be forwarded to Gov. Jerry Brown, who could decide to block Van Houtens release. Last summer, a review board recommended parole for Manson associate Bruce Davis, who was convicted in the 1969 slayings of Gary Hinman and Donald Shorty Shea. He was not involved in the Tate-LaBianca murders. In January, Brown rejected parole for the 73-year-old, stating that Davis own actions demonstrate that he had fully bought into the depraved Manson family beliefs. LaBiancas family members hope Brown will make the same decision in Van Houtens case. Rosemary LaBianca was killed alongside her husband, Leno LaBianca, in their Los Feliz home. Maybe Leslie Van Houten has been a model prisoner, said Cory LaBianca, Rosemary LaBiancas stepdaughter. But you know what? We still suffer our loss. My father will never be paroled. My stepmother will never get her life back. Theres no way I can agree with the ruling today. What type of decision has the parole board actually made? Theyre making a decision to allow a murderer to come back into your neighborhood, my neighborhood. Last time they were in my neighborhood, they killed my family, the LaBiancas grandson, Tony LaMontagne, told CBS News. Louis Smaldino, another family member, echoed that view. The Manson family are terrorists, albeit homegrown, he told the Associated Press. Theyre long before their time. What were seeing today, these people were back in the 60s. In 1971, Van Houten spoke in chilling detail about the killings during her trial. She was not involved in the first of the two Manson murder rampages, in which Sharon Tate and her friends were killed in Bel Air. But the then 19-year-old was one of the Manson family members who invaded the Leno and Rosemary LaBiancas home. Van Houten testified that she held down Rosemary LaBianca as Charles Tex Watson stabbed her husband. After Watson stabbed Rosemary LaBianca in her bedroom, he handed Van Houten a knife. She testified to stabbing the woman at least 14 more times. And I took one of the knives, and Patricia had one knife, and we started stabbing and cutting up the lady, Van Houten testified in 1971. (Patricia Krenwinkle was a co-defendant and a Manson family member). Van Houten described the killing of Rosemary LaBianca, who offered anything to have her life spared. She said she got into a fight with LaBianca, prompting Krenwinkle to go the kitchen and return to the bedroom with a whole bunch of kitchen utensils, including knives. She said LaBianca kept promising not to call the police and pleaded for her life. And it seemed like the more she said police, the more panicked I got, Van Houten testified. Supporters describe Van Houten as a misguided teen under the influence of LSD on the night of the killings. They also say she was a victim of Mansons mind control. At a 2002 parole board hearing, Van Houten said she was deeply ashamed of what she had done, adding: I take very seriously not just the murders, but what made me make myself available to someone like Manson. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Van Houtens attorney, Rich Pfeiffer, has said his client was long overdue for release, listing her accomplishments behind bars: earning bachelors and masters degrees, running self-help groups and facilitating victim-offender reconciliation sessions. ALSO Charles Manson marriage license to expire: Hes still single Susan Atkins dies at 61; imprisoned Charles Manson follower There was much more to Vincent Bugliosi than the Charles Manson case For the third time, Brown rejects parole of Manson follower Bruce Davis, 73 Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi: Read the 1974 L.A. Times book review The Supreme Courts last great case of the Obama era comes before the justices Monday when the administrations lawyers defend his plan to offer work permits to as many as 4 million immigrants who have been living here illegally for years. Once again, lawyers for Republican leaders from Congress and the states will be challenging the actions of the Democratic president. And as with past battles over healthcare and same-sex marriage, Obama administration lawyers will need to win over at least one of the courts more conservative justices. If the justices split 4 to 4 a possibility since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia the tie vote would keep in place a Texas judges order that has blocked President Obamas deportation relief plan from taking effect. Advertisement At issue is whether the president has the power to extend a temporary reprieve from the threat of deportation and a work permit to immigrant parents of U.S. citizens or lawful residents. More than one-fourth of those who stand to benefit live in California, according to immigration experts. The two sides disagree not only on what is the right outcome, but on what the case is about. One side sees a great constitutional clash over the rule of law in a democracy, while the other sees a narrow regulatory dispute. The Republicans, in written briefs, portray Obamas order as a profound threat to the constitutional system. If the president can defy Congress and change the law on his own, the nation has abandoned a bedrock constitutional principle, they say. This would be one of the largest changes in immigration policy in the nations history, say lawyers for Texas and 25 other Republican-led states. They note that the presidents action arose after Congress refused to change the law in line with his wishes, so the order rests on an unprecedented, sweeping assertion of executive power, they say. The House Republicans joined the case on the side of Texas, and if anything, raised the stakes even higher. They described Obamas immigration order as the most aggressive of executive power claims and a threat to the separation of powers that underpins our very constitutional structure. Meanwhile, U.S. Solicitor Gen. Donald Verrilli Jr., the administrations top lawyer, sought to play down the significance of Obamas order and defuse the constitutional clash. He said the immigrants who qualify would be offered a temporary relief from deportation that does not confer any form of legal status. He cited instances in which Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush gave similar relief to large groups of immigrants who were fleeing wars or despotic regimes. Verrilli spent part of his written brief walking back from the 2014 guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security, which said the applicants who qualified would be lawfully present in the United States. That phrase is purely descriptive and has no operative, legal effect, he wrote. Lawful presence thus might be better called tolerated presence. Even with deferred action, the aliens lack lawful status, are actually present in violation of the law, are subject to enforcement at the governments discretion and gain no defense to removal, he wrote. Moreover, the presidents order is not a binding regulation for U.S. immigration agents, he argued, but merely a general statement of policy. In a separate 2012 program, Obama announced an action that offered relief to young adults who had been brought to this country illegally when they were children. About 700,000 Dreamers, as theyre known, have come forward and qualified for work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. That order went largely unchallenged. But in 2014, lawyers for Texas and the other states filed suit in Brownsville, near the Mexican border, shortly after Obama announced the larger Deferred Action for Parents of Americans. A federal judge there ruled that the president failed to seek the required notice and comment before issuing the new rules, and on that basis, put the plan on hold nationwide. Last year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that order on a 2-1 vote. Administration lawyers appealed, and in mid-January, the Supreme Court said it would decide the case of United States vs. Texas. The justices said they would also consider whether the president violated his constitutional duty to take care to see that the laws are faithfully executed. Scalia had once raised such a question in a separate immigration case, and he was seen as the most likely to support that view. But without the conservative justice on the bench, it is hard to see how the court would hand down a broad constitutional ruling rebuking the president. Advocates for immigrants see two ways the administration can prevail. The justices might say Texas lacks standing to sue because there is no clear proof the order will hurt the state or impose costs. In the past, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has been skeptical of granting states the right to sue the federal government over disputed policies. The justices, led perhaps by Anthony M. Kennedy, could also say the U.S. immigration laws give the chief executive broad power to decide on deportations, including by shielding large groups from being arrested and removed. david.savage@latimes.com The official rock of Tennessee is limestone. Tennessees official wild animal: the rascally raccoon. The official book? The Volunteer State doesnt have one yet, and a Christian governor and Christian lawmakers are locked in a battle over whether it should be the Bible. On Thursday, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed a bill that would have added Christianitys holy book to Tennessees list of official state symbols, and lawmakers have already threatened to override his decision. Advertisement Haslam likes the Bible perfectly fine. On his Facebook page, he lists his favorite books as anything by Eugene Peterson or Philip Yancey, two best-selling Christian authors. In Haslams veto message to the Republican lawmakers who sponsored the bill, he wrote in defense of Christian beliefs, noting, I strongly disagree with those who are trying to drive religion out of the public square. However, Haslam said, theres that matter of constitutional law the separation of church and state. If we are recognizing the Bible as a sacred text, then we are violating the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Tennessee by designating it as the official book, Haslam wrote. Our founders recognized that when the church and state were combined, it was the church that suffered in the long run. (Haslams veto came a little more than a week after Idaho Republican Gov. C.L. Butch Otter vetoed a bill that would have allowed the Bible to be used in public schools for instruction, also citing constitutional concerns.) In Tennessee, all it takes to override a veto are majority votes in both chambers of the Legislature, and the bills two Republican sponsors already signaled their intent to go around the governor. Eighty-one percent of Tennessees adults are Christians, according to the Pew Research Center, and the state is familiar with battles over church and state. It was home to the legendary 1925 Scopes trial of a teacher on charges of illegally teaching evolution in school. He was convicted. The Bible bill was introduced in 2015 but stalled in the Legislature. The attorney general issued an opinion saying it would be unconstitutional. The bill reemerged this March and was approved 55 to 38 in the House and 19 to 8 in the Senate. An amendment suggested a preamble for the bill, which states that the Bible has great historical and cultural significance in Tennessee. A series of whereas statements extols the Bibles importance to the state, as in whereas, printing the Bible is a multimillion-dollar industry for the state with many top Bible publishers headquartered in Nashville, including Thomas Nelson, Gideons International and United Methodist Publishing House. The amendment even alludes to this newspapers coverage: whereas, even the Los Angeles Times has acknowledged the economic impact of the Bible in Tennessee. Conservative religious groups such as the Family Action Council of Tennessee supported the bill. If the state cannot recognize its religious heritage without supposedly violating the Constitution, then our heritage will be lost and hostility toward religion will have replaced tolerance, President David Fowler said in a statement. The measure drew opposition based on spiritual grounds as well as constitutional ones. Haslam said that if the book is embraced as a cultural item rather than as a holy one, my personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible. (If the Bible is approved as a state symbol, it would be added to a list that includes the Barrett .50-caliber sniper rifle, the official state gun.) The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee also objected. Our position has always been that religion thrives when its left in the hands of families and faith communities, said executive director Hedy Weinberg. But if not the Bible, what tome would be appropriate for Tennessees state book? The Los Angeles Times asked some Tennessee literary figures for some recommendations. Randy Mackin, director of the Tennessee Literary Project, suggested classics from Tennessee natives, including James Agees A Death in the Family, T.S. Striblings The Store, or something by poet Charles Wright. All three men won Pulitzers. Niki Coffman, director of events and marketing at the independent bookstore Parnassus Books in Nashville, had a suggestion that all Tennessee might be able to embrace: King of the Wild Frontier: An Autobiography by Davy Crockett. He was born on a mountaintop in Tennessee and brought acclaim to the state, Coffman said of the legendary congressman and frontiersman, who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Davy Crockett. Thats the answer. matt.pearce@latimes.com Twitter: @mattdpearce Hillary Clinton may have set up her headquarters in the new Brooklyn, that place of plentiful thrift shops, artisan craft brews and unkempt facial hair, but the denizens at the center of this laboratory of hipster culture are still keeping their distance. On the streets of Williamsburg, Clinton supporters are a rare breed. This is Bernie country. Even the elevated pathway into the neighborhood from Manhattan is marked as such, with expertly drawn portraits of Clinton along with the damning words 100% Wall Street stamped all over it. Clintons mere act of planting the flag in Brooklyn irritates some voters in this lefty enclave a few miles from the office she set up across from Borough Hall, on that side of the new Brooklyn so gentrified by now it lacks even the ironic kind of grit that hipsters prize. Advertisement The irony of the borough this election, though, is that while Clinton is well-positioned to win the day in the old Brooklyn of immigrants and Hasidic Jews and middle-class workers from which Bernie Sanders hails and which still controls the bulk of the vote the urban pioneers she has worked hardest to court are unimpressed. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter This is territory rich in millennials, and these days when Clinton is asked, yet again, why she fares so poorly with the group, she does the equivalent of throwing her hands up. Young people have been really caught up in Sen. Sanders campaign, and I think that is terrific, she said on NBC this month when asked why so few of them are voting for her. Because the more young people we can bring into the process, particularly into the Democratic primary process, the better. Over the course of a few hours on a corner of Bedford Avenue that is home to two vintage clothing stores, a bicycle rack crammed with one-speeds and a building wall emblazoned with a portrait of young Muhammad Ali in the ring, residents interviewed were almost unanimously fond of the 74-year-old socialist, Sanders. Hes not trying to pull any stunts, said Michelle Yazvac, who found it particularly annoying when Clinton made a cameo appearance on Broad City, the Comedy Central cult hit about two millennial women navigating life in New York. She is on all these pop culture shows trying to draw in the crowd. She is trying to appeal to a younger crowd. But, really, where does she truly stand? Bernie is not trying too hard. You just feel it. Yazvac, a 24-year-old acting student, was walking down the street with her friend Edward Rivera, who pulled open his stylish black leather jacket to reveal a Bernie sticker attached to the inner lining. She just sounds so contrived, Rivera, a 29-year-old sound engineer, said of Clinton. Like a game show host. Even foreign nationals who inhabit this cosmopolitan burg but are ineligible to vote were eager to talk at length about why it is Bernies turn. She should be the No. 1 Democratic choice, but [times have changed] and the mood of the country has changed, particularly the under-35s, said Jon Connell, who is British. She is no longer acceptable. If I were her, I would just be gutted. But life isnt fair. His wife, 35-year-old Brantlee Connell, said the 13-year-old me the one who rooted for Clinton as a glass-ceiling breaker is disappointed I am not more excited about her running. But she said Sanders has purer motives, a more inspired message and, unlike other politicians, isnt making everything so complicated that you dont know what they are talking about. Earlier this month, Brantlee Connell attended a Sanders rally in Brooklyns Greenpoint neighborhood. And all the Twitter buzz about a mainstream media blackout of such events? Its true, she said. Connell is unswayed by the national studies that find Clinton and Sanders receive roughly the same amount of media coverage. ------------ FOR THE RECORD April 18, 11:44 a.m.: An earlier version of this article stated that Brooklyn resident Brantlee Connell attended a campaign rally for Bernie Sanders in the Bronx. The rally she attended was in Brooklyn. ------------ Soon after, another Sanders enthusiast who went to a rally for the candidate in the Bronx along with 18,000 others came strolling down the street. Thomas Whidden, a full-bearded location scout for production companies, talked about the Bronx event like it was Woodstock. He got in just before the crowd hit capacity hours before the events start, and attendees were diverted to an overflow area. There is only one real New Yorker in the Democratic race in Whiddens eyes, and it is not the candidate who represented the state in the Senate for eight years and headquartered her massive presidential campaign operation in walking distance to several subway lines. This is her false home, he said of Clinton. She is not from here. She saw an open seat in the Senate and she took it. She took advantage. After Whidden strolled down the street, a band of colorfully dressed, singing skateboarders with cases of the retro-favorite Pabst Blue Ribbon cradled under their arms flew by. Later, a man wearing little more than a transparent rain suit and a giant pair of flippers would also come through the neighborhood, also by skateboard. Another skateboarder followed behind, movie camera in hand. There were no such high jinks back over on the other side of new Brooklyn, under the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge, on a sparkling scrubbed block full of baby strollers and tourists and Clinton fans. Some were lining up for treats at the local One Girl Cookies, perhaps before taking a spin on the local carousel. Others streamed into a lofty bookstore to await Chelsea Clinton. One Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn houses Hillary Clintons presidential campaign headquarters. (Mark Lennihan / Associated Press ) The campaign event had all the energy of a baby shower. There was a very pregnant host expressing equal measures gratitude and uneasiness with all the attention, a small cross-generational group of polite and attentive listeners, and a lot of talk about children. There was no danger of mistaking it with the millennial-driven political revolution that had taken root back in Williamsburg. Yet Hillary Clinton herself also reminded on that same day why she has the edge in old Brooklyn, which is what could matter most on election day. The candidate was across the river in East Harlem, where she became the first person in the race to campaign at a New York public housing facility. That included sitting down for a game of dominoes with residents. At her daughters bookstore event, allies of Clinton, undeniably frustrated by all the enthusiasm Sanders has drawn for himself in their backyard, urged neighbors to reexamine the Clinton political baggage that is giving voters pause. When you are on the front lines, you are going to get the batterers and the bricks thrown at you, said City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo. Sen. Sanders has not been as visible on the front line and he has the luxury of not having the same battle scars, or as some call, it baggage. Times staff writer Michael A. Memoli contributed to this report. Twitter: @evanhalper ALSO Obama likely to sit out Democratic primary altogether, White House aides say Wall Streets view of itself in Bernie Sanders campaign: Maligned, marginalized, misunderstood Analysis: In brawling Brooklyn debate, Clinton and Sanders define big differences There may have been just one place that could draw Hillary Clinton away this weekend from the electoral brawl in New York, where the Democratic front-runner faces a defining moment in just a few days when voters there decide whether to clear the path for her nomination or send her campaign a destabilizing jolt. But California is that place. The states wealth, as well as its wealth of delegates, were too hard for Clinton to pass up. So she took the cross-country detour to join George Clooney in toasting some of Californias most well-heeled Democratic donors and collect copious amounts of their cash as well as to stir up voter enthusiasm with a Los Angeles rally. The amount of money Clinton stands to rake in on the visit is well into the millions of dollars. A pair of seats at her table with Clooney cost donors more than $353,000 Friday night in San Francisco, the most expensive tickets at an event attended by 70 people and hosted by venture capitalist and early Uber investor Shervin Pishevar. Another event was to be held at Clooneys home in Los Angeles, where the priciest tickets cost $100,000 per couple. The events underscore the states outsize role as a money tree for Democratic candidates. Advertisement Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter And Clinton will need that money to make a strong showing in the state, which is an especially expensive place to run. Her advisors had initially hoped to avoid a protracted fight in California, one of the last states to vote in the presidential primary, and a place where the race was expected to be over by the time voters cast ballots June 7. But they are confronting the reality that rival Bernie Sanders is not going away, regardless of what happens in New York and the states that immediately follow. The well-funded insurgent, whose money comes not in increments of hundreds of thousands of dollars but in tens of dollars from a vast number of donors, has the resources and the determination to inflict considerable pain on Clinton in California. Her oddly timed visit can be explained simply in dollar signs, said Jack Pitney, a professor of political science at Claremont McKenna College. Its all about amassing cash, because its expensive to run in California. From San Diego to San Francisco, the state has several major media markets where Clinton and Sanders will need to dole out staggering sums on television advertising. There is only so much door-to-door campaigning the candidates can do to have an impact in a state so massive. This is a large state, and advertising will be critical, Pitney said. The risks involved with heading west while it is crunch time in New York were diminished for Clinton because Sanders left New York, too. He jetted off to the Vatican to address the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and met with Pope Francis, whom he has frequently invoked on the campaign trail. Both candidates were expected back in New York on Sunday, when they have major rallies planned. But the Sanders campaign also made itself present in California, announcing it would run its first television advertisements in the state just as Secretary Clintons wealthy donors are sitting down for dinner. The spots highlight the $27 average contribution to Sanders campaign and come a day after the senator released his tax return for 2014, which his campaign used to highlight the vast wealth gap between the two candidates. He and his wife reported income of just over $200,000, while Clinton and her husband took in about $28 million the same year. The Clinton campaign emphasized that money raised in California this weekend was not just for her, but also to be used to help Democrats up and down the ticket win in November. In between the fundraisers, Clinton also did some campaigning. Lets take California values and New York values and put them to work for American values, she said at a rally at Los Angeles Southwest College, inserting the West Coast into her well-rehearsed play on comments from Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who has assailed New York values as those of liberal politicians. She made several nods to Californias primary, noting that she will be here often. I love coming to California. ... We need to get to work for a big victory in California, said Clinton, who has the backing of such prominent local Democrats as Rep. Maxine Waters and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Clinton also jabbed at Sanders for supporting a bill that gave gun makers and sellers immunity from liability. No matter how often hes asked by family members of those who have been murdered, he sticks to his talking points, Clinton said. Despite Clintons losing pattern in the West, where she so far has lost many more states than she has won, the diverse California electorate offers far more promising terrain for her than the other, generally far whiter states have. The landscape is very Clinton-friendly. She has had the upper hand with minorities, and thats likely not to change here in California, Pitney said. A recent Field Poll showed Clinton leading with black voters, for example, by a margin of well over 2 to 1. She also leads, by a much smaller though still comfortable margin, with Latinos, who accounted for almost a third of the Democratic electorate in 2008. But the state does pose risks at a time when Sanders continues to crush Clinton with the youth vote. While California has a large share of Latino registered voters in the Democratic primary, they tend to also be young, which may mean they are equally compelled by Sanders, said Lynn Vavreck, a professor of political science at UCLA. Whatever the outcome in California, Clinton is so far ahead in the delegate count that it is unlikely to cost her the nomination unless it is compounded by some unexpectedly catastrophic electoral setbacks in the coming weeks. But a loss in the state would be a demoralizing, if not humiliating, blow heading into the national convention in Philadelphia in July. So much so that some Clinton supporters at the rally Saturday expressed resentment that Sanders plans to continue fighting regardless of how far behind he is by the time California votes. He needs to leave the race, said Linda Slauson, a 63-year-old marriage and family therapist from Long Beach. Its over for him. Its about math, and its not on his side. Lee reported from Los Angeles and Halper from New York. Twitter: @kurtisalee, @evanhalper ALSO: Obama likely to sit out Democratic primary altogether, White House aides say Wall Streets view of itself in Bernie Sanders campaign: Maligned, marginalized, misunderstood Analysis: In brawling Brooklyn debate, Clinton and Sanders define big differences Beyond the contentious backbiting of the presidential contest, the nations major political parties are undergoing a dramatic and potentially long-lasting cultural shift. Both of the outsider challengers Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are campaigning in part against the parties they hope to lead. Both have gained much of their success from confounding what has been mainstream party thought for decades. As the nominating battles move into their final phase, Sanders has yanked his party leftward or, at a minimum, greatly hastened a change that was already underway. Trump has pushed against the Republican Party on issues as small as delegate selection and as large as foreign policy and brought with him ground troops to enforce his views. The second-place Republican, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, has made a career of defying Republican leaders, even if Trump is now attacking him as part of the establishment. Advertisement The redefinition is occurring on a political landscape shaking from the continued aftershocks of the 2008 economic collapse. That territory has proved inhospitable, to different degrees, to more traditional politicians like Hillary Clinton and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, extending her nomination battle and blunting his candidacy. All things being equal, if youd showed up from Mars you would think Hillary Clinton would have this wrapped up, said Lee Miringoff, a pollster at Marist College with long experience in presidential politics. And you would have thought Kasich on paper would be stronger. But hes 1 for 30, and that was Ohio. The lasting effect of the Great Recession is not the only force that has propelled the parties movement. So, too, has the changing face of America. Among Democrats, a more youthful electorate has contributed to the success of Sanders effort; among Republicans, blue-collar whites who in many cases feel threatened by the rise of other groups have powered Trumps campaign. Tellingly, the outsider candidacies are in some cases sounding similar themes. Both Trump and Sanders, coming at it from opposite ideological sides, have pressed to reverse trade deals they say have gutted American manufacturing jobs. Both have called for other countries to begin paying more for the NATO military alliance. Both have criticized their respective parties for the way delegates, who will determine the nominations, are selected. Im not a fan of Bernie Sanders, but its a rigged system, Trump said Friday in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The Republican system is rigged. Its a rigged system. Both parties have changed over the years, usually when successive losses opened their eyes to the need. Republican leaders set out after the 2012 election to ensure that the next presidential nominee was more attractive to women, Latinos and young voters, believing that to be the route to success. Democrats lurched from the left to the center in 1992 after losing five of six previous presidential contests. Both moves have been confounded this year by the surprisingly successful guerrilla candidacies of Trump and Sanders. For Democrats, the repudiation is fed by the partys growing liberalism. In exit polls during the 2008 Ohio primary, 41% of Democratic voters described themselves as liberal. By last months Ohio primary, that figure had jumped by nearly half, to 59%. National surveys show Americans elsewhere also are increasingly gravitating to the political poles. Sanders is relentless in his criticism of the more centrist Democratic era and of Hillary Clintons role in it. Central to his constellation of issues is her receipt of campaign money from Wall Street firms, a particular target of animosity since the 2008 financial collapse. Its a system held in place by corrupt politics, where Wall Street banks and billionaires buy elections, says a Sanders ad airing in New York. The truth is, you cant change a corrupt system by taking its money. Other issues Sanders has emphasized in his call for political revolution are highly popular among younger, more diverse and more liberal Democrats: universal healthcare, a minimum-wage hike, environmental protections, free public college and university tuition, and an end to those international trade deals. Neither Sanders, a longtime political independent, nor his supporters are necessarily steeped in Democratic loyalty. In Thursday nights debate, he seemed to slight the Southern states as outposts of conservatism, even though their Democrats are mostly African American and among the partys most dependable voters. It is those traditional Democrats whom Clinton is appealing to with a venerable, if liberal, Democratic message. She speaks to persistent concerns about jobs and the economy, particularly among the blue-collar voters who long formed the partys base, but in more cautious and typical rhetoric than Sanders deploys. A real plan to create new jobs in the industries of the future, Clinton promises in one ad airing in New York. Clinton came into the race expecting to benefit from a rosy glow surrounding her husbands tenure, when the economy was soaring. But many of the voters drawn to Sanders message dont remember the Clinton years. And the former first lady has been on defense on topics taken up in that era like welfare reform, tough criminal justice measures and trade that she did not have to confront nearly as profoundly in her 2008 campaign for president. Clinton has sharpened her own rhetoric on those issues, but there are limits to how far she can go without seeming hypocritical. That has led to an oddity in New York: Among all of the candidates, it is Republican Kasich who more than anyone is touting Bill Clintons presidential years as a template for office. In a speech last week to Republican women in Manhattan, Kasich praised the 1990s, when he served in Congress, and criticized the outsider Republicans as purveyors of darkness. But Kasichs approach isnt selling to most Republicans this year. That is because voters have largely rejected two elements that have defined Republicans for two generations: traditional views on issues like trade and U.S. military engagement abroad, and the sunny approach used by past party idols like Ronald Reagan. Trumps attack on the Republican Party has been overt. Last week, he used the GOP-friendly op-ed pages of the Wall Street Journal to scorn the party. I, for one, am not interested in defending a system that for decades has served the interest of political parties at the expense of the people, Trumps op-ed said. Members of the club the consultants, the pollsters, the politicians, the pundits and the special interests grow rich and powerful while the American people grow poorer and more isolated. Trumps rhetoric plays on his supporters grievances about a raft of issues the economy, President Obamas healthcare law, the Supreme Courts acceptance of gay marriage. They think their own party has not been standing up for them, said James Campbell, a political scientist at the University at Buffalo. Its issue after issue.... Theres a buildup of anger, and frustration thats boiled over into anger. Its not just directed at Democrats but at Republicans as well. The changes afoot in the Republican and Democratic parties seem destined to extend past this election, regardless of who wins the nominations and the White House. If nothing else, Trumps success at castigating those in the country illegally has doomed establishment Republicans effort to soften their approach on immigration in order to attract Latino voters. Keeping the support of the blue-collar whites he has attracted a necessity given that young and diverse Americans are going with the Democrats also will lead to second-guessing of the GOPs long-standing trade policies. The campaign is also certain to extend what has been an internal Republican battle since the interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan under former President George W. Bush over how involved the U.S. should be overseas, and how much it should focus on domestic needs. For Democrats, Sanders success presages a move toward a bigger role for government in establishing healthcare for all, free public college tuition and an expansive jobs program that runs counter to the more centrist views that have propelled Democratic presidential success for decades. Older Democrats who remember the failures of the past are more skeptical of the political impact of expanding government, particularly in an era of caustically partisan divisions. But there is no doubt where the younger, more diverse and rising Democrats stand, as they have gravitated to Sanders in lopsided numbers. Conflicts over each partys core beliefs have been rumbling under the surface for a while. Now, with the assistance of a New York billionaire and a Vermont socialist, both of whom see their candidacies as outside the bounds of party politics, they are fully out in the open, with a visibility that promises changes ahead. Twitter: @cathleendecker Ted Cruz scoops up delegates from Donald Trump in weekend contests Republican Ted Cruz continued his romp through the delegate selection races, sweeping Wyoming and bolstering his showing elsewhere as rival Donald Trump struggles to catch up. Trumps team was expecting a rough weekend heading into Saturdays wonky contests in several states, including those where Trump, the GOP front-runner, had already won the popular primary vote. But maneuvering by the Cruz crew shows just how hard it will be for Trumps retooled delegate-hunt operation to clinch the 1,237 needed for nomination this summer in Cleveland. Trump got shut out, said Scott Johnson, a Cruz organizer in Georgia who won a delegate spot from a district that the Texas senator lost back in March. In Wyoming, Cruz picked up 14 delegates after he dashed West for an appearance, much the way he he peeled off the campaign trail earlier this month to lock up votes in North Dakota. On Saturday, South Carolinas first congressional district awarded its three delegates, and put Cruz backers in each spot -- even though Trump swept that states primary. And in Georgia, Trump started the day entitled to 26 congressional district delegates, but finished finished with supporters in about half those spots, GOP operatives in the state said. Cruz, meanwhile, stacked his supporters in about 20 spots in Georgia, essentially doubling his haul. It makes no sense, said Trump backer Lori Pesta, a longtime GOP activist in Georgia, who was voted off a spot in favor of Cruz ally Bob Barr, the areas former congressman and 2008 libertarian candidate for president. Scenes from #GOP #delegate selection at one district this weekend in Georgia. pic.twitter.com/LQqoKIRkzi Lisa Mascaro (@LisaMascaro) April 17, 2016 Under the rules, most delegates will be bound in Cleveland to vote on a first ballot for their states presidential preference -- which for many will be Trump. But with Trumps ability to reach 1,237 on the first vote in question, Cruz has methodically been stacking his supporters in the delegate spots for the subsequent ballots. Trump has called the whole process rigged. This is a very insider-driven process, which empowers well-connected elites at the expense of people who cast their votes during the primary, said Brian Jack, Trumps national delegate director. The campaign was investigating concerns of voter suppression in some districts in Georgia, he said. We want to be sure everyone was treated fairly. Here in Marietta, at a district convention that consumed most of Saturday, party officials emphasized a call for unity. Even though we dont agree on everything, we agree we need to elect Republicans, said Brad Carver, the district chairman who is uncommitted and won a delegate spot. This is not about Cruz versus Trump. This is about electing our delegates to the national convention. Read More This years raucous and often bizarre campaign for president and other public offices has for most Californians remained a spectator sport, played out in other states, remarked on and marveled at from a distance, viewed here online and on television as if it were a series of Super Bowls or Final Fours. Spectator season now nears its end and voters are about to pour onto the field for the June 7 California primary for which balloting actually begins in just three weeks, for the growing percentage of voters who weigh in by mail. At The Times we call on voters to vote, and we practice what we preach by making recommendations in the form of endorsements and backing them up to the best of our ability with reasoning that we offer up for scrutiny, engagement, discussion, agreement and dissent. Look for the first of those endorsements in coming days, and continuing as ballots and campaign materials arrive in the mailbox. In the process of vetting candidates in the current primary and listening to the concerns of voters (and of those who could and should be voters, but currently are not), it is impossible to miss two contrary but tightly interwoven strands of thought and emotion. Advertisement One is a sort of quiescence a disengagement from electoral politics and a weary acknowledgment, if perhaps not an acceptance, of the political status quo and a belief that there is little of importance an election can change. That fatalism may help explain abysmal voter turnouts in non-presidential election years, and may even play a role today in the oddly sleepy campaigns by candidates who are vying to succeed Barbara Boxer for what ought to be a coveted seat in the U.S. Senate. The competing strand is an angry rebellion by voters who believe that for too long, political parties and big-money donors have tried to limit their choice of candidates or preordain election outcomes. That rebellion is at play in Republican primaries and particularly in the front-runner status of Donald Trump, who is hardly an exemplar of the shrinking middle class or the workers left behind by the new economy but is nevertheless embraced by many voters precisely because of his open contempt for the political establishment and traditional campaign decorum. And it is evident on the Democratic side, where many voters believed they were being presented an already crowned Hillary Clinton and an accompanying set of policies and positions, pre-selected for them by party elites. Those voters have responded by handing Bernie Sanders victories in 17 primaries and caucuses (so far). The Times endorses in these races out of a conviction that ... making a choice -- and doing our best to justify that choice in writing -- can help voters [make] their own decision. The contest between the establishment and the upstarts may play out in curious ways all the way up and down the ballot. In the Senate race, for example, which of the two leading Democrats state Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez represents the Empire and which is the Rebel Alliance? Or are they both the establishment Empire, challenged by several astonishingly low-profile Republican rebels? And does it make any difference for now, given that Californias shrinking Republican electorate and its top-two primary system may very well serve only to eliminate the Republicans and pit Harris and Sanchez against each other, all over again, in November? Even on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors the little-watched panel with more life-changing impact on more lives (10 million people, 2 million in each district) than any mayor or city council, and often any senator which candidate best embodies the departure from the status quo, if anyone does? In one race the candidates include the termed-out supervisors aide and the daughter of a former supervisor whose name adorns the building from which the board governs. In another, the incumbents chief of staff, a mayor, a councilman, a state senator and several others are trying to succeed a supervisor who already has a courthouse, two parks and a trail named for him. In what for many is the ballots most obscure territory the races for Los Angeles Superior Court judge why have three lawyers challenged sitting judges? In the other three judicial races, why are so many prosecutors running against each other? And how are voters to decide? Who should succeed Janice Hahn in Congress? And what on earth is Proposition 50? The Times endorses in these races out of a conviction that the process of studying the candidates, their records, their values, their quirks and their positions and then making a choice and doing our best to justify that choice in writing can help voters as they go through their own decision-making process. Of course we try to be persuasive. But the days are long past in which newspaper endorsements had the king-making (or queen-making) power of the sort against which so many voters now chafe. The Times news pages provide voters with the raw materials of voter decisions in the form of news and political analysis. The editorial page is an effort to put those materials to use, and an invitation to our readers to do the same, by engaging in thoughtful debate, weighing our reasoning against theirs, and making deliberate, well-considered choices. The Times will endorse candidates in the primary for Boxers Senate seat, Hahns House seat, the state ballot measure, the Superior Court, district attorney and the three Board of Supervisors seats on the ballot. And we will make recommendations for president in both the Democratic and Republican Party primaries. Our pages are not blank slates. We have made it clear what we think of Trump as a presidential candidate (a reminder: we are not fans). We express our values and policy choices through editorials. In recent elections we have endorsed Republicans, but we tend more often to endorse Democrats because their positions on important issues more often align with ours. As we recommend one of each in this years California presidential primary, our goal is to clearly lay out the reasons we believe those choices are the best ones. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook President Obamas standing in the eyes of the American people has recovered after a three-year slump and thats good news for Hillary Clinton. Obamas job approval rating the percentage of voters who say hes doing a decent job has reached an average of about 50% over the last two months. A 50-50 split may not look like a historic achievement, but its a better number than Obama has seen since 2013. And its not a mirage; the presidents standing has been on a gradual upswing for the last four months. Advertisement Thats been enough to make Obama aides throw their hats in the air, figuratively speaking. Five points makes a huge difference, one of them told me last week. Politicians routinely pretend that they dont pay attention to the polls, but theres no question Obama pays attention to his. During his years in the polling wilderness, he often sounded frustrated that he wasnt getting credit for his accomplishments. Now, though, Obama sounds more confident that he might be able to end his presidency on a high note. I feel greatly encouraged, he told Democrats in Texas last month. I think when people step back and get some perspective, theyll say we did good. And he sounds eager to campaign for a Democratic successor who can continue the legacy that we built especially if its Hillary Clinton, who has embraced his record more fervently than Bernie Sanders. A popular president, even one on the way out, is naturally a bigger asset to his party than an unpopular one. Alan Abramowitz of Emory University has found that when a two-term president leaves office, his party is likely to win the next election if his job approval is over 50%, but lose if the number is below 50%. But theres a quirk inside Obamas improved poll numbers. The president and his aides would like to think his standing has improved mostly because Americans have finally recognized that the economy is on the upswing, and acknowledge the presidents role in making that happen. But most of the available evidence doesnt support that theory. The Gallup Polls economic confidence index, a measure of how Americans feel about the economy, is the same now as it was late last year, when the president was less popular. Theres no clear correlation with presidential approval, Democratic pollster Mark Mellman noted. Instead, Obamas numbers appear to have gone up in large part because the Republican campaign in particular, GOP front-runner Donald Trump have reminded many voters why they chose Obama in the first place. [Obama] and his aides ... know that an economic reversal (which they consider unlikely) or a terrorist attack (entirely possible) could blow a hole in his job approval. The public image of the Republican Party has fallen as the presidents has risen. During the last three months, the CNN-ORC poll found that the share of voters with an unfavorable view of the GOP swelled from 50% to 61%. In the same period, Trump impressed increasing numbers of American voters in the wrong direction. In the CNN-ORC poll, 67% of adults said they had an unfavorable impression of the real estate magnate, the highest negative rating ever recorded for a major partys presidential candidate. The Trump hypothesis is bolstered by other surveys showing that much of Obamas increased support has come from younger voters and Latinos, two groups that have reacted strongly against the Republican front-runner. Both groups are strongly opposed to more restrictive immigration policies, Trumps signature issue. Obama has tried quite bluntly to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of the GOP field as he has tuned up his message for the fall campaign. I actually think that Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have done us a favor, he said at a Democratic fundraising event in San Francisco on April 9. The favor, he explained in Los Angeles, is laying bare, unvarnished, some of the nonsense that weve been dealing with in Congress on a daily basis. People act as if these folks are outliers. But theyre not. We should thank Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz for just being honest. Thats a partisan argument, of course, aimed at rallying Democrats around their president and, eventually, their new nominee. But thats what a presidential campaign is mostly about: making sure a partys voters come home and vote for their side or against the other side, which is just as effective. Thats pretty much what Obama did in 2012, when he succeeded in painting Mitt Romney as a heartless plutocrat. Obamas standing is still fragile. He and his aides would feel better if he were over the 50% mark. They know that an economic reversal (which they consider unlikely) or a terrorist attack (entirely possible) could blow a hole in his job approval. But for the moment, their prospects for securing the Obama legacy with a third Democratic term have been improved thanks to the unlikely assistance of Donald Trump. doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @doylemcmanus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The rumors ricocheting through Istanbul reached us on March 16, when a close Turkish friend urged us to leave the city for the weekend. The next day, my Turkish teacher, as well as the lifeguard at my gym, offered similar warnings. Three days later, at 9:30 a.m., the easygoing young man who delivers hefty plastic jugs of fresh water walked into my kitchen with a weeks supply. Will there be trouble in the city today? I asked him. Yes, he instantly replied. There will be bombs. Stay home. Two hours later a suicide bomber killed four people and injured 36 others in a blast on Istiklal Street, Istanbuls main shopping corridor. The Turkish government blamed a young Islamic State member for the attack. My wife and I, after many years in New York City, moved to Istanbul in August 2014. For a year we savored the manifold pleasures of this magnificent, relatively affordable city the ferry rides across the Bosphorus; the maze-like back streets of Kadikoy, packed with bakeries, spice shops, bookstores, cafes and atmospheric fish restaurants; the grandeur of the 16th century mosques designed by Mimar Sinan; and the excursions to the nearby islands of Heybeliada and Buyukada, where the principal mode of transport is the horse-drawn carriage. Advertisement As a result of all this turmoil, the mood in Istanbul has turned funereal. During that exuberant first year, we did see things that made us queasy: We noticed that citizens were prosecuted for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; and we observed that peaceful protesters were often treated aggressively by police in full riot gear. Everyone is afraid, Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk declared in December 2014. Freedom of expression has fallen to a very low level. Despite all this, some of our close Turkish friends felt the country was gradually, albeit precariously, inching in the right direction. That progress was halted on July 20, 2015, when a suicide bomber struck a group of young Turkish leftists on their way to a humanitarian mission in the Syrian border town of Kobani. Thirty-two people were killed and more than 100 were wounded. Although Turkish officials blamed Islamic State, the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, suspected government involvement and understood the incident as an attack on the Kurdish cause. After it retaliated by killing two police officers, a fragile two-and-a-half-year cease-fire between the government and the PKK collapsed, and a war resumed one that resembles the ghastly conflicts that, in recent decades, have torn apart Sri Lanka, Peru and Colombia. (This war is mostly confined to the southeastern part of the country.) As a result of all this turmoil, the mood in Istanbul has turned funereal. Tourists usually descend upon the city in March and April, but many have chosen to stay home or go elsewhere. Quite a few of the hundreds of bars, cafes and restaurants that surround Istiklal Street are deserted. The young manager of an elegant hotel in the city center told me that circumstances have forced him to drop his daily rate by 100 euros. Like many educated, secular Turks in their 20s and 30s, he doesnt see a future in this country. He and his wife are trying to relocate to Amsterdam. Shopkeepers, too, are feeling the strain. Forty percent of the shops in Istanbuls leather-exporting district have closed this year, leaving 3,000 people jobless. The dream is over here, a leather industry spokesman told the English-language Hurriyet Daily News. A few days ago I went to Lale Plak, a famed record store on Istiklal Street that was founded in 1957 and that embodies Istanbuls deep-rooted cosmopolitanism. I fell into conversation with a stylish Turkish musician in her 40s who had lived in Paris for many years but returned to Istanbul in 2012. I asked her if she had made the right decision by coming back to Turkey. Im not happy about it, she replied. I dont like the situation. Many Turks express an acute sense of deja vu: They feel trapped in the circularity of modern Turkish history. I dont expect things to change any time soon violence breeds violence, says a Turkish friend in her late 20s. Another Turkish friend, who owns a small shop, remarked to me last week: We believe that this is just the beginning by which he means the onset of a downward spiral of violence and instability. Two recent blasts in the heart of the capital, Ankara, undertaken by a Kurdish radical group, have left the entire country anxious and fearful. Some Istanbul activists who participated in the Gezi Park protests of 2013 are now reluctant to attend political demonstrations they worry about terrorism. Many people here have reduced their use of public transportation. Each day, an interminable chorus of gloom rises from the lively op-ed pages of the Hurriyet Daily News. (Another English-language newspaper, Todays Zaman, was just liquidated by the government; its online archive was reportedly destroyed.) Expats are edgy, and some have already purchased one-way plane tickets. Turkey seems to be moving in just one direction, sighed a British man who, after a satisfying couple of years in the downtown bohemian enclave of Cihangir, recently decided to make his home in London. Two days after the bombing on Istiklal Street, I went to the site of the attack. Police cars flanked the locked gates of nearby foreign consulates, and the citys most bustling shopping corridor imparted a ghostly atmosphere. A crowd of 50 people was tightly clustered around a makeshift shrine to the dead and wounded. There were flowers, photographs and hand-written signs, but what I mainly remember is the thick black pistol that protruded from the breast pocket of a plainclothes policeman who, on this radiant early spring afternoon, was grinning and chatting with his friends. Scott Sherman, a contributing writer to the Nation, is the author of Patience and Fortitude: Power, Real Estate, and the Fight to Save a Public Library. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Normally, Daniel Nava would have appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning Friday, with the score tied, Craig Gentry due to bat and a right-hander on the mound. But Nava, a left-handed hitter, stayed on the bench, providing a clue that he was not right. He batted one inning later, feeling uncomfortable, and struck out. On Saturday morning, the Angels placed the 33-year-old left fielder on the 15-day disabled list with left patellar tendinitis. We need to take a step back, Manager Mike Scioscia said. Nava first felt pain in the knee in 2013, felt it again last season and again toward the end of spring training this year. It flared up when he hit the outfield wall late in Tuesdays win in Oakland. He said it has slowly gotten worse through the years. Advertisement Thats why were being cautious with it right now, Scioscia said. Nava expects to return to the majors at the start of May, as soon as he is eligible. To replace him until then, the Angels called up Rafael Ortega from triple-A Salt Lake. He found out during the Bees game Friday night in Sacramento, took a 10:50 p.m. flight out, and arrived in Minneapolis roughly four hours before Saturdays 1 p.m. CDT game. Ortega, 24, had not appeared in the majors since September 2012. He starred in the spring for the Angels after signing as a free agent in the off-season, and then hit well for the first week of the triple-A season. He was the only outfielder on the 40-man roster not on the major league team. Ive been working for this, Ortega said. He batted second Saturday, where Nava would have been against right-hander Ricky Nolasco. He reached base twice and stole a base. Short hops Scioscia said he conveyed misinformation Friday when he said left-hander Tyler Skaggs was scheduled to throw four innings for Salt Lake. He was planning to throw only three, which is what he did. Hes scheduled to throw four innings Wednesday as the Angels slowly ramp up his workload. There is a conservation issue, Scioscia said. We want to make sure when he gets here he has enough to go out there and finish strong for as long as our season will be. . . . On his 411-foot, 113-mph drive that banged off the center-field wall in the fifth inning Saturday, Mike Trout missed first base and had to circle back to touch it, lest the Twins notice and get him out on the technicality. That turned an extra-base hit into a single. Follow Pedro Moura on Twitter: @pedromoura EUROPE Workshop Susan Hickman, Distant Lands travel agent and rail specialist, will discuss train travel in Europe, including planning an itinerary and choosing individual tickets or rail passes. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. MOUNTAIN BIKING Workshop Experts will offer tips on gear, local mountain bike resources and favorite places to ride in Southern California. Advertisement When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the REI store in Northridge, 18605 Devonshire St. Admission, info: Free. (818) 831-5555 NEW ZEALAND Workshop Learn about the natural scenery, Maori culture and outdoor adventures. When, where: 7 p.m. Friday at the Adventure 16 store, 11161 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles Admission, info: Free. (310) 473-4574 JOSHUA TREE Night sky photography In this two-day workshop, learn tips for setting up and shooting the night sky, followed by a session in Joshua Tree National Park. When, where: 1-9:30 p.m Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 24. Oasis Visitor Center. Admission, info: $120. Class size is limited. (760) 367-5535 Please email announcements at least three weeks before the event to travel@latimes.com. A hipperVancouver I enjoyed Margo Pfeiffs article on the three older districts of Vancouver, Canada [Hip-storic, April 3]. It brought back memories of growing up in Vancouver. In the early 70s my parents and I would frequent a restaurant in Chinatown that specialized in Peking duck. This restaurant didnt have a liquor license but allowed customers to bring their favorite adult beverage as long as it was in a brown paper bag and kept under the table. Advertisement The restaurant would provide glasses and ice (if required). I must admit that Scotch certainly paired well with Peking duck. David Patterson Palm Springs Voluntourism The article Giving Back While Traveling [by Rosemary McClure, April 3] is disappointing in that it promotes voluntourism in Cambodia and ignores problems associated with it, thus undermining the work the Cambodian government and other organizations are doing to address this issue. Orphanage tourism or voluntourism is problematic in Cambodia. A couple of good resources on this issue are a 2011 UNICEF report, With the Best Intentions, and Friends-Internationals Children Are Not Tourist Attractions. When visiting a country such as Cambodia, what can you do to help protect children and support families to stay together? Spread the message. Most children in Cambodias orphanages are not orphans. They have living parents or family members to care for them. These families are poor, so they give their children to an orphanage. The orphanages are run as businesses, relying on donations from tourists. Many do not operate in the best interests of the child, and some are rife with abuse. The 49,000 children living in Cambodias orphanages are commodities in an industry partly fueled by tourists and foreign donors. These children can live with their families, with support from many organizations that provide high-quality social work and community services. Unvetted tourists also pose a risk to these children. It is also unacceptable for these children to have to perform and dance to generate income from tourists, often at the expense of their education. Would it be acceptable for random tourists to visit childrens homes and schools in America? No, so why is this acceptable in Cambodia? Ross Layton Battambang, Cambodia Flying with kids Regarding Getting Seats With the Kids on Flights, by Catharine Hamm, Feb. 21: All the airlines need is gutsy parents who are willing to leave their children next to strangers for a part of a flight to see how ridiculous this marketing scheme is. My children screamed through landings in Salt Lake and fussed on nonstops to Chicago. As parents we came up with many strategies to keep the kids calm and happy. Lets see if a stranger can do that for two to three hours, let alone four or five. I would have loved to hand my 2-year-old his bag of toys and to have said, Mommy is six rows up. What enjoyable flights I might have had. Christina Booth Camarillo No fan of LAX As much as I love your beautiful country, I dont always want to visit the U.S., especially when transiting LAX on international flights between Mexico and Vancouver, Canada. However, on arriving at LAX, I am forced to join the slow-moving queues at the Tom Bradley terminal and at times am frustrated waiting for more than an hour to be processed. I then collect my bag, move through the public domain to the appropriate terminal, queue to remove my shoes, notebook and get screened etc. all over again and then (hopefully) catch my connecting flight. I cannot understand the logic of this process; it seems contradictory to your efforts to keep out undesirables. Why not just facilitate the transfers between flights as they do in many other countries by keeping those passengers in transit air-side, thereby avoiding the possibility of the unwanted entering the U.S. when supposedly in transit and then not taking their connecting flight? The freeing up of passenger pressure in the immigration hall would, no doubt, result in more effective screening and processing of those whose final destination is the U.S. John Malian Bondi, Australia Elite Afghan troops battled Sunday to clear Taliban fighters from a highway outside a strategic northern city as residents fled their homes under threat of further violence. Afghan security officials say special forces have so far repelled a Taliban advance that began Thursday outside the city of Kunduz, which the Taliban took over for two weeks last fall, sparking a major crisis of confidence in the government. Residents say the Taliban have made inroads in several districts surrounding Kunduz, the countrys fifth-largest city. Inside Kunduz, families were trying to leave the city, and in several villages within two miles of the city, residents said the Taliban ordered them to flee their homes immediately or they will be stuck inside war zones, one said. Advertisement The renewed fighting comes less than a week after the Taliban announced the start of its annual spring offensive, which will once again test the ability of Afghanistans 350,000-strong security forces to hold on to strategic territory across northern and southern Afghanistan. Local media have reported fighting in at least 10 of the nations 34 provinces in recent days, including three in the north Kunduz, Badakhshan and Baghlan. Residents said the offensive in Kunduz began late Thursday evening when Taliban fighters took control of several checkpoints along the highway connecting Kunduz with the district of Khanabad, about 12 miles to the east. Afghan forces responded with ground operations and airstrikes, according to residents. By Sunday afternoon, Afghan special forces began operations to clear the highway, with security officials saying government troops had killed at least 40 Taliban fighters. Reportedly among the dead were two prominent Taliban commanders in the area known as Mullah Habib and Mullah Mansoor. The Taliban did not immediately confirm the reports. In the village of Alchin, on the outskirts of Kunduz, a witness said he said he saw two dead Taliban fighters near an army outpost. Residents in the nearby village of Hazarat-e Sultan, four miles from Kunduz, reported seeing U.S. special forces soldiers in the area in recent days. A small contingent of U.S. troops deployed to Kunduz last year to help Afghan forces retake the city, part of the smaller NATO mission focused on training and advising Afghan troops. NATO officials did not immediately respond to questions about the reported U.S. involvement. Mullah Akhtar, a commander of the Afghan Local Police, a U.S.-backed government militia, said U.S. soldiers were in Kunduz recently but did not engage in combat. They were here for a few days, but they left suddenly, without any notable achievement or success, Akhtar said. As in previous battles in Kunduz, militias loyal to local warlords assisted the security forces in the fighting, especially in Khanabad. The return of the militias which are not under the formal control of the government has reignited fear in residents, who accuse the irregular fighters of extortion, illegal land grabs, rape and assault. One commander, Mir Alam Khan, leads a militia that was described in a leaked 2009 State Department cable as being connected to the Afghan intelligence service but seemingly operating without government guidance, command or control. More than 2,000 families from the villages have been displaced as they seek shelter from the fighting. Many paid their way through Taliban checkpoints along the highway to reach Kunduz, and some said they would try to travel farther, to the cities of Mazar-i-Sharif or Kabul. Last years Taliban takeover of Kunduz left thousands of families without electricity or mobile phone access, stuck in their homes with little information as Taliban militants reportedly went door to door searching for people suspected of having government connections. One resident of Kunduz, who did not give his name because of security concerns, said areas outside the city were the most susceptible in the latest clashes. Even a few kilometers outside the city, people are not hopeful, the resident said. They fear the situation will only get worse in the days and weeks ahead. Latifi and Ehsan are special correspondents. Latifi reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Stephen Hawking had a cosmically good week in China. Greetings to my friends in China! It has been too long! the 74-year-old British astrophysicist wrote in his first post on Sina Weibo, Chinas version of Twitter, last week. In my physical travels, I have only been able to touch the surface of your fascinating history and culture. But now I can communicate with you through social media. A Chinese translation followed. The post immediately went viral, racking up nearly 400,000 reposts and 900,000 likes. I feel like Im connected to the whole universe by following you, wrote one user. Advertisement I learned about Hawking from Chinese language textbooks when I was a pupil, another user 23-year-old He Shan, a restaurant owner in central Hunan province said in an online chat. His greatness is inexpressible. Chinas obsession with the author of A Brief History of Time may trace back to its obsession with outer space. Beijings space program began in the 1950s under the leadership of Mao Tse-tung who once lamented that China couldnt even send a potato into space but stalled under his disastrous political campaigns of the 60s and 70s. [Hawking has] acquired a cult status among Chinese youngsters much like that of Tom Cruise. New China News Agency China launched its manned space flight plan in 1992 and 11 years later became the third country in the world to send a human being into outer space. Now, it intends to forge a space program that can rival that of the United States. Then theres the popularity of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory, which has boosted Hawkings fame among the younger generation. The shows main character, Sheldon Cooper, is a fervent Hawking admirer, and Hawking once played himself on the show. I only saw Dr. Hawking in a textbook before, but I got to [see] Hawkings real persona in the show. Hes so lovely! said a 32-year-old fan whose Weibo user name is Captain Sheldon. Hawking last visited China in 2006, when he spoke at an international conference on string theory. He has acquired a cult status among Chinese youngsters much like that of Tom Cruise, the state-run New China News Agency reported at the time. For anybody keeping score, Cruise has about 5 million followers on Weibo, which has become popular among Western celebrities and politicians as a marketing tool. Kobe Bryant has 4.4 million, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has 830,000 and Ivanka Trump has 14,000. Stephen Hawking has 3 million, but he collected them in two days last week, with two posts. It was the second post that blasted him into orbit. He was announcing the Starshot project, an effort to send nano crafts traveling at 20% of the speed of light into the star system Alpha Centauri. The project is co-directed by Hawking and Russian billionaire Yuri Milner and supported by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Greetings to everybody in China from NYC, Hawking wrote. If we are successful, a flyby mission could reach Alpha Centauri about 20 years after launch, and send back images of any planets discovered in the system. It is exciting to be involved in such an ambitious project, pushing the boundaries of ingenuity and engineering, he continued. The post has amassed more than 130,000 replies and 500,000 likes, even though many commenters confessed to confusion about the project. Im so happy that I can read such wonderful information when I just woke up, one follower wrote. Though I cant understand it completely, it is obvious that itll be a great breakthrough. Hawkings Weibo account is run by Stradella Road, a Santa Monica-based digital creative and social agency. In an email, the companys chief executive, Gordon Paddison, said that all posts are written personally by Hawking. Employees who speak Mandarin translate his messages, manage his profile and give him translated comments. Professor Hawking [has] great respect for the Chinese people and he knows there are many people in China who are interested in science and the work he has been conducting, Paddison said. Hawkings two posts contain 171 and 350 words respectively, much longer than the standard Weibo posts of 140 words. In the future, some of Professor Hawkings thoughts involve principles that may require a longer format than micro-posts, Paddison said, and we hope that his fans will be understanding. jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com Yang is a special correspondent. ALSO Sport Chalet will close all stores and stop online sales U.S. agents find 140-foot tunnel under U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico Non-Muslim woman caned in Indonesia chose the punishment over jail time A 60-year-old Christian woman convicted of selling alcohol was given a choice for her punishment: jail time or caning. She chose caning, and in doing so last week became the first non-Muslim in Indonesia to receive the punishment under sharia law. Remita Sinaga, a Protestant, received 28 lashes from a rattan cane Tuesday in the town of Takengon in Aceh province. Advertisement Pictures posted online show Sinaga standing in a purple head scarf, her head downcast; beside her a person veiled in black extends the cane, as if preparing to administer a blow. A few onlookers watch in the background. Sinaga was found guilty by a Central Aceh Islamic court of selling alcohol, after police seized 50 bottles of alcoholic beverages from her stall. Sinaga had been given a sentence of 30 lashes, but it was reduced to take into account time she spent in detention. The head of Acehs Sharia Department, Syahrizal Abbas, said qanun jinayat an Islamic criminal code in place in Aceh is reserved only for Muslims, but non-Muslims could choose to submit to it if they desire. The woman voluntarily submitted to the punishment because she thought the alternative was worse: a jail time under the national law, Abbas said in a phone interview Friday. She didnt want to spend time in prison because were all aware that prison conditions are bad and theres little welfare there. In 2015, the Indonesian government banned sales of alcohol in small shops. The central government granted Aceh, a devoutly Muslim province of 4.7 million people, special autonomy in 2002 to mollify desires for independence, allowing the province to impose its version of sharia, or Islamic law. The Indonesian government and separatist rebels signed a peace pact in 2005, ending decades of conflict that killed 15,000 people, mostly civilians. The deal was spurred by the Indian Ocean tsunami a year earlier that killed more than 170,000 people in Aceh. The new Islamic criminal code was passed in 2014 to replace a more limited collection of Islamic bylaws, but only came into force in on Oct. 10, 2015, following a yearlong public information campaign. Under the code, sex out of wedlock and same-sex sexual acts are punishable by 100 lashes of the cane, or 100 months in prison. Consuming or selling alcohol is punishable by up to 40 lashes, gambling 12 lashes, and mixing between the opposite sexes while unmarried 12 lashes. Officials have insisted that the punishment is not intended to hurt offenders physically, but to humiliate them to deter them from committing similar offenses in the future. Canings are usually done in a public square in the presence of hundreds of onlookers and officials. Haris Azhar, coordinator for the Kontras human rights group, said the application of sharia in the case of a non-Muslim set a bad precedent. Caning itself is inhuman and a form of torture, and this form of punishment should never be implemented anywhere in Indonesia, he said. From the non-Muslim perspective, its something frightening, he added. It will only damage the image of Muslim society. Pathoni is a special correspondent. ALSO Chinas military has a new enemy: Disneys Zootopia Pope visits Lesbos, brings 12 Muslim refugees back to the Vatican 41 killed as 7.8 quake rocks Ecuadors coast, collapsing homes and spreading panic WASHINGTON Many paths led to the international agreement to temporarily curb Irans nuclear program: secret meetings in Oman, formal negotiations in Geneva, and a quiet encounter in New York involving two diplomats and an exquisite silver chalice in the shape of a mythical winged creature. The latter session led in September to the return of the chalice to Iran, where officials hailed it as a gesture of friendship by the United States. The move was orchestrated by a mid-level diplomat at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations who devised a way to work around a 30-year absence in formal relations. I wasnt sure we could pull it off, he said. They dont talk to us. We dont talk to them. Advertisement The diplomat has operated under rules that barred most contact with Iranian officials for his entire career. Even now, because of the sensitivity of relations between the two countries, he was allowed to discuss the exchange only on condition that he and others involved not be identified. The episode began during the summer, when the Obama administrations Middle East experts met to debate a delicate matter of diplomacy: how to acknowledge the election of Irans moderate new president, Hassan Rouhani, in a way that might convey goodwill and show respect to the Iranian people. One expert suggested that President Obama shake Rouhanis hand at the fall summit of the United Nations. Another posed the idea of a video message from Obama to Iranians. But an Iran specialist came up with another possibility; returning the silver ceremonial chalice. Officials believe it was looted from an Iranian cave and imported illegally. It was seized by U.S. customs in 2003 and stored ever since in a shroud of cotton in a federal warehouse in Queens. For a decade, Iran had sought return of the chalice, which officials there regarded as part of the countrys cultural heritage. Meeting that demand, the Americans thought, could build goodwill for the U.S. and thereby strengthen Rouhani, who had won the presidency in part by promising to improve relations. Bolstering Rouhani, they thought, would be key to reaching any deal on the nuclear program, which hard-liners in both Iran and the United States were sure to oppose. This wouldnt just be a gesture for government officials, said a senior administration official who took part in the meeting. This would be a gesture with meaning for the people of Iran. Some experts believe the vessel, known as a rhyton, was crafted in the 7th century BC in what later became the Persian Empire, now Iran. It features three trumpet-shaped cups that sprout from the body of a griffin, a fabled creature that typically has the head and wings of a bird and the body of a lion. On the chalice, the eyes are deep-set and wide open, like those of a bird of prey. The object was allegedly part of a cache of antiquities found in a cave near the Iraqi border in the 1980s, shortly after Irans Islamic Revolution. These were great treasures from a great civilization, said Fariborz Ghadar, an Iranian scholar who served as a deputy economic minister to Irans shah. Their discovery was of great significance to those who consider themselves Persians, who honor that period in history. In 2003, the chalice surfaced in the hands of a well-known antiquities dealer, Hicham Aboutaam, who ran a firm based in Geneva. As he passed through U.S. customs at Newark International Airport, Aboutaam presented a certificate indicating the vessel was from Syria. He was waved through. Aboutaam then set out to document the objects value. Three experts he consulted determined it was from Iran; two concluded it was consistent with the antiquities taken from the cave. An art collector was prepared to pay $1 million, but federal investigators caught wind of it. They charged that the object had been taken from Iran illicitly, making its importation to the U.S. illegal. The dealer was prosecuted and paid a $5,000 fine. The chalice was then placed in a climate-controlled storage unit. The value of the chalice remains uncertain. Some have maintained that it is not 2,700 years old at all, but a modern fake. But Iranian officials have insisted it is genuine and demanded its return. In Iran, Ghadar said, seizure of any of the nations antiquities by the West was a sign of great disrespect. When Rouhani announced plans to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York in September, Obamas advisors decided the moment was right for a gesture. A day after Obama delivered his annual address to the world body, the American diplomat received an email from Washington, which he read at his desk three blocks from U.N. headquarters. He was instructed to find a way to return the griffin chalice to the Iranians with no fanfare before Rouhani left in two days. A courier from the Department of Homeland Security, of which customs is a division, took the griffin in a dusty brown box from Queens to the Manhattan offices of the U.S. Mission to the U.N. The diplomat signed for it in the lobby, then set in motion a plan he had been devising. U.S. and Iranian diplomats can talk with one another on a short list of issues, such as helping the Iranians set up a bank account or get diplomatic license plates. The U.S. diplomat called the Iranian contact for such matters and said he had something to deliver before Rouhani left. The Iranian agreed to meet. Quickly, the diplomat took a photo of the griffin and printed a card explaining its history and why it was in U.S. hands. The Iranian contact might not recognize the object, he worried. Thinking a cardboard box was no way to present a precious object, he bought a white gift bag at Hallmark, choosing that color so as not to imply it was a gift. Plain white gift bags are actually kind of hard to find, he said in a recent interview. Clutching the bag as he walked to the meeting, he was relieved that the place he had chosen was outside the security perimeter in a section of U.N. headquarters that was mostly vacant due to renovations. I didnt know how I was going to explain this if it went through security screening, he said. When he took his seat, he slid the bag across the conference table. He said the United States wanted to give the griffin to Rouhani. The Iranian diplomat looked inside. His eyes grew wide. The Iranian stood, looked at the American and thanked him. In the U.S. diplomats 10 years in the foreign service, he had never had a one-on-one meeting, let alone extended eye contact, with an Iranian peer. He gave this lovely speech, telling me how much this meant to the Iranian people, and to him personally, the U.S. diplomat said. It was an important moment. I know Ill never forget it. Two days later, Rouhani accepted a telephone call from Obama, the first such high-level contact since 1979, when militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking hostages they held for 444 days. In the United States, the diplomatic handoff, which the State Department revealed in a Twitter message, drew mixed reactions. There is a thin line between gestures of friendship and gestures that display desperation to negotiate, said Elliott Abrams, a foreign policy advisor to Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush. I think a gesture like moving carriers into the [Persian] Gulf is more likely to get us a successful negotiation. But Ghadar said the griffins return sent an important message to Iranians. The Iranians kept saying, We want you to show us respect, he said. This says, With respect to the Iranian people, we are sending this back. In Tehran, Rouhani spoke to the news media after returning from the U.N. Reclining in an armchair in a wood-paneled conference room, he said the return of the griffin took place with due ceremony. A day later, Mohammad Ali Najafi, the head of Iranian cultural heritage and tourism, summoned reporters to his office. Beaming, he gently held the griffin aloft and called it a sign of goodwill from the U.S.A. Photos appeared in pro-reform newspapers, while hard-liners, angered by Rouhanis overtures to the West, dismissed the chalice as fraudulent. We do not look a gift horse in the mouth, Najafi said. Even if it is fake, it is worthy. christi.parsons@latimes.com Special correspondent Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report. At first, it seemed normal, like the dozens of earthquakes that strike every year in Guayaquil, a coastal city on the seismically active zone known as the Ring of Fire. But then things started to fall, the doors slammed and windows broke. The tremor never seemed to stop, and we started hearing screams, said Caroll Cedeno, 33, who lives in a fourth-floor apartment in the city of 3 million, Ecuadors largest. We ran out of the apartment and all our neighbors were already outside. Cedenos apartment building withstood the magnitude 7.8 quake, which struck just before 7 p.m. Saturday. But others in cities on Ecuadors Pacific coast werent as lucky. The temblor destroyed hundreds of buildings, killed at least 238 people and injured more than 1,500. Advertisement Rescue workers search for survivors in Gauyaquil, Ecuador, on Sunday after a massive earthquake (Luis Acosta / AFP/Getty Images) On Sunday, as emergency officials assessed the damage and rescue teams raced against time, television images showed pancaked apartment buildings, crumbled roads and the bodies of victims left on sidewalks. After walls of a prison in the town of Portoviejo collapsed, 100 prisoners escaped, authorities told news media. Cedeno and her daughter slept outside under a tent in a park Saturday night, fearful that the tremors would continue. My daughter didnt sleep at all, she said in a telephone interview. We felt many aftershocks and were afraid that our building would collapse. Although Guayaquil sustained significant damage, the hardest-hit cities were along the coast farther north. In Pedernales, population 48,000, local media reported that 80% of the buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged. A majority of the deaths from the quake were reported to have occurred there, although officials had not released specific locations of deaths as of Sunday afternoon. Pedernales is devastated, Mayor Gabriel Alcivar told one TV reporter. Every building of two stories or more has been destroyed. There are survivors still under the rubble. In Manta, the countrys second-largest port city after Guayaquil, the airport control tower collapsed. In Chone, a hospital floor collapsed. A hospital in the coastal city of Caraquez reported that it ran out of room and medical supplies for the injured. In Guayaquil, the quake caused several deaths and the collapse or ruin of apartment buildings and bridges. Chaos reigned in much of the city as communications and traffic came to a near standstill. Ecuadorean officials were still assessing the damage, but repairs are expected to cost in the billions of dollars. Government officials said 10 coastal roads had been closed, with resulting congestion made more acute by relatives from the interior of Ecuador clogging highways to try to reach loved ones. A building is toppled in Portoviejo, Ecuador, on Sunday after an earthquake the day before. (Juan Cevallos / AFP/Getty Images) The government announced early Sunday that it was sending 10,000 soldiers to the zone to assist in rescue and security operations. Scattered instances of looting were being reported. Vice President Jorge Glas arrived in Manta to direct rescue efforts, and President Rafael Correa cut short a trip to the Vatican and was expected to arrive in Manta late Sunday. Before leaving Rome, Correa declared a state of emergency in six states. Glas told reporters that untold numbers of Ecuadoreans were still trapped in collapsed buildings. We havent been able to use heavy equipment because it could have tragic consequences for the injured buried in the rubble, he said. Were here first to attend to the injured and then will come reconstruction. Comrades, I urge unity, strength and prayer, Glas said. The quake had its most devastating effects in a 100-mile stretch of coastline that runs north from Pedernales to Esmeraldas. The area is popular with foreign tourists and surfers, as well as being a weekend getaway for Ecuadoreans from Quito and other cities in the interior. There was no word on whether foreign tourists were among the victims. The quake, the most powerful to strike Ecuador since the late 1970s, was also felt in the capital, Quito, and in the southern city of Cuenca, home to many U.S. retirees, but officials reported only minor damage there. I thought the world was coming to an end. But luckily God continues to still love us, said Portoviejo resident Luis Alcivar, no relation to the Pedernales mayor. But a Pedernales resident, Vanessa Santos, was more frantic, telling reporters that several family members had died in their house, which collapsed during the quake. My sisters, my brother-in-law, my nephews all are buried and no one is doing anything about it, she said. Neighboring countries, including Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, pledged to send emergency supplies and personnel to Ecuador to assist in the recovery efforts. The earthquake came just hours after a magnitude 7.0 temblor killed eat least 41 people in Japan, which is on the western rim of the Ring of Fire. The Pacific coastal region of South and Central America is highly active seismically and has suffered devastating quakes in recent years. In addition to a 2010 quake and tsunami in Chile, which killed 550, Perus central coast suffered a quake in 2007 that killed 519. Special correspondents Viteri and Kraul reported from Quito and Bogota, Colombia, respectively. ALSO 9 injured, including 3 children, in North Hills crash Are you an independent voter? You arent if you checked this box Lives are in limbo after a series of devastating earthquakes in Japan Mexicos defense secretary formally apologized to the country for a video-recorded incident of torture involving two soldiers and a federal police officer. Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda addressed a sea of green-uniformed soldiers in a televised address Saturday that illustrated just how damaging the graphic torture video has been. In the name of all who make up this great institution, I offer a sincere apology to all of society offended by this unacceptable event, Cienfuegos said. He urged soldiers and citizens to come forward to report other abuses. Advertisement Torture by police and armed forces has long been criticized as a far too common technique for extracting information or confessions from suspects. But the video of a young woman having a rifle muzzle pressed to her head by a female military police officer and having a plastic bag placed over her head by a female federal police officer has stirred outrage. The incident occurred Feb. 5, 2015, in Ajuchitlan del Progreso in the southern state of Guerrero. The state has seen a massive deployment of soldiers and federal police to battle the drug cartels. Cienfuegos said such acts not only denigrate us as soldiers but also betray the confidence that this institution has earned day by day. Let it be clear: We must not, nor can we confront illegality with more illegality, he said. In the past, the military has assumed a much more defensive position when confronting allegations of abuse. The widely circulated video made that impossible. Unfortunately they only give these apologies when they have no choice, when there is no alternative because the images are irrefutably captured in a video, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. The usual reaction is to deny and even cover up incidents, he said. The lesson that these soldiers and officers take away is not to take photographs, much less leave evidence like a video. Since then-President Felipe Calderon stepped up the countrys battle with drug cartels in December 2006, the military has assumed a more active role in internal security and that has continued under his successor, President Enrique Pena Nieto. In some areas soldiers took over policing duties as corrupt local police forces were disarmed and disbanded. International and domestic human rights organizations have been highly critical of this role and the abuses they say it brought. In February, Mexicos Navy announced that it was investigating several marines for allegedly torturing and sexually abusing six female suspects in the state of Veracruz in 2012. Mexico National Human Rights Commission had recommended the investigation. In December 2014, the U.N.s Special Rapporteur on Torture published a report that concluded, Torture is generalized in Mexico. It occurs especially from the moment when a person is detained until he or she is brought before a judge, and is used as punishment and as a means of investigation. On Thursday, two federal security officials told the Associated Press that the suspect in the video has been in prison for more than a year on weapons charges. One of the sources, who both requested anonymity because they werent authorized to speak about the case, said the federal police officer in the video had been identified and was being held at a federal police installation. She had not been charged. The two soldiers are being held in a military prison, and Cienfuegos said Saturday that in addition to facing military justice, they will be investigated by federal prosecutors for crimes against a civilian. The attorney generals office said Thursday it had opened a torture investigation. ALSO Sport Chalet will close all stores and stop online sales U.S. agents find 140-foot tunnel under U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico Non-Muslim woman caned in Indonesia chose the punishment over jail time A version of the drug fentanyl, described as "200 times more powerful than heroin," is now rumored to be sweeping metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago. Authorities report fentanyl has long been abused by addicts in tandem with heroin, but the new synthetic version of the liquid form that has now hit the market is reported to have triggered an uptick in overdose related deaths across the region. "It's monumental," Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil recently told reporters. "I have never seen anything like it." Drug Related Deaths on the Rise Across the Area Over this year alone, the area neighboring Cook County has seen 53 overdoses and 18 deaths. O'Neil is among those of the belief some of the victim's felled prey after they thought they were buying regular heroin, only to end up with the far more powerful synthetic version of the drug. Fentanyl is one of the most powerful pain killers on the market and is regularly given to cancer patients to help ease their level of suffering. Side Effects Side effects of the drugs include respiratory depression, fever, vomiting, nausea and diaphoresis. DEA officials speculate that the form of the drug now hitting the streets is flowing into the U.S. from China, or is being produced in small-time labs across the country. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System reports 5,217 seizures related to fentanyl were reported by law enforcement in 2014, with that number jumping to 8,511 by 2015. Has Drug hit L.A. Area? Indeed, overdose deaths believed related to the drug in the Los Angeles are also on the rise. More and more, authorities report the drug, also billed as 100 times more powerful than morphine, has been found to be connected to overdose victims. The L.A. County Department of Public Health recently revealed that white fentanyl-related deaths jumped to 62 in 2014 after hovering around roughly 4o over a two-year period beginning in 2011. In addition, some 51 overdoses, 11 of them fatal, have been reported in the Sacramento County area over the last month. "Obviously it's been big on the East Coast and Midwest, it's possible that it could be coming this way," said John Martin, special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration in San Francisco. The two girls charged in Slenderman stabbing awaiting on trial were denied of reducing their bail. A Wisconsin judge announced his decision not to reduce the girls' bail for trying to murder their friend by stabbing her repeatedly to please a fictional horror character called Slenderman. Judge Michael Bohren denied the defense lawyer's request to reduce the bail set from $500,000 to $5,000. The families of the accused said they cannot afford to post the bond. The Wisconsin girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser were in custody for two years now after they were convicted of first-degree homicide in May 2014, NY Post reports. Weier, Geyser and the victim were all 12 when the Slenderman stabbing took place. "The $500,000 bail is certainly adequate and reasonable and appropriate based upon protection of the public, based on the risk of flight and ... based on the nature of the case," Bohren said at a hearing. In 2014, the girls tried to entice their friend, Payton Leutner into the woods, and there, stabbed her to death. According to CBS News, the girls believed that they would earn a home in Slederman's residence. The investigators added that the girls wanted to kill to prove that Slenderman is truly existing. Lawyers for the girls appealed that their bond would be reduced, release them and put them on electronic monitoring while the decision is still pending if the proceedings would be placed in adult court. In August, Judge Bohren ordered the accused in the Slenderman stabbing to be tried in adult court. However, a request from the girls' attorneys to move it to the juvenile court has placed the hearing on hold. If the girls would be convicted as adults, they could be imprisoned for up to 65 years. On the other hand, if they would be tried in the juvenile court, they could be sentenced up to the age of 25, Reuters has learned. It was not the first time that the attorney for the girls, Maura McMahon, requested a bail reduction in behalf of her clients. Defense Attorney Anthony Cotton initially filed an appeal to reduce the bond, but it was earlier denied. The defense lawyers argued that their clients must be tried in juvenile court because they are suffering from mental illness. Payton, the victim in the Slenderman stabbing, miraculously survived the attack. The contentious gun rights bill was officially signed by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant on Friday. According to him, the bill will secure worshippers inside churches against possible assailants. However, the approved gun rights bill created disapproval from the National Gun Control Advocates. The Mississippi Church Protection Act allows church members to undergo firearms training in order to protect the congregation. It also permits the designated members to bring firearms inside the church premises to give other members protection. However, the gun rights bill would also make it easier for other residents to bring guns without licenses. The new signed bill gathered major criticisms from the gun control advocates, reported by Reuters. "Churches deserve protection from those who would harm worshippers," said Bryant, a Republican, in a Twitter post explaining his decision to sign the measure into law. Mississippi is the 9th state to approve the gun rights bill. The Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police had expressed their opinion about the gun rights bill, claiming the legislation only ruins the state's licensing system. It would be difficult to trace violent criminals because even common people can now secure guns, Yahoo claims. Gun control supporters said the gun rights bill would only place people's lives in greater danger as more untrained people can have firearms. "I think in the South people have a certain familiarity with guns and are also strong in their religious beliefs," Pastor Pat Ward, who leads The Orchard Church in Oxford, said. "But we don't always think about the relationship between them. What does our familiarity with guns say about us as people who claim to be following God, who preach about peace and love?" The gun rights bill was passed after nine black worshippers were gunned down by a shooter in Charleston, South Carolina. The blacks were on a bible study when the gunman fired gunshots. The attack was allegedly racially-motivated. Killings in black congregation in West Jackson are also common. Rev. Ervin Ricks claimed that about 1,200 of his black congregation lost most of their family members to gun attack, according to SLTRIB. The gun rights bill was authored by Baptist pastor and state Rep. Andy Gipson. With the approval of the bill, only two states, Georgia and North Dakota, were left banning all firearms in places of worships. It may be called the Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest, but you don't have to be from Pennsylvania or New Jersey to fish. "We got a guy from Florida. We got a guy from California," said Eric Fistler, who founded the contest. "I just got (an application) out of the mailbox from Connecticut. We never had that before." Eric Fistler, of Williams Township, sits in his boat at the Phillipsburg boat launch, headquarters of the Bi-State Shad Fishing Tournament he organized. His tournament, in its sixth year, came on as the Forks of the Delaware Shad Fishing Tournament faded out after more than 30 years. Each year, Fistler's tournament gets bigger and better. He had 250 anglers sign up last year and registrations are already at 260 for this year. "We're looking for between 300 and 350," said the 53-year-old from Williams Township. The contest runs April 21-24. The weather has been up and down so far this spring. But when the conditions have cooperated, the shad are there for the catching. Fistler said he and a friend pulled 76 shad out of the Delaware River on April 1. When the warm weather settles in, Fistler is ready "for it to really break loose again." Register for the tournament on Fistler's website. The fee is $30, but first place takes home $5,000. Each prize pays out more than it did last year, Fistler said. Fistler has lived along the Delaware his entire life and fishes the waterway year round. Tournament time for him now hearkens back to the annual visit from Santa Claus when Fistler was a child. "This is like Christmas for the adults," he said. FISH ON For more information about the Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest, see shadfishingcontest.com or call Eric Fistler at 610-762-0440. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. TRENTON -- In 2003, Gov. Chris Christie's state Supreme Court nominee Walter Timpone was an attorney in private practice who occasionally did work for Essex County. Walter Timpone has been nominated to New Jersey's Supreme Court. His nephew had just graduated from college and, interested in politics, needed a job. So Timpone asked Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. for help, and the powerful Democratic leader came through: Timpone's nephew became a field representative in the Essex County Citizen Service Office at $45,000 a year. A dozen years later, Timpone, by then a member of the Election Law Enforcement Commission, cited this favor when he recused himself from voting on whether or not DiVincenzo misused and failed to report campaign funds. His decision to stay on the sidelines, however, prompted ELEC's investigation into DiVincenzo, an ally of Christie and some Democratic lawmakers with gubernatorial hopes, to ground to a halt. Now that Timpone, a Democrat, is Christie's choice to join the state Supreme Court, his role in ELEC's attempt to investigate DiVincenzo is under renewed scrutiny as the state Senate Judiciary Committee begins reviewing the nomination. State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D- Bergen) said the favor will be addressed in depth during Timpone's confirmation hearings. "I plan to give Mr. Timpone a thorough interrogation on this topic and several others," Weinberg told NJ Advance Media. William Schluter, a former Republican state senator and vice chairmen of the State Ethics Commission who wrote the law that established ELEC, said Timpone's recusal "doesn't pass the smell test." Timpone, a friend of the governor, handled public corruption cases as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in the 1990s, and was appointed by Christie to serve as a member of ELEC in 2010. In October 2013, the ELEC charged that DiVincenzo failed to disclose nearly $72,000 in campaign spending and misappropriated or misused more than $16,000 in campaign funds during the two years earlier. Trips to Puerto Rico, a gym membership and a pricey tuxedo were among the expenditures allegedly made with DiVincenzo's campaign funds. If found guilty, the county executive would face hefty monetary penalties and fines. State law requires the commission to have four members -- two from each political party -- appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate. But there are only two: Timpone, and Ronald DeFilippis, the chairman, who is a Republican. Christie has not filled the Democratic slot for five years since Lawrence Weiss, a Superior Court Judge, died in November 2011. Democrats, in turn, have declined to act on Christie's nominee for the Republican slot, Eric Jaso. But while the two-person panel can still investigate, a judge recently ruled that members of one political party alone cannot rule on campaign enforcement on someone from another party. Thus, with Democrat Timpone's recusal, ELEC does not have jurisdiction to act on the complaint against Democrat DiVincenzo. An administrative law judge has recommended the case be dismissed because ELEC cannot act. Joseph Donohue, deputy director of ELEC, said ELEC has "challenged the administrative law judge's recommendation to dismiss" before a state appeals court. That court has not yet acted. Schluter said Timpone's recusal, when taken with the governor's longtime refusal to appoint another Democratic member to the commission, suggests Christie and DiVincenzo have a marriage of political convenience designed to protect the county executive from investigation. "(Timpone) knows you have to have a quorum to do anything -- he'd obviously be aware of that," said Schluter, "I don't think it's Timpone's fault, this (ELEC) deadlock, but it certainly suits the purposes of the Christie administration quite well: It seems the real reason is that they don't want a quorum there to adjudicate on DiVincenzo." Schluter, who is working on a book about corruption in New Jersey politics, added that if Timpone joins the state Supreme Court, "there's going to be another vacancy on the Election Law (Enforcement) Commission, and they won't be able to do anything at all." Brigid Harrison, a professor of law and political science at Montclair State University said that with his recusal from the DiVincenzo case, a broader conflict of interest may be perceived. "He judged himself to be indebted to one of the most important political operatives in the state," said Harrison. "Those behaviors beg the question: Can that individual be a neutral arbiter of the law?" Timpone did not return calls and emails seeking comment. An assistant to DiVincenzo said the executive declined to comment on the two men's relationship and the favor, and DiVincenzo's attorney, Angelo Genova, did not return a phone call seeking comment. In an email he sent to Harrison after she published a November 2015 op-ed about the ELEC investigation in The Record, Timpone acknowledged he had "asked the Executive if there was a job" for his nephew, and that the nephew was "in that position for 2 years" nearly a decade ago. But Timpone also wrote that "I have no personal relationship with the executive," having only seen him "at 2 or 3 events over that time" and that when they did, "we did nothing more than exchange pleasantries." His recusal on the D'Vincenzo investigation, he wrote, was made "in an abundance of caution." Timpone also noted in the email that he's defended election law at the expense of his own private interests, citing a case in which the ELEC refused to allow former Newark Mayor Sharpe James to use his campaign funds to pay for his criminal representation -- an action that would not benefit a criminal defense attorney such as Timpone. Christie's nomination of Timpone broke a six-year logjam between the governor and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) over Supreme Court appointments. The nomination has support from both political parties. As to staffing ELEC, Christie told reporters Monday that "I haven't spent any time talking about that yet" but added "I'll get to that" after Timpone is confirmed. "Then the Senate President and I will have to turn our attentions to ELEC and see what we can do there," said Christie. "I'm sure we'll be having lots of conversations about nominations that could be confirmed between now and June 30." Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Pennsylvania Budget The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted, along with the Senate, to postpone a ballot question on the retirement age for judges, from this month's primary election to the general election in November. (The Associated Press) Here's a question for Pennsylvania voters to ponder, as they head to the polls April 26 to have a say in nominating presidential candidates: What would you do with $1.3 million? New home? New car? Pay off debt? Stash it in a retirement fund? One thing you probably wouldn't do is order something under a no-refund contract, then cancel it -- knowing full well that you're going to have to shell out the same amount, for the same expense, later this year. That essentially is what Republicans in the Pennsylvania Legislature did last week, with Gov. Tom Wolf's concurrence, yanking a judge retirement age question from the primary ballot, rescheduling it for the Nov. 8 general election. GOP leaders in the House and Senate said the referendum -- a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow judges to work until 75 instead of 70 -- was too long, vaguely worded, loaded with legalese. And besides, they said, more people would get to vote on it in the general election, when the presidential choice will be on the ballot. Well, let's concede this much: Somebody goofed on the front end in thinking this question needed to be resolved in April instead of November. Even though the Republican and Democratic presidential spectacles are likely to generate a big turnout on April 26 -- there are important nominations to be decided for state offices, too -- Pennsylvania's closed primaries are off-limits to anyone not registered with either of the two big parties. That means as many as 1 million independents, third-party registrants and others are left out -- even though they are permitted to vote on ballot questions. If they're aware of them, that is. What should have dissuaded legislative Republicans on this delaying tactic, however, is the $1.3 million in taxpayer money already spent to advertise the judge referendum. That amount will now be spent again in the autumn to do the same thing. Also, the 11th-hour timing of the switch comes too late to change absentee ballots already sent out, which include the judge question. Some counties won't be able to adjust in time for the election, either, so they'll be required to post signs at polling places telling people to ignore the judge referendum. A million dollars is a lot of money to burn on nothing -- it's firewood sucked up the flue without heating the house. Still, it's mere kindling compared to other election-related blunders. Pennsylvania spent $6 million to advertise its ill-conceived voter ID law before the courts tossed it. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered a special election in October 2013 to fill a vacant Senate seat, costing an additional $12 million just weeks before a general election in which he was on the ballot. A million here, a million there. On a question so important that Pennsylvania will pay to ask it twice. This morning I headed into Edinburgh at the crack of dawn to take part in a panel on Radio Scotland show Good Morning Scotland. I got a bit of a shock at the station as there was hardly anywhere to park, which I hadnt expected for that hour. The reason became clear when I got to the platform and saw lots of people in running gear, heading into town for the Great Edinburgh Run. I have to say it is much easier to be discussing your election campaign when your leader is on the form of your life and when voters are repeating your campaign messages back to you on the doorsteps and you are winning the campaign with fantastic events involving seals, planes, canoes and happy children in a soft play area. You can listen to what I had to say here from about 1 hour 41 minutes in. People like the optimism, boldness and fun of our campaign. They like the penny on tax for education, investing from nursery to college. They like the investment in mental health that wed bring. They like Willie Rennie. He had people in Alloa, not the most ardent Lib Dem stronghold, come up to him yesterday and tell him they were voting for us for the first time. It feels better out there than it has for a long time. Im not going to make any wild predications, but I think it is reasonable to think that it is possible for us to send a bigger contingent to Holyrood than we currently have. We need to build on the early success of the campaign over the next three weeks. I wanted to concentrate on us and the good things about our campaign, but if I had had the chance to talk about the others, Id have taken the SNP to task on their utter timidity. They have been going on about getting more powers for Scotland forever. Now they have them, they are barely using them. Its like giving them a Ferrari that they wont ever get out of second gear. As far as Labour are concerned, all I get from them is resignation and defeat. Do they actually want to do well anywhere? In places like Edinburgh Northern and Leith, for example, where they currently hold the seat, they should be going after every Liberal Democrat and Tory supporter and asking for their votes to beat the SNP but nobody I know in that seat has had any such approach. Theyve already lost out this week as the first votes have already been cast as postal ballots arrive. They just dont seem to be trying and they need to get a grip before it all slips away from them. Yes, they are under a lot of pressure but they have a good, credible leader with her heart in the right place and they need to reignite that fire in their belly and not just stumble into electoral meltdown. And as for the Tories, where do you start? Probably with the fact that they are about as hand in glove with George Osborne and his tax rises for the rich and cuts to welfare as its possible to get. They have done more to destabilise the UK than the SNP and thats saying something. We also shouldnt forget that they have a whole load of stealth taxes in their plans, including reinstating prescription charges. The Tories kept the SNP minority government going between 2007-11, getting them out of trouble most of the time. In this Parliament, they have not won any major policy battles with three times as many MSPs as we have. Remember we have stopped the SNP in its tracks on armed police, industrial scale stop and search and forced them to expand childcare, put more money into colleges and expand feee school meals. We have been in their face the whole time. I saw a post on Facebook this morning from a friend of mine who said that her 4 year old saw a picture of Willie Rennie and said That man wants to make Scotland the best again. My own very cynical teenager, wholl be voting for the first time, looked at the news reports from the manifesto launch with delight. Our campaign is the brightest, boldest, most positive and warmest. We are really going for it. If you like what youve seen so far, why not help us out? * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings All the parties in Wales have been asked to write a blog for the Tenovus Cancer Care charitys website. This is what Kirsty Williams had to say: Cancer is something that will touch the life of everyone in Wales at some point. So when it does, the system needs to be ready to step up and give the treatment and care patients, and their families, need. Yesterday the Welsh Liberal Democrats launched our manifesto for the next Welsh Government which contained a number of commitments that would transform cancer care. Cancer causes more than one in four deaths, yet Wales is the only UK nation without a cancer awareness campaign and there are huge variations in cancer outcomes within Wales, we must address this. In government we would develop an all-Wales Individual Patient Funding Requests panel and remove the exceptionality hurdle which prevents many patients access to drugs that their clinician thinks could help them. Your clinician should choose your medication, not your postcode. We have a national cancer plan which health professionals tell us would be fantastic if it was implemented but there is a lack of leadership, with Welsh Ministers all too quick to pass off the blame for a lack of its delivery to others. We need to appoint a National Cancer Director so that there is someone accountable for the delivery of that plan. The existing Health Technologies Fund was my partys policy, implemented as a result of budget negotiations with the Welsh Government. It has already brought lots of cutting edge medical equipment to our NHS. We want to take it further, and put the Welsh NHS at the forefront of medical advances, in particular into stratified medicines, by extending the Health Technologies Fund to support the take up of new medicines and by establishing a new Office of Life Sciences. Something my constituents frequently raise with me is the financial cost of cancer. Travelling to and from chemotherapy is expensive, especially in rural areas. We need to try to bring that cost down by making chemotherapy available closer to peoples homes. For too long services have been centralised, there is no clinical reason why chemotherapy cant be done in community hospitals and in mobile units, we want to make that a reality. Finally, I want Wales to be world leaders in end of life care. We must do more to respect peoples wishes and help them to plan better for their own palliative care. Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 455th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (10 -,16 April 2016), together with a hand-picked quintet, you might otherwise have missed. Dont forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox just click here ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, lets start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. Lib Dems deliver by-election double whammy by Dawud Islam on LibDemHame . On that brilliant win in Cornwall and strong hold in Somerset. 2. If the Daily Mail wrote this headline, wed be outraged, why is it ok for the Indy? by Ben Rathe, on the Gripes of Rathe . It isnt. And while there might be an issue about Samantha Cameron having a SpAd, its not about fashion. 3. A stunning victory for Karen in Wadebridge West by Jeremy Rowe on Jeremy Rowe. The inside story of a fantastic result. 4. Cameron will probably survive the tax scandal because of Labour and its supporters by Nick Tyrone on Nick Tyrone.com. Labour miss an open goal again. 5. Conservatives nominate two different candidates for same council vacancy by Mark Pack on Mark Pack. And one appears to be the incumbent Conservative councillor. One to file under you couldnt make it up. 6. Labour leaflet cock up by Jonathan Wallace on Jonathan Wallace. The mistake we hope we will never make getting the date of the election wrong. Using last years template, maybe? 7. The way the right of centre press have responded to the spectre of Brexit has been extraordinary by Nick Tyrone on nicktyrone.com. The right are choosing their moment to kill the Cameron project. And now to the five blog-posts that come highly recommended, regardless of the number of Aggregator click-throughs they attracted. To nominate a Lib Dem blog article published in the past seven days your own, or someone elses, all you have to do is drop a line to [email protected] You can also contact us via Twitter, where were @libdemvoice 8. What is an ever closer union? by Millicent Ragnhild Scott on LinkedIn. The statement is intended to draw attention to the similarities of the peoples of Europe, rather than to the divisions, falsely created and magnified by wartime. 9. The EU an the UK explained in bananas by Millicent Ragnhild Scott on LinkedIn. This is my favourite analogy ever. 10. Voters are estranged from politicians as the Brexit vote nears and thats good for everyone by Daisy Benson on Independent Voices . Contrasting a set piece debate and the openness and thirst for information by visitors to a street stall. 11. Want to be a Liberal Democrat candidate for the 2019 European elections? Not on the approved candidates list? You need to move fast by Mark Valladares on Liberal Bureaucracy. A useful reminder from Mark if in doubt get yourself approved NOW. 12. The Welsh Lib Dem battle for survival by Energlyn Churchill on Towards Gunfire. An analysis of our prospects in Wales and how we can make sure that that hearse stays empty. And thats it for another week. Happy blogging n reading n nominating. Featured? Add this to your blog post!